Made in Dagenham

Made in Dagenham - a true story made into a film and then a musical and with plenty of gravitas. The history of women fighting for the right to be equal in the work place in this case carries a cost. With the writer Richard Bean making it a palatable story you cannot but be in awe of the women and Barbara Castle who fought to get equal pay – although they only got 92 percent of the pay of the men. History would document a further strike in the 80’s before equal pay was established.

The composite set was used for the workplace, the home of the O’Grady’s, Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle’s Government Office, the workplace office, the Ford Social Club and Berni’s Inn complete with gingham table cloths. A large cloth hung down at the back hinting at brick work. This later on was pulled back to reveal a large screen on the wall for the advert for the Ford Cortina. At the back were two raised platforms with steps leading down onto the stage. Stage Left was the home of the O’Grady’s, Hopkins and the Parliament offices. Stage Right was the Ford Office and the hospital. The wings on stage had flats with cut out silhouette of car parts. Various staging was then brought on like a bar, table and chairs. 6 machines on self-contained desk with seat that could be easily wheeled about. I loved the retro suitcase.  Even a life-sized model of Oliver Cromwell. Various number plates were on the auditorium wall. Set Design Laura Gaskell. Set Build Cliff Hill. Set Painters Bex Bagot, Immy Bagot, Emily Cunniffe, Laura Gaskell, Matty Gilkey, Catherine Taylor, Rachel Melia-Taylor and Ruth Welch. Props Yvonne Gerrard, Bethan Teale, Lauren Goddard and Charlie Wallace.  Stage Manager & Design and Technical Manager, Karl Gerrard.

Lighting was James Warner. Spotlight Operator was Andy Poulton. Videography was Callum Bagot. Lighting Operator was Callum Bagot and Sound Operators were James Warner and Jay Nedaei-Moghanlou. There were a few sound gremlins on the night I was there and I have to say the cast coped well with it (It’s live theatre - it happens). Lighting was used well and areas isolated for the different scenes. Costume look great and all in keeping. Wardrobe by Louise Taaffe, Stepahnie Maloney and Sharon Travers.

Amy Gaskell and Athina Aristidou were the Choreographers and it worked well with certain gestures emphasising the strike actions and almost contemporary in action reiterating what they are feeling at the time and the desire to fight. This was reflected in the action and repeated motifs used. Catherine Taylor was the Musical Director and she obviously put her time in with the group pieces - the harmonies were great. It was lovely to hear a live band. The Conductor and Keyboard was Neil Ravenscroft. Reed 1 was Jo Corrigan. Reed 2 was Helen Pillinger. Trumpet was Chris Andrews. Bass was Carl Barnett and Drums was Jamie Boyles.

The Director was Yvonne Gerrard and Assistant Director was Lauren Goddard. The stage was used well and I liked the next scene being set up while the other one was performing which enabled a smooth flow to the production. For the scene where they were advertising the Ford Cortina I could not hear what they were saying to each other in the group down Stage Left - maybe it was just chat not intended to be heard? I was unsure. The pictures that were created with different groups worked using the whole space. The factory scenes with the women I got a real sense of the solidarity. Using the stage crew and the cast to move the scenes along all helped keep the pace up. The auditorium was used for entrances too.

The cast of 33 certainly looked to be enjoying themselves on stage to bring this larger-than-life true story to life. The ensemble worked well supporting the action.

Adele Hurst played Aide 1, Emma Taaffe played Aide 2, Rachel Melia-Taylor played Aide 3. The Ford workers - Cerys Jones played Stan.  Charlie Wallace played Barry. Louis Garrity played Ford worker Sid and Macer one of the management workers against the strike. Joshua Thomas played Ford worker Bill and a very lecherous Hubble who cannot resist a sexist comment.

Jim Taylor as Monty who gets caught up in all the chaos and loses focus on the love of his life Connie Riley played by Lousie Taaffe. This romance is down played until we see Monty sat by an empty chair on his own. Louise plays the tired Union rep who pass the baton on and unfortunately is not there to see the fruits of her labour. Same Old Story song was lovely. Rhys Churchill plays Mr Hopkins. Rhys plays the man who is a yes man - anything for a quiet life and his wife Lisa Hopkins played by Emma Swanton aka Snuggles would probably make a better Managing Director. I liked Emma’s manner as she played out the character getting more confident to defy her husband. Well, what’s a girl to do when the horse your husband buys doesn’t like you?!

Zachery David played Mr Tooley giving us This is America. Zachery gave us one of the many misogynists in the show with guns blazing. I have to say I’m sure there was a hint of Trump in Mr Tooley. His bragging and how he spoke to people was appalling. Zachery must have done a good job - the audience booed him at the end – hilarious! The female workers were Sandra Beaumont played by Rebecca Gerrard who sells out to pay the rent. Cass was played by Catherine Taylor who was also the Musical Director and the sensible one of the women whose ambition to be a pilot is maybe a little unrealistic - but hey-ho, it’s good to dream to hold on to. Clare was played by Lauren Green with simple tastes in life and somehow unable to finish a sentence, bringing the funny. Beryl was played by Bethan Teale. Beryl’s bark was worse than her bite and not short of a few choice words. The poor men would get a mouthful from her complete with sexual innuendoes. Bethan certainly brought the energy needed for the character.

Poppy Travers played Sharon O’Grady, the daughter of the O’Grady’s and often referenced as to why her mum was standing up for her rights for the future. Poppy gave us a vision of the future by setting her sights high on her career choice. Her brother was Graham O’Grady played by Max Scholes who had won a scholarship to a school and it appeared had to take punishment in order to make him a man (no words!). Max and Poppy did a great job and loved the scene when their parents were singing and they looked like they wished they were not there. Great job.

Vicki Wilson played Baroness Barbara Cartland. The writers actually downplayed her involvement with the Dagenham strike and Barbara is responsible for a lot of firsts as MP in her time, she created a lot of things we are thankful for today and led the way for a lot of women. Vicki sang an Ideal World about a perfect world where women can exist equally and delivered this well and with meaning. Championing the women her scenes had energy with Harold Wilson played by Garry Foley. I liked that Garry didn’t go for the full Harold Wilson impersonation but more a Northern caricature which worked and helped with the energy of the show. Garry delivered some great one-liners complete with pipe and Gannex mac. (I’ve seen their mill many times in Elland, being from Huddersfield) - funny bones!

Guy Tudgay played Chubby Chuff, Mr Buckton and Cortina Man. I liked that all these characters had a different physicality and you immediately bought into the character. He even managed to make himself look small when playing the headmaster and trying to explain his outdated mode of punishment. The misogynist comedian and the camp singer dancer as Cortina Man. Great work.

The O’Grady family go on quite a journey through this strike with husband Eddie O’Grady played by Ryan Gerrard holding the fort and eventually not being able to cope. When the management stick the knife in and lay off the men too, this had a big impact on them. For the song The Letter his character came into its own and we understand his point of view and frustration with his wife taking on such a big campaign. Rita O’Grady played by Amy Gaskell certainly led from the front literally and as an actress. While there was no Rita in the actual strike, she nevertheless personifies the women and what they stood for. Amy powered through as Rita and you believed she was capable of making a change with the support of Connie Riley and Lisa Hopkins. Amy was able to interact with each character and had a good connection to the text. Excellent work.

Thank you for the invite and hospitality and the lovely welcome from all front of house from my guest Angela and I. It’s great to remember what people went through to make way for others in this story. Thank-you The New Garrett Theatre.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

 

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