We Are The Lions

Birnam Arts, April 27

Britain in the 1970s was a country of industrial unrest, power cuts and rubbish piled high on streets.

In an era that pre-dated politics’ radical shift to the right, union activists like Arthur Scargill talked on TV about living conditions and workers’ rights and became household names.

Among the foot soldiers who took a stand for the dignity of labour and a fair deal was Jayaben Desai, the inspirational strike leader in the Grunwick dispute in London in 1976 and the heroine of an acclaimed play that visits Birnam tonight on its three-month UK tour.

Born in India in 1933, Jayaben moved to Tanzania before migrating to Britain, working firstly as a sewing machinist then in processing at the Grunwick Film plant. With a workforce of mainly Asian and female workers, the site was a bastion of pay inequality and racism, making it rife for class confrontation.

Jayaben became the catalyst for change after she was sacked for refusing to work overtime and instigated the epic 1976-78 stand-off, with the ‘strikers in saris’ grabbing national headlines.

At its height, the campaign saw union members facing up to mounted police and the 550 arrests made over the two years was the most for any industrial dispute since the General Strike of 1926.

Tonight’s play takes its title from Jayaben’s memorable parting shot to her boss when she led the walkout. Comparing the factory to a zoo, she pointed out that a zoo contains many types of animals, adding, “Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off – we are the lions, Mr Manager.”

Community theatre specialists Townsend Theatre Productions takes its work to unconventional venues like town halls, schools and pubs – the play was staged at Dundee’s Arthurstone Community Library last month – and also strives to forge links with trade unions and education groups.

The inclusive and politicised company also holds workshops and post-show discussions, promising ‘pure theatre’ by having just two cast members. Jayaben is played by Medhavi Patel and she’s joined by the play’s author Neil Gore, who says the legacy of ‘Mrs Desai’ – who died in 2010 aged 77 – and her colleagues is far-reaching.

“She campaigned vigorously to improve the quality of life for everyone and her resolve and courage should be remembered and celebrated,” says Neil.

“Also, Grunwick raised many wideranging questions about trade unionism, rights in the workplace and dignity at work – themes that still resonate and are relevant today.”

Appropriately, Medhavi is a distant relative of Jayaben’s. “Although I didn’t know her personally her story is one that inspires me,” she says.

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Actress Medhavi Patel, who plays activist Jayaben Desai in the Townsend Theatre production