ACTORS PUSH FOR EQUAL PAY
This weekend and next a celebration of the struggle to get equal pay is celebrated by the Shinfield Players PHIL CREIGHTON explains
IT WAS 50 years ago that flower power was at its height. But just as the summer of love was getting underway, sisters were doing it for themselves in Dagenham, waging a battle that still resonates today.
And this weekend and next you can hear the story for yourself, thanks to the Shinfield Players.
For their April show, the amateur group have chosen to bring a musical version of Made In Dagenham to their Whitley Wood Road base.
Directed, choreographed and produced by the talented Laura-Anne Putterford, the musical is based on a strike that took place in 1968 by sewing machinists at the Ford factory in Dagenham.
The women’s leader, Rita O’Grady (played by Sarah Barnes) encourages the women to walk out after they were reclassified as unskilled workers, while the men get a pay rise. The subsequent strike saw the company lay off 5,000 men as a result, including Rita’s husband Eddie (played by Ali Bagshaw).
But Rita carries on with her campaign and eventually causes the Equal Pay Act of 1970 to be passed. Girl power beats flower power!
For Laura-Anne, the show still has something to say in the 21st century.
“It’s very topical at the moment,” she says during a break in Sunday’s dress rehearsal.
She is very proud of the cast for pulling together the show, which is challenging for a small theatre.
“Rehearsals have been absolutely fantastic,” she says. “We’ve had a 10-week rehearsal period which is quite short, but the girls have really enjoyed putting this together, they’ve all given 110%.
“It’s a very technically heavy show and the crew have to work very, very hard.
“We’ve been trying to make it as realistic to the 1960s as possible.”
And that is not without its challenges. While for many of us, the 60s feels like yesterday for some of the young cast they’ve had to dig it and get used to the decade that revolutionised Britain as we know it today.
“We’ve been having to teach them how to use sewing machines,” LauraAnne explains.
But the music has been easier. “There’s some very upbeat 60s music in the show, it’s really in your face and they’ve handled it really well, they really enjoy it,” she says.
Laura-Anne warns that due to bad language the show is really only suitable for those aged 14 upwards, and if anyone wants to see the show they need to be quick as tickets have almost sold out.
And she wants people to come and see the show because of its topicality.
“Women are still not getting equal pay,” she says.
Made In Dagenham is performed at the Shinfield Players Theatre on Friday, April 20, Saturday, April 21 and Thursday, April 26 to Saturday, April 28. Curtain up is at 7.45pm. For more details or tickets, call the box office on 0118 975 8880 or log on to www.shinfieldplayers.org.uk