Name: WATCH: SO Musical Theatre are presenting Made In Dagenham
Uploaded: 2023-05-01T02:20:43.000Z
Duration: 280 s
Description: SO Musical Theatre are presenting Made In Dagenham at the Barn Theatre in Southwick, for five performances on May 10, 11, 12 and 13 at 7.30pm plus a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm – a tale of friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what is right.

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Inspired by a true story and based on the 2010 movie of the same name, the show takes its plot from the real-life 1968 sewing machinists strike at the Ford factory in Dagenham, Essex. The strike was influential in the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1970. The musical focuses on the leader of the strike, working mother, Rita O’Grady, as she encourages the women of the Ford factory to walk out after they are re-classified as unskilled workers while their male counterparts see their wages increase.

Funny, touching, and timeless, Made in Dagenham shows how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they stand together. Director and musical director Simon Gray is delighted to be breaking new ground with the company: “I suggested it because I heard some of the songs and really liked them but I've never seen it before. I read the synopsis and I thought it would be a good one for the company to do with a good range of ages. I put the show forward and I was quite taken aback when they agreed to it so I thought I better go and see it. I managed to find a production in Kent which I went to see and I absolutely loved it. It's so different to anything we've done before. We've done a couple of contemporary shows and we were going to do Sister Act when Covid hit but this is obviously a lot more contemporary and very different all the operas that we've done in the past.”

The cast is headed by Karen Hudson as Rita O’Grady and Tony Bright as her husband, Eddie. It also features Anita Garai as union leader Connie; Paul Fish as the Ford factory manager Jeremy Hopkins; Amy Dickinson as his wife, Lisa; Philip Davies as Tooley, the American Ford executive; Sunny Carter as Member of Parliament, Barbara Castle; Dave Mantle as Prime Minister Harold Wilson; Steve Robertson as union leader Monty; and other roles played by Lisa Abbott, Alice Hamilton, Jennie Duval, Live Egge; Sammy Ardron, Luke Douglas, Chris Phipps and Richard Fisher.

Made In Dagenham runs from May 10-13 at The Barn Theatre, 24 Southwick Street, Southwick, BN42 4TE.