We Are The Lions, Mr Manager! Tells the human side of the story about the Asian women striking over wages and more importantly their dignity at the Great Grunwick Film Processing Factory from 1976-8. Regardless of the weather and fierce opposition they held firm and stood up for what was right.

I was only five when this particular strike started but I remember growing up with strikes and unrest dominating the news programmes and the conversations of the adults around me although I didn’t particularly understand what was going on.

The story is focused upon the strong, determined and highly inspirational strike-leader Jayaben Desai played by Rukmini Sircar, who was one of the many newly arrived Gujarati women workers from East Africa who had followed their husbands and wanted to work and contribute to their family and society.

Writer and performer Neil Gore plays a host of characters throughout the performance from the dislikeable power-tripping factory manager Malcolm Alden, the television presenter, and the Policeman to name but a few. All with believable ease and passion.

Stories like these are important parts of our historical landscape that continue to deserve a stage and for the voices of the past to be heard and respected for standing up for what’s right.

It was a treat on Monday evening to have been joined in the audience by one of the songwriters Jack Warshaw who spoke to the audience at the end of the play.

However, with the rise of zero-hour contracts in some workplaces employees still face being exploited and replaced in a heartbeat if they dare to complain about their hours and working conditions.

For more information about We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! Please use the link below. This is such a poignant powerful piece of theatre which is still relevant today.

Five Stars.

https://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/shows/we-are-the-lions-mr-manger/