coming soon "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

The "Union 08" adaptation of
“The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists” by Robert Tressell
The performance dates are:

Mon 29th June, 7.30pm, The Casa, Hope St, Liverpool, 0151 709 2148
Tuesday 30th June, 7.30pm. Kirby Unemployed centre, , 0771 684 8894
Wednesday 1st July, 7.30pm, The Met, Bury, 0161 761 2216
Thursday 2nd July, 7.30pm, Salford Arts Theatre, 0161 761 2216
Sat 4th July, 7.30pm, Concordia Hall, Church Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. 01424 460 735

All tickets £5/4 concessions.

One of the 20th century’s Big books, (“The Workers’ Bible”)adapted for today. ( First commissioned by PCS for Unions 08 in Liverpool and performed in Liverpool to great acclaim.)

Often called "The Workers' Bible", "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" has been one of the most influential books of Modern times. It was often said that the book won Labour the 1946 General Election, when a stunned Tory party saw Winston Churchill defeated at the polls.

The book is undoubtedly the first realistic fictional portrayal of life amongst the working classes, brilliantly analysing the power structures that keep the status quo stable, even when people are clearly ill-treated and abused.

This adaptation honours the original, while tailoring the action for a modern audience – for how much has changed? Tressell wrote about a time of boom and bust; of high unemployment; of a slump in the building trade; of graft, sleaze and downright thieving amongst politicians and the wealthy. Sound familiar?

This adaptation was commissioned by PCS for Unions 08 – the Trade Unions contribution to Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year, where it won great acclaim from enthusiastic audiences.

-Robert Tressell Society

“I recently had the great pleasure of watching your stage adaptation of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. I thought it struck just the right balance: respect for the original novel without being too reverential and “worthy” about it.”

- John Fay, Writer, Coronation Street.

“The cast brought Noonan to us magnificently. To say I was overwhelmed is not an overstatement.”
- John Winstanley, Retired Building Worker and UCATT member


The tour has been supported by The Unity Theatre Trust, The Barry Amiel Trust and PCS

More information from 0771 684 8894 or tomm562002@yahoo.co.uk

our next project -dramatic connections in the dingle

Update:

Dramatic Connections in the Dingle - (Thanks to the City of Liverpool for its financial support)

Dingle Community Theatre is starting on its Summer Community Drama Project, with what sems to be one of the most interesting yet, in our ten year (at least) continuous series of Summer Community Drama Festivals in the Dingle and neighbouring areas.

Our 09 Festival - Dramatic Connections in the Dingle - will pull together different strands of our activities.

Our community inclusive adult group will be working on a short play, so will our Youth Group, Perform L8, and this year St Finbar's Junior school in the Dingle will be working on a drama project relating to bees!

We also have our "Slice of Life" dramas...the result of a public script-writing competition.

dates so far:

Slice of Life....1st, 6th and 7th July at the Casa (evenings)

Community and Youth Wed 8th July at Mt Carmel Catholic Social Club, High Park Street, and Mon 13th July at The Joe H Makin Theatre, Pilgrim Street.

Youth and Junior, tue and Wed 14th and 15th July, at The Joe H Makin Theatre, Pilgrim Street.

Watch this space for more details!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Community Group Update...where to meet if you want to join the next project

our Chaucer adaptation went really well with a great night to finish at the casa.

our new project is one with an environmental theme and julian bond will be the group facilitator. he wants to have a first meeting this thursday, the 28th, at LIPA.6.45pm...meet in the reception area. look on the lipa page for directions if you don't know where it is...it's on upper duke st, opposite the anglican cathedrqal and up a bit.

http://www.lipa.ac.uk/Content/Footer/FindUs.aspx

we have 3 performance dates already, including an evening at the joe h makin theatre. remember it's an inclusive piece so any one who wants to act will be accomodated

julian's number is 0791 344 9396

our group mobile is 0771 684 8894

http://www.ourcityourplanet.org.uk/

No Fool Like an Old Fool...thursday 21st and Sat 23rd may, 7.30pm

Dingle Community Theatre’s latest production - “No Fool Like an Old Fool” – is a cautionary tale about marriage across the age-gap, adapted from the original story “The Merchant’s Tale”, by Geofrey Chaucer.

Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales in the 14th Century. Each tale was told by a different Pilgrim travelling on the annual Holy pilgrimage to the shrine of Sir Thomas Becket.In the local group’s modern adaptation, the pilgrims are on their way to Lourdes, and the Merchant gets his young wife from an internet site devoted to finding rich old men brides from poor areas of Europe.

Devotees of Chaucer and classical literature will not be disappointed, however, as the adaptation sticks closely to the original storyline - including some naughty antics up a tree! The play will be performed at Mt Carmel Catholic Social Club, High Park Street on Thursday 21st May, and The Casa Club, Hope Street, Liverpool on Saturday 23rd May. Performances start at 7.30pm and cost £4/3 concessions.

Actors Wanted for “Slice of Life” Dramas

Dingle Community Theatre are looking for actors for their forthcoming Summer “Slice of Life” Dramas to be performed at the Casa Club, Hope St, Liverpool in early July.
The scripts to be performed have been chosen from members of the public who entered the group’s “Slice of Life” writing competition. The festival is being supported by Liverpool City Council’s Arts and Cultural Unit.
Auditions will be held at the Charles Dickens Centre 6pm on Tuesday 12th May and are open to all budding actors of adult years.

More details to follow soon.