Saturday 30 May 2009

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














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