artswith Music Culture in the collective struggle Theatre:


Trilogy 13-15 November Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin Belfast actor Peter Duffy performs three separate one-man shows exploring the works or three literary heroes.


He has chosen Patrick Kavanagh’s


In the struggle for equality and social justice, the first war that has to be won is the propaganda war – so begins the ambitious manifesto of the first Liberating Arts festival. With the motto “Create, Educate,


Liberate”, the three-day event aims to inform the labour movement about the crucial role of art and culture in trade union organising, campaigning and education. With headliners comedian


Francesca Martinez and musicians Captain Ska and Itch from the King Blues, entertainment is high on the agenda too. “The arts are the most effective


tool in that battle for hearts and minds, and must always be at the forefront of our campaigning,” says event organiser Chris Jury. Liberating Arts builds on the


highly successful 2016 Liberating Arts Day. It is a hybrid event, fusing an arts festival with an academic conference and a celebration of trade unionism, like the Tolpuddle Festival and the Durham Miners’ Gala. The festival features cultural


discussions, performances and workshops to allow trade unionists, academics, cultural workers and creative activists from the UK and beyond to share insights about the central role of culture in a collective struggle for a more equal, just world.


20 | theJournalist “As well as giving people a good


time, we want to build a deeper awareness of how trade unions can support cultural workers’ and activists’ efforts,” says Jury. “We also want to provide a forum


for teachers, academics, cultural workers, creative activists and trade unionists to look at the links between politics, art and culture, and help build a national network of politically and culturally engaged activists.” The event is supported by the


General Federation of Trade Unions, whose general secretary Doug Nicholls says: “By expressing political ideas with beauty and emotion, the arts can be a profoundly transformative campaigning tool for unions to persuade and educate members, employers and the public. “This creative, stimulating and


provocative event aims to throw flames into the belly of the UK’s movement for social and political change.”


www.gftu-liberatingarts.org.uk


The Liberating Arts Festival is on 3-5 November at Exeter University. It features Francesca Martinez, Captain Ska, Itch, Townsend Theatre Productions, Banner Theatre, Kate Evans, Attila the Stockbroker, Guttfull, Chris Coltrane … and more


The Great Hunger, Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor and a piece inspired by William Carleton’s story, Wildgoose Lodge. He promises that each


performance will raise important philosophical questions for audience members to ponder long after the curtain falls. http://smockalley.com/ trilogy-the-state-of-us/


We Are The Lions, Mr Manager Touring through England and Scotland in October and November Townsend Productions’ latest work focuses on the Grunwick Dispute, when Asian women workers at the Willesden film processing plant in the late 1970s went on strike over wages, conditions and dignity. The dispute, which challenged the


stereotype of trade unions being white and male and inspired others to speak out against injustice, was led by Jayaben Desai. She told bosses: “What you are running here is not a factory – it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off. We are the lions, Mr Manager!” In a delightful twist,


Desai will be played by Holby City’s Madhavi


attitude


by Tim Lezard


Patel, who recently discovered she was related to the inspirational strike leader. www.townsendproductions.org.uk


Ink Duke of York Theatre, London Following a sell-out run at The Almeida, James Graham’s drama about the rise of The Sun moves to the West End. Looking back at Aussie media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s quest to give the people what they wanted, Graham tells the story of the nation’s best-loved and most-hated tabloid newspaper. www.


dukeofyorkstheatre.co.uk Dance


A Midsummer Night’s Dream Touring Wales and England until December Ballet Cymru hit the road with their production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, with a score by Mendelssohn. A cultural cocktail, to say the least. And a chance for Bottom to make an ass of himself to music. http://welshballet.co.uk


Film The Party On national release A hit at the Berlin Film Festival in February, The Party finally arrives on UK screens. Set entirely at the home of politician Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas), who’s determined to celebrate her promotion despite the lack of interest from her academic husband Bill (Timothy Spall), we’re treated to a modern-day, old-fashioned farce in which


Some of the best things to


see and do with a bit of political bite


For listings email: arts@NUJ.org.uk


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