arts byMark Fisher


Books > A Glorious History – the Printing and Papermaking Trade Unions in the UK and Ireland Tony Burke and Ann Field Available now Unite the Union Two former union officials tell the story of the 250-year struggle by printing and paper workers to establish collective bargaining, equality and a single voice. The NUJ is part of the tale. This volume highlights issues that were common to all parts of the industry and how trade unionists fought against poverty, injustice, and exploitation. https://tinyurl.com/2z6wcy3q


In depth > A matter of fact


IT HAS been seven years since the release of Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, so you would have hoped such a grim story about a benefits claimant would need significant updating for a stage adaptation in 2023. Not so, says Dave


Johns, the movie’s star, who is adapting the acclaimed movie for the theatre. “The only thing that’s


changed is the on-hold music,” he says, recalling the scene when Daniel graffities, “I, Daniel Blake, demand my appeal date before I starve and change the shit music on the phones!” “It’s not Vivaldi any


more,” he laughs. “It’s some kind of pop song. That’s what they got from


22 | theJournalist


the film – they just changed the music.” If anything, the


situation at the present is even bleaker. When Johns played the


part of Daniel Blake – his first screen role – he had never heard of a food bank. Today, they are ubiquitous. Throw in a cost-of-


living crisis and Loach’s vision is all the more prescient. “The film had such an impact because a lot of


Dance > Figures in Extinction [1.0] Sadler’s Wells, London April 19–22 Part of a triple bill, this piece by


people didn’t know about food banks and were stunned that the system was there to thwart you,” he says. “I wanted to explore


what was happening now. There are more food banks in the UK than there are branches of McDonald’s. “The narrative


now is that food banks are normal. It’s like when workhouses were normal.” With the blessing of


Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty, Johns has revisited the script for Newcastle’s Northern Stage – and a tour –


taking on board the experiences of today’s universal credit claimants. With director Mark


Calvert, he uses interviews, speeches and social media comments to demonstrate the story is fact not fiction. “You don’t want to just


put the film on stage – you want to have something else to say about it,” says Johns, who was a union rep for UCATT when he worked as a bricklayer before moving into stand-up comedy. “Government ministers


said it was a work of fiction and now you’ve got nurses going to food banks. The timing couldn’t be more right for this.” I, Daniel Blake


Northern Stage, Newcastle May 25–June 10


https://tinyurl. com/2gbyfwup


Nederlands Dans Theater is informed by melting ice caps and climate-change deniers. It is a collaboration between Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite and director Simon McBurney. https://tinyurl.com/2nnyl9wl


Politics: a Survivor’s Guide: How to Stay Engaged Without Getting Enraged Rafael Behr May 4 Atlantic The Guardian’s political commentator resists switching off the news over the state of politics and makes a democratic plea for everyone to stay engaged. https://tinyurl.com/2jjegetj


Exhibitions > Photographing the Invisible: 50 Years of Rock Photography Manchester Central Library April 14-June 24 Long-standing NUJ member Jill Furmanovsky has photographed everyone from Joan Armatrading to Amy Winehouse, from Bjork to Stevie Wonder. Here, she picks highlights of a peerless half-century collection. https://tinyurl.com/2f69mqwk


When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65 City Art Centre, Edinburgh May 27-October 1 The official British war artist for Bosnia in 1993 enjoys a birthday retrospective, bringing together around 100 works that take an unflinching look at trauma, conflict and the human condition. https://tinyurl.com/2mmvvbwd


Festivals > Tradfest Traverse, Assembly Rooms and Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh April 28-May 9 As well as being a photographer, NUJ member Douglas Robertson is a co-organiser with Jane-Ann Purdy of this annual roots festival. Highlights include Shooglenifty, Karine Polwart and Martin and Eliza Carthy. https://tinyurl.com/2mdbsb85


Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye May 25-June 4 Journalists at this year’s book bonanza include Gary Younge, talking about race, Misha Gleny, interviewing experts on Europe, and Jon Snow, stressing the importance of journalism in turbulent times. Also appearing are Michael Parkinson, Jeremy Bowen and Marina Hyde. https://tinyurl.com/2fdagvhs


Films > Pamfir


In cinemas May 5


Filmed just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dmytro Sukholytkyy- Sobchuk’s debut feature has been raking in international awards. It is about crime, corruption and paganism in a Ukrainian border town. https://tinyurl.com/2osmekrr


Brainwashed: Sex-Camera- Power


In cinemas May 12 Writer-director Nina Menkes trawls


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