n By Keith Hatch
Dorchester’s New Hardy Players revived Six Men of Dorset this June for a sellout run that was held in two of the town centre’s most iconic buildings.
Six Men of Dorset, also known as The Tolpuddle Play, was originally commissioned by the TUC as part of centenary events held in 1934.
The revival packed in the crowds and took the play back to its roots, with the first act held at its original venue, Dorchester’s Corn Exchange, before the audience processed up to Shire Hall Museum for the second act in the very courtroom where the Martyrs were tried on trumped up charges. Six Men of Dorset was obviously the hottest ticket in town and many people were left disappointed as the run sold out in record time.
The play’s cast are all from the local community and was directed by Tim Laycock and Emma Hill.
The Unite Tolpuddle branch had been actively involved with the production from early on following a request from Tim, and provided union banners for some of the pre-filmed sequences that were projected into the Shire Hall during the production.
Working with the Unite South West office in Bristol, the branch arranged for a selection of old agricultural union banners, along with new Unite flags, which were whisked down to Dorset to take part in the filming.
Branch Chair John Burbridge said, “It was fantastic to be asked to be involved with the revival in Dorchester of Six Men of Dorset, and we were only too happy to arrange for some banners from local agricultural branches of the past.
“Unite grew from the struggle of workers like the Tolpuddle Martyrs – and to have them celebrated in this play is a great way to keep their story alive for future generations.”
Tim was very excited to revive the play and said, “Six Men of Dorset is a play that really brings the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs to life, and something the New Hardy Players have wanted to do for some time.”
“I’ve been going to the Tolpuddle Martyrs rally, and now festival, since
the 1970s and being able to get the local Unite branch involved, and use some original agricultural branch banners has been brilliant.”
The play’s sell out run culminated on Sunday 16th June and was made extra special as members of the branch, descendants of the martyrs and singers from local socialist choir, Dorset Red, joined the audience.
The play was very powerful, and still relevant as a depiction of working people facing low wages and hardship, not able to make ends meet.
It starts with George Loveless struggling to feed his family, despite working long hours for landowners who live in big houses and care little for their workers.
After being lied to with promised pay rises never happening a group of agricultural workers from Tolpuddle decide to form a union. But this scares the upper classes who plot to arrest the workers on an obscure law meant to stop mutiny at sea.
The action, and the entire audience, then moved to the Shire Hall and Courthouse where the six men of Dorset were tried and sentenced to transportation. The play made use of court records and it was obvious that it was a stick up and show trial as they are found guilty on trumped up charges by a jury made up of landowners and the establishment.
Many in the audience were moved to tears as the Tolpuddle workers were removed from the dock to face transportation to Australia for seven years.
The final act of the play finds George and Betsy Loveless in Canada as an elderly couple recounting the events to one of their daughters and George calling on all workers to stand united.
Six Men of Dorset was not just the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, but also a story of the women who supported them and struggled through poverty to feed their children. Throughout the performance an ensemble choir, The Women of Tolpuddle, linked the scenes with songs from the time.
The play finished with the whole audience joining in with the cast and
29 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2024 ‘‘
I’m so thankful I can look at the roots of this family for inspiration. This play was so moving and showed the women were just as strong as the men!
Gayle Young, descendant of John Standfield, from Ontario
singers for a rousing version of Unite My Friends led by Tim Laycock.
The Sunday performance had four special guests from Canada, Gayle Young and her family. Gayle is a direct descendant of John Standfield and part of the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Cemetery Restoration Project team. They are raising funds to restore the Martyrs’ Graves in the Siloam United Church cemetery, originally a Methodist church founded by the Martyrs in 1857. Following the performance Gayle spoke to the assembled cast and crew, thanking them for inviting her and her family to the production.
Gayle said, “I am so thankful that I can look at the roots of this family for inspiration. This play was so moving and showed that the women were just as strong as the men!”
Gayle went on to explain the project, “Five of the six Tolpuddle Martyrs emigrated to Ontario in the 1840s. Their gravesites and monuments are in varying states of deterioration.
“We are raising funds to restore these monuments, improve signage and generally raise awareness of their historical significance. We are well on the way to doing this and I invite everyone to get involved.
“While working on the project we found that James Loveless never had a headstone. But that is going to change and he is going to get one!”
To applause Gayle told the cast that they hope to unveil a headstone for James Loveless next year.
A shortened version of Six Men of Dorset is being performed in the Solidarity Tent at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival on Friday July 19.
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