Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-In review – an inspiring story of a famous factory sit-in | Theater

Meit was the early days of the Thatcher project. By early 1981, the freeze on the free market was about to destroy Linwood’s auto industry, Bobby Sands they were beginning to suffer from severe hunger strikes and the former unions were alarmed by the 1980 Employment Act. This was the time of Ghost Town and Specials: Financial loss at No. 1.

Things were not looking good, but in a garment factory in Greenock, something strange happened. Angry with the American owners for deciding to move to Northern Ireland where they are waiting for more financial aid, 240 workers sat down at the Lee Jeans factory. Refusing to leave, many women workers found support from miners and dockers, Jimmy Reid and Michael Foot. Seven months later, 140 of those still employed returned to work.

Frances Poet’s inspiring play, produced in association with the National Theater of Scotland, follows in the tradition of Scottish plays such as John Byrne’s. The Slab Boys trilogyRoddy McMillan’s The Bevellers and Tony Roper’s The Steamie. The difference is that no work can be done, no money can be found, for as long as the conflict is still going on.

Instead, director Jemima Levick’s colorful team tackles the challenges of life, from finding food to supporting meetings. If boredom isn’t the enemy then the smoke pouring through the vents is. Under the musical direction of Shonagh Murray, he entertains the audience with the music of Kim Wilde, David Bowie and Duran Duran. Adam and Ant’s theme song and happiness And it’s a shame that they won’t return it in the end.

Theirs is a story of resistance and transformation. Women grow from their experiences. With many of the original fighters present on the first night, Jo Freer has a great role as shop manager Helen Monaghan, while Chiara Sparkes manages the wild energy of young campaigner Maggie Wallace. They are excellent and have steady support from Hannah Jarrett-Scott, Madeline Grieve and Aron Dochard.

Yet despite the celebrations, Stand & Deliver is a play that tempers its optimism with harsh, practical realities. The war has been won but not yet.