About this Resource

In April/May 2023, Ardent Theatre Company produced the play STRIKE! by Tracy Ryan and directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward at the Southwark Playhouse Borough in London.

STRIKE! is based on the extraordinary true story when a group of shop workers in Dublin went on strike during the 80s to protest against apartheid in South Africa. They thought the strike would only last 2 weeks. It went on for 2 years and 9 months and led to Ireland being the first western country to ban the importation of South African produce.

Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ardent was able to create an education programme inspired by the themes of the play that included a series of workshops in secondary schools and FE Colleges led by Tracy Ryan and poet/activist Zita Holbourne.

This education pack has been written by Tracy and Zita based on their workshop and aims to complement Ardent’s online resource Activism in the 80s.

If you are interested in reading the script of STRIKE! as inspiration for a devised theatre piece or even mounting a production of the play yourselves given that it has a large cast of over 13 characters, then do get in touch with us at Ardent and we will put you in contact with the writer Tracy.