A new play based on the extraordinary true story of the ‘Most dangerous shop workers in the world’.
Writer Tracy Ryan | Director Kate Saxon
INTRODUCTION
On 19th July 1984, Mary Manning, a twenty-one year old shop worker, followed a union directive and refused to sell South African fruit to a Dunnes store customer in protest against Apartheid. She was suspended. Ten colleagues followed her out on strike, thinking it would only last two weeks. It went on for nearly three years.
Tracy Ryan’s STRIKE! is a powerful, moving and surprisingly funny account of the Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid Strike that took place in Dublin between 1984-87, from the daily picket line on Dublin’s Henry Street to a platform before the United Nations. Along the way they gather national and international support including an invitation to visit South Africa from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They are immediately deported upon arrival, prompting their union organiser, Brendan Archbold of the Irish Distributive and Administrative Union (now MANDATE), to pronounce them “the most dangerous shop workers in the world”.
In 2023 Ardent Theatre Company wants to present the first ever London premiere followed by a 3-week nationwide tour that ends in Dublin.
“I would like to make a plea to the owners. Here are young people of whom you ought to be proud, because these are people of such integrity. You should be glad that you have people of such calibre working for you. I would like to call on you to hear what they are trying to say.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1984
PRODUCTION
STRIKE! will be rehearsed for 4 weeks in London with a cast of 13 Irish actors (10F, 3M) and directed by Kate Saxon.
The production will open and run in London for 4-5 weeks and include a Press Night. It will then tour to 5-6 venues across the UK for 3 weeks playing for 1-2 nights in each before moving to Ireland and ending at Liberty Hall, Dublin. The London and Dublin performances will include matinees for schools and across the entire run we aim to offer affordable ticket prices to encourage greater access.
DATES 2023
April/May London run for 4 weeks.
May 3-week tour playing for 1-2 nights in each venue and ending in Dublin.
EDUCATION
STRIKE! has the support of the original strikers, unions Unite, MANDATE, Unite, the TUC and PCS, the Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives, Action for Southern Africa, the Irish Cultural Centre, the Irish and South African Embassies in London and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa.
An educational programme will be offered in conjunction with UNITE and the Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives (AAM) consisting of a series of talks, panel discussions and post-show Q&As along with an online resource. An example can be viewed HERE.
AAM has offered to loan their pop-up exhibition telling the story of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement consisting of 22 lightweight A2 boards that could be displayed in the foyer. More info can be found HERE.
FINANCES
The total cost of this production is £322,522.
25% is secured via an Ian McKellen Producer Grant, Richard O’Brien and an ongoing crowdfunding campaign.
35% will come from ticket sales (budgeted at 50% capacity) and Theatre Tax Relief.
7% is expected via sponsorship through our relationship with trade unions and in particular Unite.
33% will come from trusts, foundations and the Arts Council England.
CONTACT
Mark Sands, Creative Director: mark@ardenttheatre.co.uk
Andrew Muir, Creative Director: andrewmuir@ardenttheatre.co.uk
Watch a 2-minute trailer from a play reading of STRIKE!
Watch the full read through from the Irish Cultural Centre and Q&A
DOWNLOADS
USEFUL LINKS
Striking Out Against Apartheid
RTÉ Archives’ online exhibition tells the story of the Dunnes Stores strike and how it changed the lives of those involved.
Interview with Mary Manning on RTÉ One’s The Late Late Show (video one on this page).
Karen Gearon at ANC Mandela Birthday
Karen Gearon, Dunnes Stores Striker speaks at ANC Mandela birthday celebrations in Dublin July 2014 (video two on this page).
Photos of the strike © www.rollingnews.ie