Expect a five night riot on Chapel Street in early July as Salford Community Theatre stages performances of Walter Greenwood's classic novel, Love On The Dole, using actual places that formed the backdrop of the book.
"The whole of Act One is in Islington Mill and then, for Act Two, we have the recreation of the march" explains Cat Stobbs of Salford Community Theatre "...the cast will march with the audience to the top of the road where there's a bit of a rally, then onto Bexley Square, where the `Battle' scene is re-created. Then they journey to St Philips Church with things happening along the way. It's going to be crazy but in a very good way.
"Chapel Street is going to be closed too, so it all works on so many levels, recreating something that actually happened" she adds "We're in a play but we've also got real campaign groups coming on the demo."
For anyone who doesn't know the events that happened at Bexley Square on 1st October 1931, there's a plaque on the old Salford Town Hall that half explains it... `A poignant moment in history where Trade Unionists rallied to protest against injustice to the working class people of Salford'. What the plaque fails to mention is that those who rallied there were viciously attacked and beaten by the police, hence the `Battle' (see previous Salford Star article – click here).
The Battle of Bexley Square is weaved into the plot of Love On The Dole and the reasons for the original rally, plus Greenwood's descriptions of austerity, are not lost on the adaptors of this contemporary staging...
"It's not been modernised but we're really keen that it's not seen as a period piece because the messages are still relevant to today, so the costume is minimal simple; we didn't want it to be flats caps and pipes and bonnets and stuff" Cat explains "Everything is transferable to now..."
Sarah Weston, who adapted the book to a script and also co-directs, has inserted a commentary by narrators to keep Greenwood's political voice...
"It's a socialist book and it's about poverty, and it's important that we keep the political agitation" she says "So it's not just a nice story about old hard times but this is something that's really relevant. People need to organise now and need to fight against things now as well, and come together."
To ensure further authenticity, the cast of 23 have been recruited from the community and the play has been over a year in the making. Many have no previous experience of acting and had never even read Greenwood's book...
"I'd never heard of it until this" says Rachel Potts, from Winton, who plays Mrs Hardcastle "When I went for it I didn't think I'd get a part, and then when they phoned me and said I did, I was like `Wow - I only want to play a donkey in the background'. I was really shocked. I love it. I still get nervous but I'm really enjoying it. You don't realise what you can do until you've done something different..."
Zac Peach, from Swinton, who plays union man Larry Meath, says he's used to hiding behind the mic as a presenter on Salford City Radio but theatre was something else... "I've been in a couple of music videos for local bands but never in a play" he explains "I'd never heard of the book or film, and my friend said `You should read it'. He told us about the auditions last year, I went to an open day last September and signed up. I've loved it.
"My character is warning the workers what is happening with the Government... wage cuts, job cuts, dole cuts; he's warning them throughout the play and towards the end it actually happens" he adds "I'm looking forward to performing it, and the riot and march down Chapel Street."
And Christopher John Cunningham, who lives in Greengate and plays bookie Sam Grundy, says he's always wanted such an opportunity...
"I read some of the book when I was at school and I've always been interested in acting because we had a great drama teacher at school" he recalls "I kept meaning to go back into drama and then saw an article about this on the Salford Star and emailed them. I've been waiting for years for this..."
It's not just the cast that are drawn from the community but people behind the scenes as well. Cat herself actually works at The Lowry behind the bar... "Most of the time, especially on Saturdays, I'll be at rehearsals11am to 4pm, then go and do a night shift" she says "It is hard to step away from something that's so exciting then go back to the real world."
Doesn't that show that anyone can do anything? "Oh yeah!" she insists "That goes for the cast and production team, so we've got members of the cast who thought `I'll just give it a go'...you can see the journey after six months, like Rachel who, when we first started said `I just want to make noises or be a donkey in the background' and now she's got one of the main female parts. She's brilliant.
"And for the production team, we've all got bits of experience in different areas but this is the first time we've come together and tried to do something, while trying to work and keep the cash coming in" she adds "But it's worked and shows that if you've got the determination you can do it."
Co-director Steph Green explains that the community ethics of the Salford Community Theatre group won't end with Love On The Dole...
"We wanted to make sure everyone has their moment on stage and enough lines to say, and everyone's really scared but really excited, because it's been six months in the making" she says "We're hoping to keep things going afterwards but with something that belongs to the community. The decisions will be handed over to the company so it can be whatever they want to turn it into..."
In the meantime the spirit of Walter Greenwood will be stalking Chapel Street for six nights; ironically the same spirit and backdrop that Salford Council and English Cities Fund is currently bulldozing to wipe away the past, with the historic Ye OIde Nelson pub flattened only this week. Meanwhile the old Salford Town Hall, scene of the Battle of Bexley Square, is now converted into a load of expensive buy-to-let apartments...
"I can't imagine living in Bexley Square" says Cat "I love the fact that we're going to be staging a big fight underneath them. Night after night, after night!"
And would Walter Greenwood approve? "Oh yeah!"
Love On The Dole
Salford Community Theatre
Tuesday 5th July – Saturday 9th July 7pm
Islington Mill/Bexley Square
Tickets at £11/£8 are officially sold out but the Company has a waiting list and will be releasing more – for details email Cat.Stobbs@salfordcommunitytheatre.org or phone 074348 73600
See also http://www.salfordcommunitytheatre.org/
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