United We Stand

Townsend Productions presents United We Stand, a powerful new play based on the true story of one of the most turbulent industrial battles – the 1972 Builders' Strike.

By the 1970s the UK’s building companies were making millions re-building the country, whilst building workers faced the most dangerous working conditions and poorest wages of any trade. In the summer of '72, for twelve weeks, 300,000 building workers launched their industry's first national all-out strike to end cash "lump" wages and seek better pay by using the controversial tactic of 'Flying Pickets'. Five months after the apparent success of the strike, which had enraged the construction industry and government, 24 builders in North Wales were charged with offences including conspiracy and affray, and were prosecuted at Shrewsbury Crown Court in 1973. They became known as "The Shrewsbury 24", and three of them were jailed, including building workers Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson.

Combining Townsend Productions' entertaining theatrical style developed through their previous productions with 1970s popular and political songs arranged by renowned folk musician John Kirkpatrick, United We Stand tells the story behind the dispute in a way that is both compelling and thought-provoking.

The events surrounding the strike are still making headlines to this day, and forty two years on, the high-profile Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, led by picket turned actor, Ricky Tomlinson, is still seeking to overturn the unjust prosecution of the 24 building workers.