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Red Ladder’s musical comedy set during the Liverpool dock workers’ strikes.

It’s 1960 and the Liverpool seafarers and dockworkers are on strike. Uncle Paddy, leader of the Seamen’s Reform Movement, is in jail, while cousin Ronnie, dad of the McDermott family, sits in his pants all day reading the Daily Worker and watching Z-Cars as his harried wife Jean tries to keep the household together (sneaking the occasional peak at a well-fingered copy Lady Chatterley’s Lover).

Meanwhile, teenage son Jack’s band have the biggest gig of their lives on Saturday night but have one major problem: they can’t find a drummer. Could bobble-hatted cousin Barry be just what the band are looking for? And will that be their only problem? Throw in an untimely visit from a police officer and a riot and the band’s hopes of success, as well as the dockworkers’ hopes of a fair deal, are thrown into question. A family comedy about love, music and the power of a good cup of tea, featuring live music and a lotta, lotta scouse singing, shouting and striking.

Recommended for ages 12+ years.

Red Ladder Theatre Company

Red Ladder champions new writing, particularly that which challenges or agitates. It is a radical theatre company with 46 years of history; acknowledged as one of Britain's leading national touring companies producing high quality theatre contributing to social change and global justice.

Founded in 1968 in London, the company's history is rooted in the radical socialist theatre movement in Britain known as agitprop. The company moved to Leeds in the '70s and is still based in the city.

Red Ladder Theatre Company tour dates