A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Tinned Goods

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  5w

Fiona Whitelaw

Sue and Rachel have not spoken since the miners walked out. Under the strain of politics, pickets and principles, can the women find a voice to save their relationships and their way of life?

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Docudrama/History
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
Set 150 days into the miners’ strike of 1984-85, this poignant and powerful play depicts the struggle of the miners and their families through the eyes of the women in the community. Addressing themes of class, opportunity and female friendship, Fiona Whitelaw’s 5-woman drama follows the events leading up to the largest women’s protest march in the UK.
Cast Attributes

SUE – Wife of a striking miner, forty-five
BETHANY – Sue’s daughter, sixteen
CHARLENE – Bethany’s best friend, sixteen
RACHEL – Wife of a working miner, forty-six
BRENDA – Rachel’s aunt, seventies

DON, PICKETS, POLICE, WORKING MINERS and all other roles played by the company.

  • Time Period 1980s
  • Setting A mining community during the strike of 1984-85.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Play with Music

Media

“Both politicising and uplifting... these women's voices still have something to say to us today.’ – Quays Life

“This is a warm, well-acted production with moments of humour... moving... In a series of short, fast-moving scenes separated by unaccompanied singing by the five-woman cast, we see... a period where women are becoming an important part of the network of support for the campaign against pit closures. The play is taken from the point of view of the women, showing the kinds of activities from soup kitchens to picket lines which helped to generate that network.” – British Theatre Guide

““You don't need any connection to mining for the troubles of these characters to resonate in a way that raises questions about the relationship between politics and community. Tinned Goods tells the stories of three generations of women in a mining community, and how the strike not only impacted on them financially and materially, but also on their friendships, families and relationships. If you have ever questioned the relevance of politics to your life, you need look no further than these women.” – Quays Life

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Fiona Whitelaw

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