Coal, Dole & Dinner Ladies - theatre on how Brent locals supported the Miners' Strike: Starts this weekend

 

Local theatre performances this autumn from Brent Museum and Archives

Coal, Dole and Dinner Ladies will bring to life the untold story of how dinner ladies and other Brent locals supported the Kent miners during the Miners’ Strike in the 1980s. The story has been uncovered in the Trades Union archive collection, held by Brent Museum and Archives, and will be told on stage for the first time this autumn.   

1984 - the Miners Strike was in full swing and a group of Kent Miners, desperate in their struggle against Thatcher's Pit Closures, marched from Kent to Nottingham. Arriving in Willesden, they were heralded by a group of Queens Park Community School (then Aylestone School) Dinner Ladies, given a standing ovation and served a slap up meal in the Dining Hall. Coal, Dole and Dinner Ladies takes us back to 1984 and tells the story of a community supporting the Miners at their darkest hour. Tea and jam roly poly at the refectory included

Performances held at The North London Tavern, 375 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7QB

• Saturday 18 September 2021 – 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm
• Sunday 19 September 2021 – 3pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm
• Sunday 26 September 2021 – 3pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm
• Saturday 2 October 2021 – 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm
  

Fully accessible performances held in the Performance Space at The Library at Willesden Green, 95 High Road, London NW10 2SF

•        Sunday 3 October 2021 – 2pm and 3pm

Tickets

Tickets are by donation, with the money going to Mutual Aid Food Willesden. We will also be collecting food donations on the days of the productions (we will send out more information about what to bring by email).

Each performance includes refreshments

 

Coal, Dole and Dinner Ladies is part of Being Brent – Heritage for Health and Wellbeing, a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Brent Museum and Archives.  

TICKETS HERE

Learning lessons from 'Pride' see the film and join the discussion tonight

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It’s the summer of 1984 – Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support. But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.

 It's the winter of 2016 - David Cameron is in power and the trade union movement is fighting attempts to restrict trade union rights and solidarity action. Across the country local government cuts are biting deeply into the fabric of society  as social spaces including libraries are closed and basic services privatised. The Save Preston Library community campaign invites Jonathan Blake, veteran LGBT campaigner to lead a discussion after a screening of the film 'Pride' depicting the 80s events.

What lessons can we learn?

Come to Preston Park Primary School's new Conference Centre tonight to see the film and take part in the discussion. Doors open 6.30pm and film starts at 7.15pm. Raffle and refreshments.

Tickets £5 on the door.

College Road, Wembley HA9 8RJ Preston Road (Metropolitan Line)