Photo credit Andy Abbott & Glyn Lee
Strangely I wasn’t too familiar with Made in Dagenham. I’ve not seen the film nor the musical version before, so I was looking forward to watching the matinee performance with Bury St Edmunds Operatic and Dramatic Society at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.
I was not disappointed. The musical and the cast were phenomenal.
I had heard of the real story of how the women who worked at the Ford car plant in Dagenham fought for equal pay, which led to the Equal Pay Act of 1970. This musical version has some terrific, catchy and heart wrenching songs in it and BSEODS are an extremely talented bunch.
Photo credit Andy Abbott & Glyn Lee
As this was the matinee we saw Holly Wright in the part of Rita O’Grady, the machinist who galvanizes the women on the factory floor to stand up against the bosses and the huge corporate machine of Ford and demand that their jobs deserve the same pay as the mens. Holly did a tremendous job in the title role and you’d never know she hadn’t been playing it all week such was her passion in the part and in her songs. She had the ability to really connect with the audience and evoke tears at the end when she encouraged us all the stand up with the women.
Photo credit Andy Abbott & Glyn Lee
Rita’s husband Eddie also works at the factory and is a typical man’s man. This is late 1960s Britain and the views and attitudes about women in the workplace take you aback to start with, until you remember the context in which the show is set. Craig Fisher plays Kenny O’Grady with a good deal of charm and vulnerability as he fights to save his job and his marriage.
This is a very strong cast overall but special mentions must be made for Alexandra Fouracre-Smith who plays Barbara Castle and as well as being, strong, confident and funny in the part has a terrific singing voice.
Photo credit Andy Abbott & Glyn Lee
Amongst the ensemble of factory girls who support Rita in her quest I must mention Jess Cleverdon who plays Clare as sweet and slightly vacant but so well meaning, and she gets a lot of comedy from the role as well as doing a charming number of her own. Sam Thurkettle bumps up the F-Bomb count in the show and is utterly hilarious as Beryl, who flirts outrageously and doesn’t take any prisoners.
Phil Cockell also gives a fine comic turn as Prime Minister Harold Wilson, with a cracking impersonation of that famous voice and pipe smoking manner.
Photo credit Andy Abbott & Glyn Lee
Congratulations to the whole team, including lighting, sound and stage crew for a slick and thoroughly professional production.
If you would like to get involved with BSEODS or see their next production then head to the BSEODS website
Their next production is ‘Allo ‘Allo The Camembert Capers 15th-19th October – A read through and auditions are in early June – Check out our Audition Page for more details.
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