Meet the Essex girls who changed the world!
Made in Dagenham is the musical based on the 2010 film and tells the story of the women of the Ford plant in Dagenham who fought against their regrading to unskilled labour and brought about the Equal Pay Act.
It’s a lively and spirited musical with great rousing numbers and a strong storyline and The Riverside Musical Theatre Company do it justice.
The first thing that strikes you when the curtains open is the set, a steel construction of scaffolding, which cleverly combines factory floor, homes, offices and the corridors of power in Westminster. It fills the stage at the Riverside and means the action never stops and starts but flows perfectly.
Samantha De Vita takes on the role of protagonist Rita O’Grady, who unwittingly becomes the leader of the Equal Pay movement at the factory. Sam is a seasoned professional who I have seen in many shows and excels as always with her fine singing voice and acting chops. She has also directed and choreographed the show and I take my hat off to her for pulling this whole thing off.
Sam Broadley plays Rita’s husband Eddie, a man’s man of the 1960’s who likes a quiet life and a pint on a Friday night. He forgets their wedding anniversary and can’t cope with the day to day chores and the kids, when Rita’s life becomes embroiled with the strike, Westminster and the TUC. Sam plays the part with just the right amount of charm as the slightly hapless and hopeless husband who is proud of his missus but just wants everything back how it was. Again I’ve seen Sam in several productions, and I’ve even acted with him myself, but I never knew he had such a strong singing voice and his big, emotional number in Act 2 provoked a, well deserved, huge round of applause.
The whole ensemble cast were tight with their harmonies and on point with their choreography and I unfortunately can’t mention everyone but I would like to pick out a few performances.
Sarah Wheatley has a great mix of strength and empathy as Lisa Hopkins. Kerri Ann-Lees has the gift of the part as sweary Beryl and provides a lot of laughter. Kathryn Kitchener is very sweet as Clare, who can’t find the words to express herself, as her own number is show perfectly demonstrated. Colin Ricardo as union man Monty displays some very solid acting enraging you one minute and breaking your heart the next. Kathryn Bryant as Connie has her world weary resignation overturned by Rita and plays the part with a quiet resolve. Finally Rachel Keveren, as Barbara Castle brings the house down with her terrific singing voice for her number Ideal World.
On the first night there was a slight imbalance with the sound levels with some audience members saying they couldn’t hear all the dialogue and lyrics in the songs as the orchestra were too loud, so I hope they adjust that according, as The Riverside Musical Theatre Company are such an ambitious and professional group this is well worth going to see.
Made In Dagenham runs until Saturday 22nd June at the Riverside Cinema in Woodbridge
Tickets are available online at The Riverside Website or call the Box office on 01394 382174
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