In early September around 20 NALTers went to see ‘Made In Dagenham’ at Loughborough Town Hall Theatre, and what a great show we saw! This musical told the true story of 200 women machinists at the Ford plant in Dagenham in 1968, who refused to accept being downgraded and having their pay reduced. This led to a demand for equal pay with the men for doing equal jobs (who would have thought that women were paid less?) and they took the unprecedented action of going on strike. Thousands of male production line workers were laid off by Ford in an effort to break their resolve, and rifts developed between the men and the women, even within the same families.

But the women were determined and their cause was just. After taking their case to the Trade Union, to Ford management, and even to Harold Wilson’s Labour Government of that day, they were advised by minister Barbara Castle that Ford would never give in until they had the Trade Union movement behind them so machinist Rita O’Grady bravely addressed the annual Trade Union Congress and persuaded them to adopt equal pay as a core policy. And so began the whole equal pay movement.

The whole story was very well told with top class singing and dancing performances. Loughborough Theatre is quite small and compact, and the orchestra pit was a little loud at times, but overall this was a very professional production. The dancing Harold Wilson was hilarious, and the singing Barbara Castle was very impressive. The story included the launch of the Ford Cortina 1600e, which struck a chord with many of us who had owned a Ford Cortina when we were younger!

On Tuesday 19 November 8 people attended ‘Anton Du Beke – Showman’ at De Montfort Hall.  There was a live band, dancers (of course) and special guest Lance Ellington.

Anton was very dapper and interacted very well with the audience.  There was a banner at the side of the stage entitled ‘Ask Anton’ with a mobile and questions from the audience could be read out tonight.  Anton was in his element engaging with the audience.  The dancing as you would expect was superb and not only were there some group numbers but at times just Anton and a beautiful girl doing a stunning dance.

At one point he was teaching the audience a dance which was very comical the way he was explaining the steps with the female dancer as if they were novices.   

He also duetted with Lance Ellington and Anton in his own right is a very good singer and they complemented each other very well. 

It was a FAB-U-LOUS night and I came away thinking he is exactly as you see him on Strictly.

Our next visits are to Loughborough to see the panto at the beginning of January and “Dial M for Mayhem”at the Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton.

We will have a new programme of plays ready for our AGM on Friday, February 28th at 7.30pm, when we will have a very short business meeting followed by speakers from the Concordia Theatre, Hinckley, and a delicious buffet.

If you think you might be interested in joining us come along to the AGM for more information or contact our Membership Secretary: alison.polydor@gmail.com