A play about North East miners imprisoned for accidently derailing the Flying Scotsman during the 1926 General Strike, was staged in The Waterfront Hall in Belfast and The Playhouse in Derry. Both venues saw enthusiastic audiences and standing ovations.
The Cramlington Train Wreckers was written by North East playwright Ed Waugh who has spent more than 20 years writing plays about working-class life (Wor Bella, Hadaway Harry, Carrying David).
“It’s a story about working-class unity. Whether you’re from north east England, Belfast or Derry, they’re stories about solidarity told with a different accent.” said Ed.
Mr Waugh worked closely with Northern Ireland’s trade union movement to help stage the production. They received backing from several trade unions, including NIPSA, Unite, Unison, the Fire Brigades Union and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Ed praised working with NIPSA…
“I’ve been incredibly proud to work alongside NIPSA. Their commitment to bringing people together reflects exactly what this play is about. It shows that working people are united by their shared struggles.”
“That message of working people being united has certainly connected with audiences in Northern Ireland.”
A hit play about North East miners imprisoned for derailing the Flying Scotsman during the 1926 General Strike is transferring to Northern Ireland before it plays the prestigious Newcastle Theatre Royal.
Playwright Ed Waugh (Carrying David, Wor Bella) was invited to talk about the play at two Irish venues last week.
Firstly, how did you get there Ed?
‘I flew! It only takes 40 minutes from Newcastle to Belfast International Airport. My Metro journey from Newcastle Airport to South Shields took much longer!’
‘I spent a couple of nights in Derry but while in Belfast, and Derry, there was lots of talk about the race riots. Theatre shows were cancelled and the bars weren’t up to their usual capacity. I was told people are reticent about coming out of their homes to socialise publicly at the moment.’
pic.PlaywrightEd Waugh in The Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
How did the Ireland connection come about?
‘I was approached by Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) who have a membership of 47,000 and are the biggest Northern Ireland-based trade union.
They were instrumental in getting additional trade union support from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ITUC), Unite, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and Unison. The latter have 50,000 members in Northern Ireland and are based across the UK.’
Along with the talks Ed was interviewed by BBC Radio Ulster in Belfast and BBC Radio Foyle in Derry.
‘I was amazed by the BBC presenters who interviewed me in Belfast (BBC Ulster) and Derry (BBC Foyle). They had obviously done their homework and their preparation was brilliant, they were good interviews. I was impressed.’
‘I was able to get the point across about the need for workers’ unity and the importance of trade unions in this, to cut across racial, religious and gender bigotry.’
‘These disgusting prejudices are whipped up by the representatives of the wealthiest 1 per cent to detract from the growing inequalities in society. It’s the traditional ‘divide and rule’ tactic to scapegoat minorities rather than the real culprits.’
pic. Playwright Ed Waugh outside Derry Playhouse.
How did you find Belfast and Derry?
‘Both Belfast and Derry are highly political cities. There are political murals everywhere and every family was affected by the troubles.’
‘Despite these historical injustices, Belfast is a brilliant place. I’ve been a number of times and it reminds me of Newcastle. People are very friendly and the place has a buzz.’
‘Mind you, Derry blew me away. What a fantastic place! I paid tribute to the Undertones mural before heading to the BBC to be interviewed but en route people would just say “hello” and smile. it was lovely.’
‘It was announced before the BBC Radio Foyle (Derry) interview that I was speaking and there to meet me at the station to say hello was a chap from Wallsend. He’d emigrated in 1973 but still had his Geordie accent.’
Would you call the visit successful Ed?
‘When I got the taxi home in the evening the taxi driver asked me what I was doing in Derry and when I told him he said he’d be at the front of the queue if there was another general strike.’
The Cramlington Train Wreckers is playing Derry Playhouse on July 8 and Waterford Hall, Belfast, on July 9, before transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal on July 12. The two shows at Newcastle will be at 3pm and 7.30pm. There is limited ticket availability for both shows.
ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK MUSIC & CULTURE 