A dramatic adaptation of Robert Tressell's famous novel about working-class life has toured North West venues, and the tour has ending down South with a final performance in Hastings (The Mugsborough of the book) at the Robert Tressell Festival, on 4th July 2009.

STEVE DONEGAN - Owen

Steve’s previous acting roles include: ‘NO FOOL LIKE AN OLD FOOL’ based on The Merchant’s Tale by Chaucer – ‘BON VOYAGE’ by Richie Grice & Paul Nicholson & a previous production of ‘THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS’. Steve is also a performance poet and building worker.

HILLY BARBER - Crass, Sweater

Hilly has worked extensively in theatre for the last 20 years. Productions include her one-woman show “Does This Perfume Make me Look Fat” and “Hilly Barber and the knickers of Doom.” TV Credits include Emmerdale.

RACHAEL McGUINNESS - Bert, Linden, Ruth (and others)

Rachael trained at L.I.P.A. & since graduating in 2005 her credits include ‘JULIET’ in ‘ROMEO & JULIET’ – with the Manchester Actors Company. – ‘CAROL’ in ‘BEER’ at the Contact Theatre & ‘LISA’ in ‘WIRE IN THE BLOOD’. Rachael also performs stand-up comedy characters at various venues across the north-west.

GERARD FITZPATRICK HOWKINS – Slyme, Rushton,
Barrington

Gerard is an honours Licentiate to L.A.M.D.A. & has been a professional actor for 20 years. As well as his Shakespearean roles, he has covered many genres in the theatre both classical & contemporary. His many roles include, ‘KING LEAR’ - ‘SHYLOCK’ - ‘BOTTOM’ - ‘AL CAPONE’ – ‘SQUEALER’ in ‘ANIMAL FARM’ & ‘PANCRAZIO’ in ‘THE VENETIAN TWINS’. His own play ‘PALS’ about the Liverpool Pals who fought in the First World War was critically acclaimed.

RICHARD HELM - Sawkins, Didlum, Hunter and others

After leaving Webber Douglas Drama School, Richard went on to become a highly versatile professional actor of some 30 years standing. His multitudinous roles include: ‘ALEX’ in ‘A CLOCKWORK ORANGE’ – ‘JACK’ in ‘PALS’ – ‘BOXER’ in ‘ANIMAL FARM’ – ‘GEORGE’ in ‘OF MICE & MEN’ – ‘LARRY PARNES’ in ‘LIKE I’VE NEVER BEEN GONE’ & ‘FATHER MALCOLM’ IN ‘PEAS’, plus his numerous improvisational shows for the late Ken Campbell.

PAUL REGAN - Easton, Grinder, Philpot

Paul recently played Noel Chavasse in 'Chavasse: VC and Bar' at Liverpool Cathedral. Other recent work includes “Kineseology”, premiered at Cannes, a devised project at Feltham Young Offenders Institution, “Follow” at Finsborough Theatre, and “The Winter’s Tale” at the Wirral Shakespeare festival.

TOM McLENNAN - Writer of this adaptation

Tom is a Scottish born teacher of English living in Liverpool. He has written several adaptations for stage, including “Animal Farm” and “Treasure Island” and has written many theatre-in-education pieces, including “The Face Behind the Flyer” for Amnesty International

An age of boom and bust, of cut throat competition, high unemployment, a decimated building industry, corruption and shameless robbery by the rich.

Sounds familiar?

That's exactly the point Tressell was making in his book “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists”, set in the early 19 th century.

The arguments about how to manage the continual crises of Capitalism are a red herrings as far as ordinary people are concerned – Protectionism or Free Trade, it hardly matters to the person on the street. The only thing that will help them is a major restructuring of the system, replacing it with a way of life that is based on compassion, co-operation, not selfish greed and savage competition.

Tressell was not afraid to promote Socialism as the alternative. It was his polemical style and courageous vision that made the book so popular. It looked at the relationships between boss and worker in a more direct, unsentimental way than anything before in literature.

Perhaps a new look at Tressell's work can uncover some of the idealism that inspired him and his generation, and help give Socialists in Britain impetus for rebuilding their strategy for ending the disastrous system we're living under at the minute.

This adaptation of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was first seen in Liverpool last year, where the PCS union put it on as part of the Union 08 celebrations.

Here are some of the things people said about it.

"We are delighted to say that this is the best production of this important work that we have seen"

-The Robert Tressell Society

“I recently had the great pleasure of watching your stage adaptation of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. I thought it struck just the right balance: respect fro the original novel without being too reverential and “worthy” about it.”

•  John Fay, Writer, Coronation Street.

“The cast brought Noonan to us magnificently. To say I was overwhelmed is not an overstatement.”

- John Winstanley, Retired Building Worker and UCATT member

Please support the tour and help generate an alterative vision for our society.

If you would like to donate to the project either by direct donation or by buying tickets for the performances, please send cheques made payable to Dingle Community Theatre, c/o 138 South Mossley Hill Road, Liverpool L19 9BJ

Dingle Community Theatre kindly agreed to act as banker for the tour and provided a summary of expenditure and income at the end of the project.