History is not just about the past. It's about now and the future and that's why we're tackling the subject of the Shrewsbury 24 today.

It seems to follow very well on the back of our previous plays and there are some similarities with the themes of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (RTP) and We Shall Be Free!, our play on the Tolpuddle Martyrs by Townsend Productions which is currently on tour.

In our work we aim to draw comparisons and connections with the peoples' stories of the past to draw attention to modern-day relevancies.

That's especially true of the stories we are telling now because there are of course attempts currently to hide aspects of our history and realign its interpretation through changes in the education system.

And it is no coincidence that RTP, Tolpuddle and Shrewsbury are set in times of great "austerity." As Leon Rosselson says in his 1974 song Coats Off For Britain: "Now the country is in crisis/So don't strike for higher pay/We must all make sacrifices/And work harder every day/We've got to pull our belts in/It's the same for rich and poor..."

Clearly there are relevancies that connect all the stories we tell from all ages with today.

The savagery displayed by the current Tory-led government is comparable with the attacks on trade unions and trade unionists by Lord Melbourne and Frampton at the time of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, Sweater and Rushton in RTP and Heath, Carr and McAlpine during the builders' strike of 1972.

Another major reason for telling the story is that support for the 24 was principally led by rank-and-file workers organising through regional and area committees.

They proved to be a willing, heartfelt and powerful force as a result of that.

It was a great victory for the workers - though perhaps thought to be an improbable one - and surprised building companies and the government enough for them to bring down the full force of the police and judiciary upon a small number of unfortunate victims.

They were made an example of to dissuade others from having the temerity to fight for much-needed better pay and conditions too.

It also brings the purpose of our story-telling to within living memory for many people and, of course, for some it still affects their lives.

The facts and truth of the story are still unknown to the vast majority and we aim, in our own way of touring theatre, to get as many people as possible to see and hear it and get them to draw parallels for themselves with other stories of injustice brought about by ruling elites that clearly have nothing but self-interest.

We hope too that through sharing this story we can help the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign to get proper justice for all the pickets who have suffered as a consequence of happenings in 1972-73 and bring those responsible to book.

I've not mentioned how we might approach the subject artistically because it's early days and I'm currently researching with an aim to have a first draft of a script in the late spring, which will then be pulled apart before more drafts are drawn up just before rehearsals start in the summer.

I'd be pleased to hear from any Morning Star reader who was involved or interested and I can be contacted by email at [email protected].

n We Shall Be Free! tours nationally from January 31-May 4, details: www.townsendproductions.org.uk. Information on the Shrewsbury 24 campaign is available at www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk.