A Splotch of Red: Keir Hardie in West Ham

Beckton Globe Library, London E8

4/5

THIS show could not be more timely.

Documenting Keir Hardie’s historic victory in West Ham South as an Independent candidate in the 1892 general election, it takes place a mile or so near to the Romford Road, where Jeremy Corbyn secretly addressed an electrifying rally.

Both paid tribute to the struggles of London’s East End, where trade unionists such as Ben Tillett, John Burns and Annie Besant won major disputes for worker’s rights in the late 19th century.

But Hardie refused to be stuck in the past, as does Corbyn now.

A Splotch of Red by Jim Kenworth imagines Hardie (Samuel Caseley) and Will Thorne (James Dallimore) brought into the 21st century to find that the Red Flag and ideas of class consciousness are not as prevalent as they once were.

Yet they soon find that low wages and poor employment conditions very much are and set about convincing the local workers to take a stand.

Through the story of Hardie’s election battle against Major Banes we are given a compressed history of the labour movement in the area and the birth of the Labour Party.

A buoyant bunch of young actors from the local area bring great energy to the tale of the “Major v the Miner,” reminding the audience of exactly where much debated “Labour values” really lie. It was difficult to leave not feeling inspired by this tale of grassroots socialism.

Using just a few wooden crates in a stripped-back space, this agit prop-style production directed by James Martin Charlton is precisely what community theatre is all about.

Performed in local libraries, with local performers passing on local history to the local community, it’s touring at a time when over 100 council libraries have been shut in the last year alone.

A Splotch of Red is a fitting reminder of why they were created in the first place — and their continued importance as a hub for community learning.

Final performance tonight at Community Links, 105 Barking Rd, London E16.