Dagenham story is West End hit

The musical Made in Dagenham tells the true story of women workers at the Ford Motor Plant in Dagenham and their trailblazing fight for equal pay. These women changed the course of working-class history as their strike eventually lead to the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1970.

 
The women overcame opposition from the Ford company where they were employed, their own union and the government at the time. These pioneers even faced resistance from their husbands, brothers and sons, who were out of work during their brave stand.

 
Two supporting roles, Noami Frederick as Lisa Hopkins, and Mark Hadfield as Labour PM Harold Wilson, stand out. Hadfield has a whimsically comedic air about him as the PM trying to satisfy both the union and the company, for fear of losing the jobs to a country with less labour unrest. Noami Frederick, playing the sympathetic wife of the site manager, hits her stride as soon as she appears.

 
The songs and lyrics are perhaps forgettable but enjoyable. The sets are excellent. The play opens with two beautifully spaced scenes in a typical blue-collar home in Dagenham, as each character owns a space on the set in a powerful opening number. The sets are colourful and accurate for the era. The Essex accents were spot on and we see an accurate representation of the inner workings of a trade union.

 
Made in Dagenham is one of the best musicals on now at the West End. Careful attention to detail and powerful performances take the audience on a moving and delightful journey.

 
To book tickets and check out the production’s trailer, visit the show’s website here.

 
• Matt Dore-Weeks is a Unite regional organiser