Monday 30 July 2012

And did those feet...?



It is probably taking a step too far to see Danny Boyle’s inclusion of suffragettes, trade unions and the NHS in his Olympic opening ceremony as a left ‘claim-staking’ of cultural events in the UK. (Mind you wasn’t it great that so many right-wing politicians and media made fools of themselves berating the ‘lefty propaganda’?). However, the left has certainly, in recent years evinced an increasing interest and involvement in cultural and artistic events.
A number of items at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival point to this revival of socialist and working-class interest in, and use of, cultural and artistic activities to reach people and to raise their profile in general.
Tony Benn
At the Assembly Rooms, produced/programmed this year by Tommy Sheppard (himself no stranger to radical ideas), old skool left Labour ex-Parliamentarian, Tony Benn will be taking the stage to introduce a forthcoming filmed biography - Will and Testament. This has been over a year in the gestation and covers, among many struggles, Benn’s involvement in the 1971/2 Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in. This was a struggle he remembered last year as he took part in the Gala Concert staged to mark the 40th Anniversary in Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre - many attendees will remember the film crew following Tony around.
Woody Guthrie
In addition a number of the other participants in that concert (and the subsequent Celtic Connections concert) are coming back together to mark another working-class anniversary - the centenary of the birth of Woody Guthrie, dust bowl poet and singer, communist and inspirer of many of today’s folk singers, most notably Bob Dylan. Arthur Johnstone, Alistair MacDonald, David Anderson and Sheena Wellington lead the line up paying homage to Guthrie.
While this might be seen as the product of successful concerts and the desire of a new producer/programmer to strike out in a new direction from his predecessor, in fact these events are the latest examples of might be seen as a resurgence of ‘socialist culture’ that seems to be taking hold.
MayDay
Previous events included the UCS 40th Anniversary Concerts, and other highlights like the screening of Cinema Action’s films of the Work-in, but there are also the two years of cultural activity around Glasgow’s traditional MayDay march. Although low-key, these are increasingly being distinguished by the rise in the number of campaigning organisations staging events. Last year the programme featured Scottish Left Review, Cuba Solidarity, and the International Brigades Association as well as Glasgow’s Trades Union Council and the co-ordinating Glasgow Friends’s of MayDay.
Our Class, Our Culture
Also Scotland is seeing a series of increasingly respected Morning Star Our Class, Our Culture discussion sessions. These last have featured well-known artistic performers, writers and composers, such as Dave MacLennan, Alistair Findlay and William Sweeney, and have covered the contribution of different genres to working class struggle, and the impact of different artists - like Robert Tressell. 
Tressell also features at Edinburgh with a production of Stephen Lowe’s two-handed dramatisation of his Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, produced by Townsend Productions and Unite the union, and a South African Season also features, led by Athol Fugard’s Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act and Woza Albert! from The Market Theatre in Johannesburg (at the (other) Assembly).
The awakening of trade unions to the profile-raising and appeal-broadening sides to this cultural activity is significant. The UCS and Tressell productions have been financed largely by Unite the union, and the other large player, UNISON has been running a number of interesting and innovative Mobilise sessions around Scotland - bringing singing, music, comedy and cartooning directly into the fight. 
A 'Golden Thread'
As someone who has long argued that the use of culture and the arts should be much more of a ‘natural’ element for trade unions, and the left in general, these developments are welcome. I don’t think I am alone, either, in seeing in the flashmob, and other theatrical stunts produced by UK Uncut and the Occupy movements, a practical application of this link. While it should not, (and cannot successfully) be separated from the need to have a clear political direction and a planned campaign, the use of music, drama, imaginative writing and all the entertainment of a well produced event needs to be increased. 
After all, as Boyle himself said his ceremony had  “a single golden thread of purpose - the idea of Jerusalem - of the better world, the world of real freedom and true equality…”. Maybe my original theory doesn’t sound a step too far after all! I suspect Woody Guthrie would have subscribed to Boyle's " ...belief that we can build Jerusalem. And that it will be for everyone”.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Woody Guthrie sings the concerns of people in the 30’s and in the 10’s


A number of hugely interesting developments are planned for this years Edinburgh Fringe. Following on the increased interest in political music at this years Celtic Connections, a similar development seems to be hitting Edinburgh’s festivals - in particular the Fringe.
Woody Guthrie - his guitar killed fascists!
At the city’s Assembly Rooms, new broom, Tommy Shepherd has programmed a sweep of new projects, and specifically two nights of concerts celebrating the centenary of dust-bowl folk singer and political activist, Woody Guthrie.
The links are more than coincidental, as the organisers of the concerts, FairPley, are the same people who organised the UCS 40th Anniversary Concerts in Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre, and during Celtic Connections at the Old Fruitmarket, and certain similarity in the artists will also be seen!
The Songs of Struggle concerts star some of Scotland’s finest singers, including Dave Anderson, Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald and Sheena Wellington, plus guests. They will be singing songs by Guthrie, who provided the voice for the many dispossessed during the depression created by the financial crisis in 1930’s United States. It is no wonder that there is an increasing interest in Guthrie, as we struggle in the depths of another crisis of financial capitalism.
Guthrie, of course, was as well-known for inspiring other singers and artists - Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs (when is he to be due his re-discovery?) and of course Bob Dylan - as singing songs himself, and the stars of this concert will also sing material inspired by Woody.
The concerts are at 9.00pm on 11 and 12 August in the Assembly Rooms’ Ballroom. Tickets are £14.50/£12.50 from www.arfringe.com or 0844 693 3008. Why not get your union branch to block book tickets and get a discount? Contact Jim or Stephen at FairPley - 0141 418 0562
An increasingly strengthening link between left politics and artistic performance is being seen across Scotland, and it is certainly one to which the Captain will be returning in the near future. In particular the return to Scotland of veteran socialist and former UCS minister, Tony Benn, with his biographical film. Keep an eye on the Captain’s grumps!

Monday 9 July 2012

Mandela's Birthday & a new Bookshop

Once again I seem to be taking to the blog to apologise for the tardiness with which I post here. Do I have a reason? Not really - an excuse, yes - a valid reason, no. 


The excuse is that I have been involved in a bit of a nostalgiafest over the past month. Returning to an old school reunion in Surrey and doing a considerable amount of research to track down past friends and comrades. (I'm worse at keeping in touch than I am at posting on here!). Comrades? Yes indeed - even the soft underbelly of British capitalism produces lefties occasionally! Maybe I'll write more about this fascinating experience shortly, but to get on...


Another anniversary that needs to be marked - and far more worthily than my old school's - is that of Nelson Mandela. Yes, Madiba will be 94 next week, and to mark the significant occasion ACTSA are sending another book container to South Africa from Glasgow. The container is 9 tonnes and will take over 1,000 boxes of books destined for school libraries in South Africa - it costs £3,500 to send, a not inconsiderable amount to raise (reasonable though it is). The books are at Hillhead Library in Glasgow, and the container will be packed there before being sent off from George Square.


ACTSA are looking for volunteers to help pack the container on the 18 July, and volunteers to donate to the cost. John Nelson John.Nelson@actsascotland.org.uk or 01698 426781, is the man to contact re volunteering. Donations to the shipping costs can be sent to ACTSA Scotland, 52, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4AA.


This is the first of an annual Mandela Day celebration, in Scotland and Archbishop Desmond Tutu has sent a short video message in support, a link to which can be found in a Scottish Government news release at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/tutu-mandela-day28062012  


Calton Books

Another interesting development (particularly for those of us who like the feel of the printed word as well as its digital counterpart) is the establishment of a new lefty bookshop in Glasgow.

Our old friends at Socialist Productions are behind the development of Calton Books. As the name suggests the bookshop is at 159 London Road at the Barras (beside the old style sweetie shop). As you might expect, they also sell Socialist Productions material as well as a range (wide and getting wider) of new and 'pre-loved' (love the marketing jargon, Robert!) books. They have a twitter page here to keep up-to-date with the new development. Currently open at the weekends (Fri, and Sat 10.30-4.30; Sun 11.30-4.30. Tel: 07590 262987/07510 292573 email: caltonbooks@socialistproductions.org

A development well worth supporting!