Lynda Brennan introduces her play Bread and Roses which is inspired by historic events

Come along to the Living Room Library in Fore Street next month and you will find yourself transported back to Edmonton in 1915 – which you could be forgiven for thinking was the epicentre of a social revolution.

Bread and Roses, performed by Enfield People’s Theatre, tells the story of the 1915 Edmonton rent strike. One year into the First World War there was a national shortage of ammunition, so munitions factories sprung up across Britain. Wages were double the usual pay and workers flocked to work there.

But unscrupulous landlords saw their chance, increasing the rent and leading to hundreds of brutal evictions. Thousands of women across the country took the law into their own hands and organised massive rent strikes, which spread like wildfire from Glasgow, to Bristol, Birmingham – and, to Edmonton. The women strikers were victorious, and the first Rent Restriction Act was brought into force in 1916.

Bread and Roses tells this historic story but, alongside, also tells stories from our present housing emergency.

A community play can’t blossom without a community. To create the show we ran drama workshops, hosted group discussions, and conducted interviews about the housing crisis. We’d like to say a big thanks to the staff at Fore Street Library for welcoming us to use their rehearsal space.

We are also thrilled to be working in partnership with the local community interest company, Everyone Loves Music, and are delighted that so many young people have written their own songs and will perform them as part of the play.

Led by Elizabeth Hart, the performances by the young people will be some of the highlights of the show. Bread and Roses is directed by Shirley Mason, written by myself, and has a great team of actors and singers – we can’t wait for you to join us.

Audiences are invited to come along early to relax, glass in hand, and listen to Leszek Kusmierz play us in with his piano before the play starts. We also invite you to sing along with a Marie Lloyd song and hum to Willie McBride.

Enfield People’s Theatre is proud to have been granted funding for this play by the ‘Untold Edmonton’ programme, funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and managed by Enfield Council.

While tickets are free, numbers are limited, so it is essential you book either in person at Fore Street Library or via Eventbrite on the link below.

‘Bread and Roses’ is showing at Fore Street Library on Friday 22nd September at 7.30pm, on Saturday 23^rd at 7.30pm, and on Sunday 24th at 3pm. To book via Eventbrite:
Visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/bread-and-roses-by-enfield-peoples-theatre-tickets-678002823697

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.