Theatre Workshop Scotland presents
The Happy Lands A feature film developed and created along with members of the mining communities of Fife, Scotland.
IN A ONE NIGHT ONLY MAY DAY SPECIAL SCREENING -
with Director Q&A –
1st May 2013 at RIVERSIDE STUDIOS, CRISP ROAD, LONDON W6 9R 19:45 – 22:00 Directed by Robert Rae, a Theatre Workshop Scotland Production supported by Creative Scotland through The National Lottery, in association with BBC Scotland.
What more appropriate way to spend May Day, than in The Happy Lands? It’s the General Strike of 1926 – only seven years after the slaughter of the trenches, millions of workers across the country down tools to take part in the biggest walk out in British history, taking a stand against austerity cuts, imposed by a Liberal-Conservative government. Robert Rae’s epic, sweeping portrait of a definitive moment in the history of social justice charts the lives of three families as they deal with questions of loyalty, honour, love and trust in the midst of the Strike. Created with over 1000 members of the Fife Mining Community, this moving story of the hardship faced by the miners is ultimately a celebration of the indomitable human spirit, which will resonate across the globe. A game changing work that cast the people of the Fife Coalfield Communities at the heart of their own story and told in their own voices. Relevance Today The film has been created with the generation of miners and their families who lived and fought through the 1984/85 Strike and offers the audience genuine insight into why the destruction of the mining industry and its culture, so central to Thatcher’s project, was so passionately resisted and why, even now, the mining communities can never forgive Thatcher herself for her wanton destruction of their lives. “We were backed into a corner. We never got a choice. The choice was you stand up to keep your village, your community, going if you want, or you just role over and let then do what they want. That was our life. It wasn’t just our job - it was our life. Everything revolved around that pit, the family, the money, the social life, your friends, and you ken it was more than a job. You had no option but to fight.” Joki Wallace in The Happy Lands Joki Wallace, nominated for a BAFTA for his performance as Miner’s leader Dan Guthrie, brings an authenticity and power to the film that has resonated across Scotland and within the mining communities across the UK, where it has played to sold out audiences and drawn spontaneous standing ovations. “I’m still not sure that everyone appreciates just how significant this film is. It is the working class telling working class history. That is rare and valuable and stands up, head high, alongside any political film I ever helped make, or any I have seen. It will live forever.” Tony Garnett, Drama Producer, (Cathy Come Home, Kes)
In Scotland an extraordinary battle rages – the only thing everyone agrees is that the vote on independence will be an affair of the heart. “The Happy Lands” goes to the soul of Scottish identity – an identity forged on the battlefield of industrial conflict – and no more so than in Fife where The Fife Miners were synonymous with revolutionary resistance. “The Happy Lands” has been invited back to the Scottish Parliament as the centrepiece of the Festival of Politics - to kick of a year of debate that will decide the future of the United Kingdom. “The Happy Lands is marvelous cinema and so much more. To be honest I was somewhat surprised by the high quality of the production, international standard in every aspect. As a story, it does not flinch from the harrowing events and the cruel injustices, yet it has humour and inspiration. It made me realise why I’m so proud of the people I come from. The performances were startlingly realistic in a way full-time professionals can’t quite achieve. The Happy Lands couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, witness the lines at the very end about remembering these things because history repeats itself.” Tom Brown, Political commentator, columnist, broadcaster and author. TO BOOK Bookings can be made by ringing 020 8237 1111, or clicking link below. Callers can pay by credit or debit card. £9.50 or £8.50 (concession). Or click here: https://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/online/performances.php?cmd=listPerformances&e ventId=1111:2780&l=1365589522
KEEP IN TOUCH Find us on Facebook; The Happy Lands Twitter: @thehappylands Trailer: https://vimeo.com/42403991