Made in Dagenham the Musical

Memorabilia Available

Made in Dagenham is a musical with music by David Arnold, lyrics by Richard Thomas, and a book by Richard Bean. Based on the 2010 film of the same name, which in turn was based on the real events of the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968,^[1] the musical will make its West End and world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre London in 2014.

Background

The musical is based on the 2010 film Made in Dagenham,^[2] which in turn centred around the true-life events^[3] of the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968.^[4] The film principally follows the main character of Rita O’Grady,^[5] who acts as the spokesperson for a group of female workers at Ford’s Dagenham plant, who go on strike to fight the inequality that becomes apparent when women workers were to be paid less as they were classed as unskilled. In contrast, their male colleagues were classed as skilled and ultimately received more pay.^[6] These actions led to the creation of the Equal Pay Act 1970.^[7] It received four British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations,^[8] including Outstanding British film.^[9]

In December 2011, it was first revealed that a musical adaption of the film Made in Dagenham was being worked on.^[1] A reading of the book from the show took place the same month^[10]^[11] with two workshops also being held the following year.^[12] During these workshops, actress Gemma Arterton played the lead role of Rita^[13] and in August 2013, Producers Stage Entertainment revealed that they would like Arterton to play the role subject to scheduling^[14] and were seeking an autumn 2014 opening.^[15]

On 3 March 2014, the show was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would premiere in London in autumn 2014.^[16] The musical has a book by Richard Bean^[17] and is directed by Rupert Goold,^[18] with choreography by Aletta Collins^[19] and set and costume design by Bunny Christie.^[20] The musical’s score is composed by David Arnold,^[21] with lyrics by Richard Thomas.^[22]

Describing the production, producers revealed that whilst based on the film, it won’t be a direct copy of it, saying “Some of the characters from the film will be dropped, and new ones introduced. Not all the elements from the film will be on stage, and we’ll expand on things the film barely touched on”.^[11]

Cast London 2014

Character	Original West End Performer
Rita O’Grady	Gemma Arterton
Eddie O’Grady	Adrian Der Gregorian
Mr Tooley	Steve Furst
P.M. Harold Wilson	Mark Hadfield
Barbara Castle	Sophie-Louise Dann
Beryl	Sophie Stanton
Clare	Heather Craney
Sandra	Sophie Isaacs
Mr Hopkins	Julius D’Silva
Lisa Hopkins	Naomi Frederick

Creative London 2014

Richard Bean – Book
David Arnold – Music
Richard Thomas – Lyricist
Rupert Goold – Director
Aletta Collins – Choreographer
Bunny Christie – Designer
Stage Entertainment – Producer
Glass Half Full Productions
Just for Laughs Theatricals – Producer

Run

Date	Type & Version	Theatre
Oct 09, 2014– Apr 11, 2015	Musical, Original	Adelphi Theatre, London, UK

Gemma Arterton

Gemma Christina Arterton b 2 February 1986 is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in St Trinian’s (2007), Quantum of Solace (2008), Clash of the Titans (2010), and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). In 2013, she starred in financially successful films Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and Byzantium. In 2010, she made her West End debut in the UK premiere of The Little Dog Laughed, She is due to star in Made in Dagenham, a stage musical about the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 concerning equal pay for women. It will premier on 5 November 2014 at the Adelphi Theatre in London

Rupert Goold

Rupert Goold (born 18 Feb 1972) is an English theatre director. He is the artistic director of the Almeida Theatre. Goold was the artistic director of Headlong Theatre Company (2005-2013). In 2008 he directed the UK premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and a radical re-interpretation of Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Chichester Festival which he co-authored with Ben Power. This production subsequently transferred to the West End and toured the UK and later Australia. In 2009 he directed a hugely acclaimed West End revival of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Goold recreated Sam Mendes’ direction for the London Palladium production, which was nominated for three Olivier Awards.

References

“Made in Dagenham” Film Being Adapted as West End Musical; Rupert Goold Will Direct”. Playbill. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“Gemma Arterton cast as lead in Made in Dagenham stage adaptation”. hollywood.com. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Arterton for Made in Dagenham show”. The Belfast Telegraph. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Made in Dagenham”. The Guardian. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
“Sally Hawkins heads for the Hollywood A-list – thanks to a 1968 pay dispute”. The Guardian. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
“‘60s Sweatshop Girls Fighting Ford”. The New York Times. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
“Made in Dagenham: a squandered opportunity”. The Guardian. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
“Baftas nominations 2011: full list”. The Guardian. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
“Made in Dagenham overlooked by Bafta, claims actress”. BBC News. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
“Made in Dagenham Graces Musical Stage in 2013???”. whatsonstage.com. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
Dagenham musical strikes the right note”. Daily Mail. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“Gemma’s made for Dagenham: Actress set to hit the West End for stage version of film”. Daily Mail. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“Gemma Arterton has got the moves in musical about the end of sexual discrimination in Made in Dagenham”. Daily Mail. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“Gemma Arterton set for Made in Dagenham musical”. BBC News. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“MADE IN DAGENHAM Searches For West End House; Gemma Arterton Is Top Pick For ‘Rita’, Fall 2014?”. Broadway World. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
“From the Duchess to Dagenham: Gemma Arterton cast in Made in Dagenham musical”. The Independent. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton Leads ‘Made in Dagenham’ to West End”. Variety. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“‘Made in Dagenham’ Musical Coming to London Stage”. ABC News. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton to star in Made in Dagenham musical”. The Stage. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton stars in Rupert Goold’s Made in Dagenham musical at Adelphi from October”. whatsonstage.com. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton to Star in West End Premiere of Made in Dagenham, New Musical by Richard Bean, David Arnold and Richard Thomas”. Playbill. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton strikes out for Made in Dagenham musical in the West End”. The Guardian. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Just For Laughs Theatricals launching West End musical”. The Globe and Mail. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Gemma Arterton to star in Made in Dagenham musical”. BBC News. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Arterton To Star in MADE IN DAGENHAM, Opens Nov 5″. Broadway World. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
“Further Casting Announced for New West End Musical Made in Dagenham”. playbill.com. Playbill. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
“Gemma Arterton Leads Dagenham Musical”. officiallondontheatre.co.uk. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.

External Links

Official website
Made in Dagenham on Twitter

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