UK: Tasmanian singers at Tolpuddle

This year the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival was again a great success and congratulations are due to South West Regional TUC.

They evidently understand the value of culture for strengthening and inspiring the labour movement to meet the challenges that we face.

On the Saturday Theatretrain performed "Protest - From a Spark to a Flame," brilliantly written and conducted by Robert Hyam. It told the Tolpuddle story in the very place where history was made and around a hundred young people were singing, acting and speaking about the struggle for trade union rights, which are now under attack.

This was followed by the Tasmanian Grassroots Union Choir performing "Loveless in Hobart Town," the story of what happened to martyr George Loveless when he was in Tasmania. 
The location gave this poignancy, enhanced by the fact that these were real Tasmanians who had come halfway round the world. The show was well researched well written and well performed and it told an aspect of the Tolpuddle story that I had not heard. 

Socialist comedian Josie Long followed them with a performance that was inspiring and educational as well as very funny.

Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International TUC, drew huge cheers from the crowd when she passed on solidarity greetings from trade unionists around the globe.

“From 115m people around the world, I say: ‘We salute your courage to stand up to this government – congratulations!

“The right are trying to turn us against each other, public sector against private sector. They are trying to undo the very basis of common good – the welfare society – that we fought for for ages. You stand tall and we’ll stand with you. Your fight is our fight.”