18.04.1996

A play for our class

Nancy Morelli reviews 'On the Line', by Alan Spence at Dundee Rep (7.30pm Monday to Saturday until April 27, £6. 75, concessions available)

Never since 7:84 staged The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil has such an overtly political play as On the Line had such a profound affect in Scottish theatre.

The play, by Alan Spence, is subtitled ‘A celebration of Timex in Dundee’ and traces the history of the company from its establishment in 1946 to the bitter battle to maintain wages and conditions that was fought in 1993.

As a piece of documentary drama, On the Line makes extremely good theatre. The script is based entirely on facts gleaned from newspapers, videos and various documents; but most importantly from interviews with strikers, scabs, police and management. Consequently it gives at least a valuable glimpse of the truth behind the story of the Timex strike.

The music, by Ricky Ross (of Deacon Blue fame), captures the razzmatazz optimism of the 50s and 60s (“It’s better than workin’ in the mill”), the monotony of factory work (“But its a joab for life”) and the determination and grit shown in the struggle (“I never thocht ah wid ever bring masel tae shout scab at onybody”).

The play claims to be ‘balanced’, but even the fairly sympathetic portrayal of the scab workforce only serves to highlight further the honesty and courage of the predominantly women strikers.

The play is not perfect. I found the music over-sentimental. There was no elaboration on the key role of the support groups and it did not adequately portray the level of politicisation that took place on that picket line.

However, the play does capture the humour and some of the passion of the dispute. It does convey the sense of our class in a war - not just with one company, not even a transnational, but a war against all the forces of capitalism.

Alan Spence says, “Ultimately, it is a play about and for Dundee.” He underestimates his own work; it is a play for and about our class and our struggle.

Nancy Morelli