Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, award winning show visits Puddletown as part of Martyrs Festival.

As part of this years Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival organisers are bringing back Townsend Productions version of Stephen Lowe’s original adaptation of Robert Tressell’s classic working-class novel to St Marys School, Puddletown on Friday 13th July at 7.30. Tickets are £9.50 and £8.00 and can be bought in advance from the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum Shop in person or by calling (01305) 848 237.

It is a hilarious fast-paced show following a year in the life of a group of painters and decorators, as they renovate the town Mayor’s house. These workers are the “philanthropists” who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters.

This vibrant, lively story is brought to life by two hugely talented and experienced performers, Neil Gore and Rodney Matthew, using comedy routines, entertaining songs, live music from the Music Hall and uplifting hymns sung in graceful harmony. Directed by Louise Townsend

The show has been selling out all over the country, including a couple of runs care of Artsreach in Dorset. After the festival it heads to the Edinburgh Festival for a month residency.

ON TOUR THROUGHOUT 2012

Its is a brilliant adaption of an important book and is as relevant today as it was when Robert Tressell wrote it over a 100 years ago. It is lively and entertaining, and though it gets serious points across it does so in a way that never preaches or attempts to alienate the audience.

Keep up the pressure on Holland & Barrett!

The usual suspects will be conducting a picket of the hypocritical workfare slave-mongers in the Poole area on 7th July. If you’d like to be involved contact us

A spur of the moment picket was called by Bournemouth Uncut and Occupy in solidarity with comrades in Liverpool on Saturday 23rd. It was well attended, supported by members of BPACC and Solent Solfed. Two shops picketed; police called in relation to attachment of flags and placards to street furniture, despite the plethora of bunting and advertising material in the precinct – we were only asked to take it with us when we’d finished.

At the arcade, the security prat in the jeweller’s next door asked us to  go outside (there were two entrances, one inside, one out), another prat in a suit came out, he was asked to prove that he was an agent for the landowner. After variously claiming to be the owner, chairman of the committee and some company he couldn’t name, he “couldn’t be bothered to argue” and went back in to call the police – which he didn’t – so there you go.

    

   

Reel News From Greece – U.K. Tour!

Thanks to all those who supported the appeal – here it is:

GREECE: “Our Present Is Your Future” DVD and UK Tour

Audio and video analysis of Greece / Euro situation from Workers’ Solidarity Movement (Ireland)

Radical workers’ bloc at Tolpuddle 15th July 2012.

Calling on Anarchists, Anarchosyndicalists, Libertarian Socialists, Revolutionary Unionists, Platformists, Wobblies, non-aligned working class radicals and all those who want to celebrate 200 years of class struggle without marching under the banner of a political party or the business unions that affiliate to them. Bring your red/black/(A) flags and let’s start putting the libertarian left back into the consciousness of our class. We’re portrayed as a disorganised rabble – show ‘em we can get organised and march together as a group.

See more…

We urge all who can to go to Bristol on Saturday 14th  to oppose the EDL.

Who’s this bloke?

The fascist photographer was present at both recent far-right fiasci in Brighton, caught here filming UK uncut protesters on the 2nd of June.

Please help us identify this fascist!

A tale of two cities.

Fascists Get Fucked in Brighton….Again – a write up on the 2nd June action in Brighton from the Anti-Fascist Network

Couple of quality quotes from the day:

‘If there were no police, there would be no fascists, fact!’  – a member of the public who was asking the police to kindly ‘Piss off so we can get rid of the bastards.’

‘I don’t know why the police don’t just let us sort it out, they (the fascists) would never dare show their faces in Brighton again,’ – Anti-Fascist campaigner.

‘Go on kids, See em off!’ – an elderly lady watching from the railings outside Brighton train station as around a gang of 100 had just legged it down the road in hot pursuit of the 30 fascists being taken to the train station by police. – Re-posted from A.F.N.

Statement by Brighton Anti-fascists

Detailed report from Indymedia:

Brighton anti fascist actions prove a valuable lesson

In Newcastle however:

Firecrackers Thrown And Fights As EDL Supporters And Anti Jubilee Protestors Clash In Newcastle

There is no shortage of good, active comrades in the North so how did this happen? It seems the event was set up on Facebook and no attempt was made to call for support even after threats had been issued. By contrast the network in the south is well supported and organised to the extent that about 100 anti-fascists turned out in Brighton without a public callout.

Our experience has shown that any radical event is likely to attract fascists. Anyone arranging something like this should expect trouble and prepare for it, it’s still largely a numbers game – the police will always round on the smaller group. We urge all left-libertarian groups to sign up to the Anti-Fascist Network and work together to make sure the fash are never able to control our public spaces.

How Do We Break Workfare? – Report from National Conference.

On Saturday 26 May, nearly fifty anti-workfare activists met up in Brighton for a national conference entitled ‘How do we break workfare?’; hosted by Brighton benefits campaign

Participants came from Liverpool, Norfolk, Oxford, Dorset, London, Surrey and Sussex as well as Brighton and Hove.  They represented welfare and anti-cuts campaigns, claimant organisations, political groups and trade unions, as well as many individuals opposed to workfare.

Here’s the full report from the B.B.C. website:

Fash seen off in street and ballot box – updated.

Fash & Chips – a report from SchNEWS

Casuals United, the football hooligan wing of the EDL, made complete tits of themselves in Brighton today (2nd). In response to their humiliation at March for England the fash thought it would be a good idea to come back in even smaller numbers to have a go at the “rabid hordes of commie UAF gays” that passes for the population of Brighton.

Far right websites, blogs and Facebook pages are already attempting to claim that antifa either a) didn’t turn up, b) ran away, and/or c) attacked patriots unprovoked. In reality the knuckle draggers managed to skulk about in a few pubs (including Belushis, The Saint James & The Amsterdam) while around 100 antifascists stewarded the UK Uncut demo and Palestine Solidarity stall near Churchill Sq. Once the stall had packed up around 3pm the antifascists mobbed up and headed towards Old Steine to confront the racists.

Police halted the majority of the march halfway down North St, meaning only around 30 made it to the bottom of St James Street, where small groups of fash were skulking around making homophobic remarks. A spirited fistfight broke out, though the police waded in before a decisive outcome was reached.

The cops then rounded up most of the EDL and marched them to the train station, with antifascists haranguing them all the way. Many of them then left town with a few others heading back into town to find a pub to defend from Sharia Law.

Antifascists then regrouped for a well earned pint, while others headed to Hollingbury police station to pick up arrested comrades. So far at least 5 antifascists and 5 fascists have been nicked today.

A more complete & concise roundup of the day’s events will be posted in the near future.

Up the punks!!

Bangers-and-Fash – update from SchNEWS

Meanwhile..

on Thursday, 31st May the fascist BNP candidate Colin Smith sank without trace in the Bournemouth council by – election for Redhill and Northbourne; he pulled in 42 votes, some 0.74% of the electorate.

Local activists had turned out on the Tuesday evening to leaflet the ward, which contains 3 BNP members, just in case their neighbours were tempted to vote for the fascists.

Turnout was 32.77%, which means the winning tory candidate was elected by 11.96% of those eligible to vote; representative democracy, what a load of crap.

If you can still bring yourselves to take an interest in this scam, here’s the full result:

Tory 675
Lab 539
Lib 424
Ind 398
UKIP 327
Green 54
Ind 51
BNP 42
Ind 15

Much more fun when we do it ourselves!