Banner Theatre Company presents "Battle Lines" in Blackburn

As part of their 50th Anniversary Tour "Banner Theatre" return to Blackburn with their production of "Battle Lines". In part a commemoration of the 1984 Miners' Strike, "Battle Lines" links this crucial part of Trade Union history to the class conflicts of today, with songs and video from striking Amazon workers in Coventry and recognition of campaigns in the global south - like the massive farmers' struggle in India, which delivered the biggest general strike in trade union history.

Banner has a successful track record of developing collaborative documentary theatre, combining video interviews and original live music and song with film, and animation, in a form they call the ‘video-ballad’.

“All the things that we live with today – the zero hours contracts, the food banks, the underemployment, the bogus self-employment, the huge level of inequality that has emerged in the last generation. All that was made possible by breaking the most significant obstacle to that kind of economy and society, which was the power of organised labour and the trade union movement.” Seamus Milne, Author of ‘The Enemy Within’

The Trades Council is being supported in hosting this production by the UNISON Hospitals’ and Local Government Branches, which means that we are able to offer tickets for the performance for free. We will, however, ask those who can to help with costs to do so by contributing to a bucket collection on the night. The venue has a capacity limited by fire regulations, so pre-booking is essential.

There will be a pie supper available from 6.15 to 6.45, but, to help support the "Bureau", we ask that attendees buy pre-performance and interval drinks from their new, on site Café.

Host or Publisher Blackburn and District Trades Union Council