The world premiere of the revolutionary new British musical Cable Street – opens at The Large, Southwark Playhouse Borough on Friday 16 February.
Cable Street is a topical and electrifying reimagining of one of London’s most momentous days – celebrating a community who came together with a call for action, as The Battle of Cable Street was fought and won. With racial tensions running high, people marched and took to the streets of London… A timeless story, as powerful today as it was in 1936.
It’s October 1936 in the heart of London’s East End. Sammy (Joshua Ginsberg), Mairead (Sha Dessi) and Ron (Danny Colligan) are carving out their own futures on Cable Street when Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (Blackshirts) start to march on East London. Half a million Jews, Irish workers, trade unions, the labour and communist parties, women and children unite to blockade the road they all call home. As the people raise their voices and take a united stand against hatred, the lives of the streets’ residents are changed forever.
Discovering there were so many connections to The Battle of Cable Street still resonating today, composer/lyricist Tim Gilvin and playwright Alex Kanefsky decided that Cable Street must feature a contemporary score: bringing to life a vital part of London’s rich diversity and history.
In an extraordinary twist of fate, Joshua Ginsberg’s great-grandfather Isidor Baum fought at The Battle of Cable Street, returning home bleeding profusely but victorious – true life reflecting art. And researching their own families, several of the cast and production team emotionally find their own connection to the East End and the 4 October 1936: their ancestors also defended this diverse community from fascist intimidation at The Battle of Cable Street with cries of They Shall Not Pass.
Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD
southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Booking: 020 7407 0234 – boxoffice@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk Box Office opens Monday – Saturday 10:00am-6pm
Friday 16 February – £10 Pioneer Preview – all seats £10.
17 February – 24 February – all seats £16 during previews
26 February – 16 March – £35 standard / £28 concessions
Evening show: 7:30pm
Matinees: Tuesday and Saturdays at 3pm.
Suggested age 13+
