On Tuesday 8th March, Ardent Theatre Company launched their online Big Give campaign to raise funds to produce Tracy Ryan’s play STRIKE! about the Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid strike that took place in Dublin between 1984 and 1987.
Every donation made unlocks the same amount from actor Sir Ian McKellen who has pledged £25,000 towards the project via his Producer Grant scheme.
Ardent said “We’d like to thank everyone who gave so generously and rallied behind us. We’ll be thanking you individually and adding your names to our website to acknowledge your support.
When we planned this appeal we had no idea what was about to erupt in Eastern Europe. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered and continue to suffer. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
In light of this, The Big Give has allowed us to extend our appeal until Sunday 31st July to give us more time to reach our target and unlock the full amount of funds offered by Sir Ian McKellen.”
If you’d like to help, you can donate here . Remember, if you’re a UK taxpayer if you add Gift Aid in the donation confirmation, your £1 will be worth £2.25 to Ardent!
Thank You to everyone who has donated, in the past and the future!
From March 8 to 22, Ardent Theatre Company are asking for your help to stage a significant play which highlights Ireland’s contribution to the South African anti-apartheid struggle of the 1980s.
Sir Ian McKellen has awarded Ardent a £25,000 producer’s fund to help them tour their production of STRIKE! around the UK in 2023, culminating in a run in Dublin. But Ardent first need to raise that same amount to unlock that funding, which is why they are asking for your help. You can help them- but only until March 22nd when the appeal closes.
STRIKE!, by Tracy Ryan, tells the incredible true story of a group of 11 young shop workers in Dublin in 1984 who went out on strike to protest against apartheid in South Africa. Their three-year battle with employers Dunnes Stores tested each and every one of them, inspired significant change, and brought them into contact with supporters around the world – people who they never imagined meeting before.
457 days into strike action and on the 19th October 1985 Irish Poet Seamus Heaney joins with Dunnes Stores Workers at an anti apartheid demo. Photo copyright rollingnews.ie
It’s an engrossing and ultimately uplifting story of solidarity and personal sacrifice that is less known outside of Ireland, told with humanity and humour and guts, celebrating young people standing up for what they believe in, against overwhelming odds and yet still persisting. Ryan’s play has been extensively workshopped and developed with the writer herself. Ardent’s commitment to the project is long-standing.
The London run and UK tour of the show will include a number of educational resources and online supporting material to aid future research and historical appreciation of the strikers’ campaign.
Your online gift will be matched by Sir Ian McKellen – he’ll be matching each donation until the target is achieved.
Give £5, the production gets £10. Give £50, it’s doubled to £100. Every donation makes a difference.
Please support this production by donating via the link here.
Please remember the challenge closes on Tuesday 22nd March. Thank You!
“I would like to make a plea to the owners. Here are young people of whom you ought to be proud, because these are people of such integrity. You should be glad that you have people of such calibre working for you. I would like to call on you to hear what they are trying to say.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1984
On Thursday September 16th at 7.00pm UK time, Ardent Theatre is inviting you to an exclusive sharing of their play reading of Tracy Ryan’s STRIKE! filmed at the Irish Cultural Centre, to be followed by a live Q&A. (booking necessary- see below)
Ardent’s Creative Director Mark Sands has long been a passionate advocate of Ryan’s play of these real-life events and his dedication to bring STRIKE! to a wider audience is commendable.
Set in Dublin in 1984, the play concerns a twenty-one year old shop worker who refuses to sell South African fruit to a Dunnes Stores customer and is suspended. Ten colleagues follow her out on strike, thinking it will only last two weeks.
It goes on for nearly three years.
STRIKE! by Tracy Ryan is a powerful and moving account of the Dunnes Stores Anti-Apartheid Strike that took place in Dublin between 1984-87.
Filmed at the Irish Cultural Centre in July, this recorded play reading is directed by Kate Saxon and performed by 13 actors.
Following the reading, there will be a live-streamed Q&A with 3 or 4 of the original strikers from Dublin.
7:00pm – 8:15pm: Showing of the pre-recorded play reading
8:15pm – 9:00pm: Live-streamed Q&A with strikers Karen, Liz and Vonnie and hosted by Ardent’s Andrew Muir.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions. To do this, please type your question in the chat function on YouTube on the night. They can’t promise to cover them all, but will get through as many as they can.
Although this is a free event, registration is required to receive the link to the broadcast, which will be sent out near the time of the event.
