Nowt Like This in America 2023.
Nowt like this in America -
Radio Interview - YouTube
Feb 24th, 2009.
An untold history of the 1980 Steel strike.
The story of a family, a community and an industry.
21 Nov 2009 Evening Gazette by CHRIS HOLE
What: Nowt like this in America.
Where: Saltburn Community Theatre. When: Until Saturday.
IT’S
not often that Saltburn plays host to a world premiere. But this week, the curtain went up on
Teesside playwright Alan Spence’s first offering Nowt like this in America. The
story depicts one Teesside family’s struggles through the 1980 steel
strikes. The Wilkinson family are seen
enjoying life to the full but we then witness their struggles as the strikes
begin and their lives and futures are thrown into turmoil.
The
story follows the family to the modern day showing how the strikes have shaped
each of their lives and the effects it has had on their relationships – with
friends and with each other.
The
small cast consists of a number of strong, convincing performers who draw you
in and create a level of empathy. The moving storyline is set against a
background of newspaper headlines and stories which add to the atmosphere and
help describe the changing face of the industry over time and the bigger
picture created by the steel strikes.
Middlesbrough-born writer Alan Spence manages to inject a real Teesside spirit into the story with local references, settings, and at times a touch of humour. In his programme notes he admits the play was years in the making, but this has allowed him to bring the story right up to date and tell a tale of struggle and solidarity which is just as relevant right now, as it was when he originally sat down to write his story.
Verdict: Well worth a look.
