KENNY MacASKILL relishes a fictionalised account of the life and death of the principled Irish anti-colonialist, executed for betraying his English imperial masters
YES! YES! UCS!
Touring
IF this play doesn’t ignite a flame of pride in your heart for working-class struggle, check your pulse.
You may laugh, cry, sing along with raucous rock and melancholy folk. You’ll certainly yearn for the real leaders of the left, and celebrate again the victories of “people power” over venal politicians.
You’ll also witness two young actors, Heather Gourdie as Eddy, and Janie Thomson as Aggie, holding together this complex, demanding production, with an easy assurance usually associated with more mature performers.
JULIA TOPPIN recommends Patti Smith’s eloquent memoir that wrestles with the beauty and sorrow of a lifetime
TUC Midlands marks 20 years of celebrating the 1910 chainmakers’ victory with a festival that connects historical lessons to modern struggles — because working-class history should inspire action, not just nostalgia, writes STUART RICHARDS
SYLVIA HIKINS casts an eye across the contemporary art brought to a city founded on colonialism and empire


