Joan & Jimmy (Littlewood & MacColl)

Joan & Jimmy

a play with songs

Saturday 9th March 8.00 pm

“Joan & Jimmy” is the story of Joan Littlewood and Jimmy Miller (subsequently known as Ewan MacColl), and their collaboration in Manchester to establish Theatre Workshop. Both were deeply committed to radical political theatre, performing one-night stands across post-war northern England. They aimed to overthrow the established order and make theatre more accessible to the people of the north. As well as developing a northern working class audience, Littlewood attracted the attentions of MI5 who viewed her as an insurrectionist. MacColl was writing songs as well as scripts and in 1949 penned Dirty Old Town and would go on to write The Manchester Rambler and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

In 1952 he and Littlewood parted company, Joan and Theatre Workshop heading to London while Ewan entered the folk music world.

Joan & Jimmy, produced by Yorkshire community arts organisation, Blaize, includes stories and songs written by Jim Woodland, directed by Mike Bettison and is suitable for ages 12+

there will be a licensed bar dispensing a real ale, red and white wine by the glass or bottle and a selection of soft drinks

Tickets @ £10 (full adult) and £7 (u-18’s) available from:

Britannia Gallery (opening hours) OR Eventbrite  OR by sending an s.a.e. and cheque payable to J Aspin to 53, Briar Road, Blackburn BB1 9TF (07377 788716)

seating is unreserved

BBC Radio 4’s Soul Music were recently in touch with Joan & Jimmy director, Mike Bettison about the song Scarborough Fair. Mike had researched it’s origins for Joan & Jimmy and subsequently wrote an article published in The English Folk and Dance Magazine.  Read more