Stand and Deliver : The Lee Jeans Sit In written by Frances Poet brings together a wonderful ensemble cast of Actor - Musicians.

This true story takes place in Greenock 1981, it's the story of 140 women, and a few men, who tackle the American company VF Corporation to save their jobs, amid the mounting unemployment of Greenock. Brought on by Maggie Thatcher's change to free trade and a desire to curb unions.

When the Lee Jeans production was going to be ripped away from Scotland and moved to the more lucrative Northern Ireland. Union rep Helen played by the tremendous Jo Freer, decided those who didn't want to take redundancy stage a sit in at the factory to stop the machines being removed. This un sanctioned wildcat strike started the seven long months it took to get back to their sewing machines. 

The play begins in 2026 with the lead characters of the sit in Helen, Hannah Jarrett-Scott's Cathie, Maggie played by Chiara Sparkes and Aron Dochard as dishy Finlay, he also takes on all the other male characters, going back in time to tell their own story.

The play is written after hours of interviews and research by Frances Poet the stories told come from the memories of the women who were actually there. 

When the sit in starts they have little to no support for their actions from their union, their only source of pay was to go out collecting, and jings they did. The Ship Workers and Coal Miners got behind them and donated, all seeing the way industrial manufacture was going under Thatcher rule. 

Greenock once famous for ship building and sugar had only Lee Jeans left and would not let them go easy. 

This is a play with music, much of the soundtrack from 1981. Kim Wilde's, Kids in America opens the show, with Duran Duran's Girls on Film, Ghost Town by the Specials also punctuates the air of the show. 

It is a play about resolve and change, flighty Maggie the youngest of the main players changes from her high Jinks persona to joining Helen making speeches at SNP and Union conferences up and down the land, meeting MPs such as Tony Benn, union reps like Jimmy Reid and even Hollywood protester  Vanessa Redgrave. 

This epic play of many characters and real life is spectacularly Directed by Jemima Levick on a stage designed by Jessica Worrall, the clever staging allows for a raised band area at the back and the rest to be canteen and various meeting rooms. 

If I was to be hyper critical: the first 10mins of the play is slightly confusing as it takes that time to introduce the main players. The year at the very start seems unsure but as it gets into it's stride it all becomes clear as the events begin to play out. 

As the play comes to a close we return to 2026 to find out the fate of the main players. 

Spoiler!!!!!!! 

Although they achieved a factory buy out and saved their jobs it was short lived, only for 3 years, but in that time they inspired  more manufacturing workers to do the same so their 140 saved jobs became over 600 in the long run. 

This play will remind you of the glory days of David Maclennan and Dave Anderson's great plays for Wildcat Theatre Company. You will also be  reminded of John McGrath's saying theatre should be " A Guid Night Out" and this very much is. 

The run has ended at the Tron, however it will now tour Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.