Called the first working-class novel, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was passed from worker to worker, soldier to soldier, and is credited with helping elect the 1945 post-war Labour government, which founded the welfare state.
Written over a hundred years ago by Robert Tressell (Noonan), who died a pauper, it viscerally describes how the rich exploit the poor to make Big Profit.
Townsend Productions has brought the novel to life as a solo play with magic lantern effects and the performing and musical talents of writer/actor Neil Gore.
Learn about the Great Money Trick by the “kind-hearted capitalist".
Hiss at the Tory, Mayor Sweater.
Spluttering like Boris Johnson, the Mayor accuses socialism (rather than profit-driven capitalism) – (fancy that!) – of being the problem:
“Black Ruin for the rich, and consequently, of course, Blacker Ruin still for the poor!”
Be moved by Barrington’s Great Oration.
”Under the present system many men and women capable of great works are prevented from giving expression to their powers by poverty and lack of opportunity: they live in sorrow and die heartbroken, and the community is the loser. These are the men and women who will be our artists, sculptors, architects, engineers and captains of industry.”
Wonder at how much suffering could be reduced if we put people before profit.
As actor/writer Neil Gore said after last night’s sell-out performance in Bristol:
”There is an appetite for this play now.”
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is on its UK tour now.
Thank you for this interesting recommendation. I hope to see this production one day but in the meantime I will read the book
Which shows: plus ça change. Still relevant after 100 years. Sounds like a great performance.