Local trades unionists
will join musicians and other performers to commemorate the death of Leek born
Josiah Heapy in the Burslem Chartist riots of 1842.
The First Stoke
Chartist Festival will take place behind the town hall on Market place on
Sunday 20th August and is a co-production organized by New Vic
Borderlines and the People’s History Association of North Staffordshire (PHANS).
Support, including the
loan of a fire engine converted into a mobile stage previously used when Jeremy
Corbyn visited Hanley, has been provided by unions including Unite, the FBU,
and Unison.
New Vic Borderlines is
an award-winning community arts program that uses theatre to give a voice to
those who have been marginalized [1].
Director Sue Moffatt
has written a play based on the events surrounding the Chartist riots and the
death of Josiah Heapy that will be performed on the day by members of the
community supported by three professional actors.
In keeping with the
Chartist theme trades unions active in North Staffordshire will be present to
provide information about the work they do to support working people today.
There will also be
stalls run by local groups including Period Power, NORSCARF, and community
support charity Better Together as well as craft activities and a display of work
relating to Chartism done by students at local schools.
Josiah Heapy was born
in Leek and died on 16th August 1842 when troops broke up an
open-air Chartist meeting taking place on Swan Bank, Burslem, causing a riot
that resulted in damage to several prominent local landmarks [2]
In the aftermath of the
riot 146 Chartists were imprisoned and 54 were transported to Australia.
The Burslem Chartist
riots have been described as the ‘Potteries Peterloo’ after the more famous
riots in Manchester [3]. In 2019 a successful campaign saw a commemorative
plaque unveiled in Burslem near to the spot where Heapy was killed. A street on
a nearby housing development has since also been named after him.
Jason Hill, a member of
PHANS who also took part in the campaign to have a street named after Josiah
Heapy said the festival will “honour” Josiah Heapy and other trades unionists who
“fought for the freedoms that we take for
granted today”.
He emphasised the important role
played by Heapy and other Chartists in creating the trades union movement in
North Staffordshire and nationally.
He believes the festival will
“raise awareness of this important episode in the history of Burslem which,
sadly, seems to be largely forgotten today."
The festival will feature
speakers, including Chrissie Gibson a living relative of Josiah Heapy, music,
poetry, and performances of the play at various locations around the town.
The festival will take
place on 20th August at Market Place, Burslem, ST6 4AT between
11:00am and 4:00pm.
For further information
contact:
Sue Moffatt: smoffatt@newvictheatre.org.uk
Aida Haughton: ahaughton@newvictheatre.org.uk
[1] https://www.newvictheatre.org.uk/education-and-community/borderlines/
[2] https://markwrite.co.uk/2018/08/02/josiah-heapy-burslem-1842/
[3] https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/we-proud-josiah-want-tell-2927408
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