HAODS bring catchy, upbeat tunes and a striking true story to The Capitol

1968, Dagenham. It's a man's world, but some ordinary women are about to do something extraordinary as HAODS brings Made In Dagenham to The Capitol Theatre this April.
Natalie Hayes, Amy Blaskett, Rachel Farrant, Chris Dale, Lisa Falkner, Alicia Marson, Tess Kennedy and  Becky MundenNatalie Hayes, Amy Blaskett, Rachel Farrant, Chris Dale, Lisa Falkner, Alicia Marson, Tess Kennedy and  Becky Munden
Natalie Hayes, Amy Blaskett, Rachel Farrant, Chris Dale, Lisa Falkner, Alicia Marson, Tess Kennedy and Becky Munden

Based on the real-life events of the Ford sewing machinists’ strike, Made In Dagenham is a musical comedy about friendship, love and fighting for what is right, as it tells the story of this key historical turning point for women’s rights.

The show takes audiences back to 1968 when the women of Ford Dagenham struck out against sex discrimination in job grading. The women had no previous experience of collective struggle and, on the face of it, were quite unprepared to take on the mighty American Ford multinational corporation. But the strike brought Ford’s entire car production to a standstill. We follow the girls as they take their fight all the way to Westminster and the TUC conference, encountering key political figures of the time.

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HAODS promises a night filled with catchy upbeat songs, lively choreography, brilliant characters, hilarious comedy, a few heartfelt tears and even a shiny on-stage Cortina.

Made In DagenhamMade In Dagenham
Made In Dagenham

Director Yvonne Chadwell said: “In 1968, I was just a teenager at Grammar school in York. I can, however, vividly remember the strike and the impact it had. What a joy to be able to re-create those moments with HAODS’ production of Made in Dagenham as it takes us back into the ’60s.

“While the film is quite well known, the stage musical is new for many audiences. With a script that covers many emotions, it retains the humour you would expect with a group of women in a factory and has a lively musical score. I’m sure the Horsham audiences will leave humming the tunes and maybe even join with the cast during the rousing final number, ‘Stand up’. We have kept to the era as far as we can in all things, including props, costumes and dances and even have a Cortina affectionately named ‘Tina’.

“My inspiration for the setting comes from those factory floors we still see today in manufacturing companies. To create this, we will be using The Capitol Theatre stage right to its back wall.”

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Made In Dagenham is at The Capitol, Horsham from April 4-8 with performances every evening at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Made In DagenhamMade In Dagenham
Made In Dagenham

Call 01403 750 220.

Parental discretion is advised for this production. Some scenes contain some swearing representative of the authentic 1968 factory setting.

Pictures by Sam Taylor and Chris Dale

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Made In Dagenham

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