REVIEW: Stand and Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-In – Tron Theatre, Glasgow

Six years in development, it’s fitting that Stand and Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-In has come to the stage during the National Theatre of Scotland’s 20th anniversary year, coinciding with its True Stories project where it is looking to gather real-life Scottish stories to tell on its stages.

This is the true story of the 140 workers, predominantly female, from Inverclyde, who under the stewardship of their redoubtable union rep Helen Monaghan, defied all expectations to endure a seven month occupation of their factory in order to save their jobs in the face of unreasonable corporate greed.

The predominant focus of the production is the magnitude of what Monaghan bore on her shoulders: galvanising the workers, speaking to the press, negotiating with their union, meeting dignitaries and campaigning for funds to survive. She is helped along the way by her own son Finlay and formidable sisters Maggie and Cathie Wallace, Maggie whose youthful recklessness is eventually channelled into positive action.

The production is scattered through with hits of the 80s, from Adam and the Ants, Kim Wilde to Blondie to name a few. The sheer spirit of this group of people: their energy their commitment to social justice, their decency, oozes from every scene. Jo Freer’s Helen, is a perfectly judged portrayal of an ordinary woman achieving the extraordinary and Chiara Sparkes and the extraordinarily talented Hannah Jarrett-Scott are the perfect foil for one another as the contrasting Wallace sisters.

It is an emotional, touching, uplifting, empowering story and a fitting tribute to the memory of these 140 inspiring souls. I defy anyone not to be moved by the roll call of names that scrolls across the screen at the conclusion of the story. If the rousing applause and standing ovation at the end are any measure of the appetite for Scottish stories on the Scottish stage then theatre makers take note – more of this please.

Tours to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Peebles, Tobermory, Inverness, Cumbernauld and Greenock until June.

Image: Mihaela Bodlovic