‘We Are The Lions Mr Manager’ Jayaben Desai & the Grunwick Strike- theatre production touring the UK

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Grunwick Strike (1976-1978), Townsend Productions remounts their acclaimed We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! for a UK tour. This timely and urgent retelling of one of the most significant mobilisations in labour movement history brings the inspirational fight for freedom, equality and human dignity to the stage.

Based on the experiences of strike-leader Jayaben Desai and the Grunwick Strike Committee, the play highlights the struggle against the exploitation of immigrant workers, challenging the myth that Asian workers and Asian women were passive and easy prey for exploitation.

What began as a local dispute grew into a national movement for justice. This remarkable act of solidarity saw workers take a brave stand, with the labour movement responding in one of its most extraordinary shows of support, paving the way for future generations.

More than a strike over wages, the dispute was a battle for dignity at work and a fight for rights and respect in the workplace. Employed by the Grunwick Photographic Film Processing Factory in north-west London, under the assumption they would be easy to exploit, these women found their voice and demanded to be heard. Directed and produced by Louise Townsend (Yes! Yes! Page | 2 UCS!, Farewell Leicester Square; UK Tours), this powerful production is emotional, eloquent and compelling.

We Are The Lions, Mr Manager! also explores broader themes including women’s rights, immigration, the experiences of minority and ethnic communities, union solidarity and the social and political climate of the 1970s. It shines a light on a story of dignity, rights, pride and solidarity in the face of institutional racism and entrenched ideologies that sought to undermine the hardwon freedoms of working people.

Louise Townsend, Director/Producer, Townsend Theatre Productions, comments This project has been developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Grunwick, and reminds us that we’ve been here before; that this period of the mid- 1970s mirrors our current political landscape, especially in light of last Summer’s waves of violent far-right led anti-migrant disturbances. With the play we aim to analyse the past and apply it to now, offering the message of Grunwick, one of social and racial harmony, as an alternative to racist and anti-immigration narratives that are common currency with detractors that feed misinformation and unrest, and to foster greater solidarity and defend the rights of migrant and women workers.

Written with musical direction by Neil Gore (Farewell Leicester Square, Yes! Yes! UCS!; UK Tours), the play features a range of musical styles from the era. With its blend of drama, humour and live music, including the involvement of local choirs and South Asian dance groups, the show is an engaging celebration of resistance and solidarity. Capturing the dramatic scenes shown on television news at the time, such as snatch squads, police lines and waves of trade unionists and pickets, the play resonates strongly with recent global scenes of unrest and protest. The production is presented in association with Arts Council England, Thompsons Solicitors, GMB the union, ASLEF, national trade unions, trades councils and all of Townsend Theatre Productions’ supporters.

Rukmini Sircar – Jayaben Desai –inspirational leader of the 1976-78 Grunwick Strike

Rukmini (she/her) is an Indian actor and performance maker based in London.
She made her West End debut in Bombay Superstars with Phizzical Productions in September 2025. Her credits also include Gazebo Theatre’s productions of Mr. Bob’s Midnight Market and the touring production of Wanted. She also co-wrote and performed in London: A Bloom of Consciousness, a site-specific walking tour showcased at the Bloomsbury Festival. Additionally, she played the title role in The Dancing Elephant, an interactive children’s theatre piece that toured across the North of the UK.

Rukmini holds a Master’s degree in Performance Making from Goldsmiths and is an alumna of the three-year acting course at the National School of Drama (NSD) in India. She is a recipient of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award (India) and the Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship.

We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! plays at Sheffield Theatres Oct 14 – Oct 18 and plays at Cast Doncaster Oct 21. Tickets are available here.