CityLife

Double helping of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

TWO-NIGHT STOP: TRTP

A NEW stage version of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, the famous novel written by Irish-born Robert Tressell, comes to Bury and Salford from Wednesday.

The book was never published in Tressell’s life-time but became so popular after his death that it has often been said it won Labour the 1946 general election.

It tells the story of a group of building workers in the early twentieth century, living in Muggsborough, a fictional town, based on Hastings, where Tressell was living.

It was also known as The Workers’ Bible, so revered was it among Trade Unionists and Labour activists.

For Tom Mclennan, the writer of the adaptation, it’s a book that’s still very relevant today

“Many of the social injustices that Tressell so carefully charted are still present in today’s society,” he observes.

“You only have to think about the recent MP’s expenses scandal to be reminded of the wonderful scenes in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists featuring the corrupt councillors, divvying up the Council’s resources among themselves.”

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is at The Met, Bury, on Wednesday, July 1 and Salford Arts Theatre on Thursday, July 2.