The Working Class Movement Library has supplied historical material for displays in Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre to accompany the current production of 'Mary Barton'. Set in Manchester the 1840s the play is based on the novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell, one of Manchester's famous writers, which drew on her own experiences in the city as the wife of a Unitarian minister. The play tells the dramatic story of Mary and her father John and is set against the backdrop of poverty, strikes and the radical political agitation of the Chartists.
The director of the play Sarah Frankcom visited the library and was shown a wealth of contemporary prints and descriptions of Manchester which has been used in the displays in the theatre foyer designed by Maxine Laing.
The WCML is a national collection of historical material on the trade union and labour movement which was originally started in the mid 1950s by Ruth and Edmund Frow in their own home in Old Trafford and is now recognised nationally and internationally as unique resource. Since 1987 the library has been housed in a dedicated building on The Crescent in Salford where it now fills 40 rooms. At the age of 84 Ruth Frow is still very involved on a day to day basis with the library along with the staff, volunteers and trustees.
'Mary Barton' runs until 14 October. More information:
[url]http://www.royalexchange.co.uk[/url]
Working Class Movement Library
[url]http://www.wcml.org.uk[/url]