“Written and directed by TV & theatre actor, writer and director, Chris Jury, best known for playing Eric Catchpole in the BBC’s antique classic, “Lovejoy,” … “The Liberty Tree” is a rebellious, feel-good, jukebox musical for anyone sick of being overworked, underpaid and powerless. It is a hilarious, up-lifting satire on modern Britain.”

Against a backdrop of the June 2015 Anti Austerity marches, London’s Westend gave its own rallying cry for progressive political change in the form of Chris Jury’s

“The Liberty Tree”

[File:Houghton AC8 Sn612 825h – Liberty Tree.jpg|Houghton AC8 Sn612 825h – Liberty Tree]

 Modern political struggles, rooted in history

The original Liberty Tree, from which the show aptly takes its name, was a symbol of resistance against the British Government in 18th Century America.  The connection between the past and our present day is a deliberate one:  “an attempt to make explicit the similarities between the political struggles of today” and those throughout history.  “The Levellers, The Jacobins, The Chartists and the Suffragettes” explains Chris, all “played their part in the development of the play.”

“Liberty Tree” Production Photo 2015

“collective political action”

The production is set in an “electric sweatshop of the 21st century”:  A Call Centre.  Despite a growing reputation for substandard working conditions and low pay, “one in three call centre staff is a graduate, as university-educated workers struggle to find suitable employment.”[i] What could be more emblematic than a group of highly-educated, bright individuals collectively working in these conditions, to “demonstrate the political realities of how power is expressed and to extol the virtues of collective political action as a response of the powerless to the abuses of the powerful.”

“Liberty Tree” Production Photo

“the legacy of a lack of political education”

Whilst older generations may feel the loss of their rights, how can future generations feel this loss, if they never had them?  This is the legacy of a lack of political education, which Chris is keen to address throughout the play:  “The history and character of our social democracy and of the progressive economic and political struggles that have brought it about are simply not taught in our schools or colleges.”  Without such knowledge, it becomes impossible for young people “to resist the exploitation they are all too aware they are experiencing in the workplace.”

“Liberty Tree” Production Photo 2015

The production is performed “by students and young activists,” is billed as “an inspiring night out for all lefties, radicals, socialists, anarchists, trade unionists and fellow travellers,” keeping an energetic and a large-scale musical vibe through the use of projection, music and dance as well as narrative, character and dialogue.  Despite its urgent political agenda, Chris Jury hopes that in the tradition of theatre, the audience have, above all, “a bloody good time”…

… and I hope more and more do, for this is a play that needs to tour, that needs to be taken around the country and seen by young people everywhere.

“The Liberty Tree”

[i] http://www.theguardian.com/money/2010/sep/22/call-centres-rise-graduate-applicants [accessed 20150629]