Banner Theatre was founded largely at the inspiration of Charles Parker in 1973 as an amateur theatre company based on socialist principles. The company emerged out of a performance group at the Grey Cock Folk Club to produce documentary-based shows using a range of multi-media techniques around drama, folk music, slides and oral history recordings. A professional company was formed in 1974 which continued to enable amateur groups within it, such as the Women's Group and the Handsworth Community Project, to produce their own work.
The principles of equality and anti-racism lie at the heart of Banner's work and this is reflected in their productions and the associated records. Their aim is to develop performances that use the words of ordinary people in speech and song and that encourage discussion and debate about employment rights, representation, inequality and social justice.
Over the years Banner have developed shows such as In Order to Understand (1976-77) which documented 20 years of black people's experiences in the Midlands, The Great Divide (1977), a show on racism which emerged from the problems faced by Asian workers at the Conygree foundry in Smethwick, and On the Brink looking at racist employment practices at the British Leyland plant at Longbridge in 1981-82.
Sweat Shop (1995) reflects Banner’s long tradition of supporting groups of unionists, both in local disputes and on a national level such as the 1984 Miners Strike. Sweat Shop was prompted by a dispute at Burnsall's metal finishing plant in Smethwick which led to a study of conditions in similar work places employing Asian workers and which made connections between several campaigns. Over a period of two years 100 people were interviewed for the show including Burnsall strikers, Asian machinists and factory workers in Birmingham and Luton, home workers, Turkish and Kurdish workers in Hackney and workers from a Texan Levi factory in San Antonio.
The vast archive of Banner Theatre demonstrates how performance and creativity can be used for political campaigning. The records reflect their lengthy and meticulous research with individuals and groups in the work place and in the community. The material includes oral history recordings, scripts, notes and research material, visual images, songs, newscuttings, publicity materials and publications. Banner Theatre is still active and regularly performs across the UK.
The catalogue for this collection is available in Birmingham City Archives, collection reference MS 1611.
You can also download a pdf version of the catalogue below:
Banner Theatre - MS 1611 |
