The Lionesses Roar Again in Grunwick Anniversary Revival
There are moments when theatre doesn’t just reflect history — it ignites it all over again. We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! isn’t just a play. It’s a righteous reminder. A battle cry. A love letter to resistance. And for me— this one hits differently.
Marking 50 years since the Grunwick Strike, Townsend Productions has brought back their acclaimed show, and I’m telling you now: this isn’t a polite history lesson. This is powerful, pulsating, deeply personal theatre. And yes — I cried.
At the heart of it all? The utterly formidable Jayaben Desai, the Gujarati lioness who stood at the front of a strike line in North-West London and told her manager: “What you are running is not a factory — it is a zoo. But in a zoo, there are many types of animals. Some are lions. And lions do not work in cages.”
Mic. Drop.
What began as a dispute about dignity at the Grunwick film processing factory became one of the most significant moments in UK labour history — driven by migrant women who refused to be exploited, refused to stay silent, and absolutely refused to be underestimated. This was a revolution in saris.
A History of Protest, with a Pulse
Directed by Louise Townsend, the production isn’t afraid to show the snatch squads, the police lines, the sheer emotional violence of being told you’re worth less because of your race, your gender, your accent. But it’s also laced with joy, wit, and rallying cries of solidarity. With Neil Gore’s musical direction, live performance blends into protest anthem, and local choirs and South Asian dance bring fire to the stage. This isn’t heritage theatre — this is history reignited.
What I love — no, what I respect — is how the play challenges the lazy narrative that Asian women were passive, quiet, unpolitical. Tell that to Jayaben. Tell that to the hundreds of workers who stood firm in the face of police batons and racist smears. These women didn’t just strike — they redefined what strength looked like.
Theatre That Talks Back
More than just a historical tribute, this is a searing reminder that the battles of 1976 feel chillingly familiar in 2025. Louise Townsend has been clever and careful — the parallels between then and now aren’t spoon-fed, but they hit hard. Especially with recent anti-migrant unrest led by far-right groups. This play says: we’ve been here before. And we won’t go quietly.
It’s also deeply moving to see unions — GMB, ASLEF, Thompsons Solicitors and more — backing this production. Because this isn’t just art, it’s activism. Presented in association with Arts Council England, it’s theatre with teeth. And we need it more than ever.
In Summary: See It. Share It. Shout It.
If you believe in solidarity, dignity, and the power of women — see this show. If you’ve ever felt invisible, underestimated, or unheard — see this show. And if you’ve ever underestimated the aunties in the corner, folding saris and stirring tea — see this show, and prepare to be schooled.
Grunwick wasn’t just a strike. It was a reckoning. And We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! makes sure we never forget it.
Powerful. Personal. Political. Unmissable.
— Riya Kapoor, Theatre Village
http://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/
About the Author
