Mark Thomas: The Red Shed

The thing about a Mark Thomas show is that it doesn’t just engage you in the theatre, it gives your brain something to chew on for the following days too – and such is the way with The Red Shed. Billed as a personal story, Thomas tells of his history with the 50-year-old Socialist shed in Wakefield and how it first engaged him politically in the midst of the Miners’ Strike. Keeping one eye on the future to mark its bicentenary, this is touchingly personal and universal, digging deep into the reasons for and relevance of unions now, as much as when socialism started. With Thomas’ trademark passion and humour, his gift at explaining the complex in relatable terms without talking down to a soul is a treat.

The Old Market, 8 November 2016
Rating:
Victoria Nangle