| Description | Handwritten notes [assumed to be by Peter Yates] include an undated agenda for a meeting with Fran[ces Rifkin] about 'Steel Book' and a list of tasks assigned between Yates and Rifkin, which was to result in a letter to Methuen by 21/07/1989. There are also copies of material produced by Banner Theatre, which were to be included in an information pack for the publisher: a) 'The Ballad of Kevin Casey' a songsheet produced by Banner in 1980 [Kevin Casey was a steel picket, assaulted by police officers at British Leyland's Pressed Steel Fisher factory in Birmingham on 07/02/1980], b) leaflet and poster for Banner's 'In the Reign of Pig's Pudding', c) leaflet for Banner's 'Songs of Struggle' and d) a brochure for Banner Theatre itself.
The core of this file consists of material produced by Rifkin. The first element is three sheets of typed notes relating to Banner Theatre [nd]. They sketch out suggested lines of analysis of Banner and aspects of cultural working and political campaigning. Speech as a cultural resource of the working class is considered. The work process of Banner Theatre is summarised, with discrete stages being identified as: a) establishing contact with potential clients and targets for research [the campaign to retain Nechells School and the production 'Put People First' are referred to], b) undertaking the research itself [Corby is mentioned] and c) production [this stage is not considered on these sheets].
The second element of Rifkin's material consists of twelve sheets of typed notes [nd]. This is an account of her experiences as a cultural worker with Banner Theatre, with particular regard to her involvement in recording aspects of the steel industry and related communities, in Sheffield in 1982 but primarily in Corby in 1979 and 1980. Rifkin's experiences and personal development as a researcher assembling actuality material and developing productions for Banner are summarised. An insight is given to the tensions that can sometimes arise between 'sponsors' of productions and cultural workers. The trades union perspective of steel related research being into the male dominated production processes was challenged by Rifkin who also sought to record the experiences of women within steel communities. However, she acknowledges that the industrial and economic situation that she encountered in Corby and Sheffield have resulted in a predominately male perspective being depicted. This account provides a detailed account of the physical environment in Corby and various steel making processes. Attitudes of various elements of the steelmaking workforce, trades union officials and local campaigners are also discussed, as are relationships with members of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation [ISTC], the campaign group ROSAC [Retention of Steel at Corby] and Corby Community Arts. Rifkin also outlines her views on the theories and realities of recording oral testimonies for campaigning, cultural productions. |
| AdminHistory | These papers were originally contained in a file marked as 'Steel Lighting Script' but no performance material was held in this file at the time of cataloguing. The contents included notes assembled by Frances Rifkin for a suggested book about the experiences of being a cultural worker in Corby during the campaign to save the steelworks.
Banner Theatre sent Frances Rifkin and Peter Yates to Corby in 1979 to assemble actuality recordings, photographs and research notes. They were accommodated for many months in a flat provided by the local council in recognition of their support for the steel campaign, and they worked with steel workers and their families, trades unionists, community campaigners and arts workers. In 1989, Rifkin and Yates considered writing a 'Steel book' about their experiences of researching and producing 'Steel' and this file contains notes relating to material assembled for submission to Methuen, the prospective publisher. |