"Glory Days by Bill Freeman describes STELCO in the 1930's and early '40's as a workplace rank with discrimination and favouritism. The workers lived under a form of tyranny where the boss was king and their needs and wishes were simply disregarded... the common belief of management of the day was that workers needed to be disciplined and tough foremen were an absolute necessity if companies were to survive. Under that system, workers had no power and no means to be able to struggle against that tyranny. The greatest achievement of unions is that they give the workers the means to challenge this system, and this led to a change of attitudes to the point where today no company, unionized or non-unionized, would dare treat their workforce in such autocratic and discriminatory ways." - from the introduction by Bill Freeman
Students who are interested in the production should go to You Tube for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Opening Ceremony; the Australian Opening Ceremony; and the London Olympics Opening Ceremony with the Industrial Revolution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDORgtOSiFY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX4QJ57QXKo
I am extremely excited for Glory days, it really shows how the government treated the workers and unions. It also gives a side I'm sure lots of people have never seen. I can't wait to get started!:)
ReplyDeleteI see many great things in this play. I see more heat and red tints to the set as the climax rises. I see harsh and passionate movements in the dances. I can see the very deep notes in the music. I see charcoled, dirty clothes. And I see desperate workers fighting for better circumstances. Even though I don't understand the full history (which is vital in knowing how the play and characters unfold), I know that it stretches each character to the limit. Some break. Some fight too hard. Some even leave. But it's important to know that, no matter what, human rights will be heard. The good and moral things in this world will always prevail. I'm thrilled about this play. It is a beautiful piece of work. I fully understand that it is our job to make it a masterpeice, to connect with our characters, and to react to the setting.
ReplyDeleteAmazing comments. Now, find images that "speak" the play & let's put a collage together.
ReplyDeleteThis play has so much history in it that we have to interperate to the audience in a short amount of time, so we need to find little ways to add to every aspect of the play, so the audience can fully grasp the intenseity and importance of the time period. How it shaped the economics and steel industry of Canada forever. It's our job to interperate the struggle these men went through, and how they everything on the line for the strike.
ReplyDeleteGlory Days seems to be a incrediable play. It has its ups and downs. From workers fighting for evrything they have to works been through the rough times and made it out ok. This play has so much history in it, mostlikely history people have never heard about. The play can be a amazing performance as long as everyone is going 110% giving it your all. Should be a great year in OAP!
ReplyDeleteWith all the history in this play I believe it can really be an asset by doing it. Not only is it a great play but it can help is relate to the people that really were under these union's and such. Mr. Freeman did a great job in writing this play and if we give it our all I believe not only can we make our school proud but we can make this incrediable author proud as well.
ReplyDeleteGlory Days is an amzing play that has so much history involved with it. Doing this play will help all of us realize what all of the workers and people had to go through at this time. Mr. Freeman did a wonderful job scripting this play and I am very excited to do this!
ReplyDeleteThe history of this play is an eye opener. You don't think about how hard it was for the strikers to be out there all the time and not think about all their struggles.
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