WE THE YOUNG STRONG
By Nicola Baldwin
Directed by Celia De Wolff
BBC Radio 4, April 2025. LISTEN NOW
READ: Dr Kevin Harris’ interview with Nicola on background to the audio drama:
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New audio drama, inspired by archive testimony of young Defence Regulation 18b detainees during WW2, discovers Britain riven by economic and political marginalisation, austerity, extremist radicalisation, protest, and fake news.
Flora, Eva, Violet, Charlie and George are unemployed, troubled, kicked out of school. Years of austerity following a banking crash they can barely remember has crushed their hopes and damaged their trust in government. A new political movement, the British Union of Fascists, offers evening classes, dances and an outlet for their anger and – unlike the old political parties – will train them, pay them, empower them. Loyalty to the Blackshirts must be absolute: the future belongs to those willing to fight for it. But what if this means fighting each other?
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Regulation 18b was an emergency Defence Regulation introduced during WW2 which gave the Home Secretary power to indefinitely intern people considered a potential threat to public safety or the war effort, without detailed charges or trial. The drama shines a light on a troubled period of economic and political marginalisation, extremism, street violence, and fake news.
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With thanks to National Theatre Studio, Manchester Jewish Museum, Working Class Movement Library, The Lowry, Sheffield University Library, UCL Urban Lab.
PICTURE: British Union Women's Drum Corps. University of Sheffield Library.
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CAST:
FLORA... Poppy Gilbert, CHARLIE... Calvin Demba, GEORGE... Finlay Paul,
EVA... Ruby Bentall, VIOLET... Abigail Weinstock, DOROTHY... Jenny Funnell,
ANNIE... Abi McLoughlin, OSWALD MOSLEY... Paul Hilton, PROTESTOR... Kiki May
Sound Engineer: David Thomas, Director: Celia De Wolff, Writer: Nicola Baldwin
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4
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Previously developed as a stage play, performed at Bloomsbury Theatre (main stage) in October 2019, hosted by UCL Urban Laboratory and UCL Culture for Bartlett100: Directed by Cat Robey, with panel discussion chaired by Aditya Chakrabortty, Guardian columnist and senior economics commentator, with Julie V. Gottlieb, Professor in Modern History at The University of Sheffield.​​​
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Creative team: Nicola Baldwin, Cat Robey, Gabriel Finn, Abi Bown, Junior XL.
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