Video

She was and is THE radical change maker - second to none! Thanks for watching

I am delighted and honoured that you chose to share this story about your dear dad on this strand. I love the tale and think it’s such a beautiful thing that he kept it framed in a drawer - no wonder! What a gorgeous hidden piece of this tale. Thank you so much for watching the film too. I’ve another about Joan that I’ve almost completed and after I’ve tried it at festivals I’ll be uploading it onto CZcams too. Pop back in a few months if you fancy another Joan-based film. (This one is about her practices and politics from the lips of those who worked with her - including the wonderful Glynn Edwards who I was lucky enough to speak with before his passing)

@@hysterialane24 Thank you so much. I'll certainly be looking out for the next film. There was more that I wanted to mention, but I didn't want to babble: Two of the interviewees are standing next to the plaque for Ken Hill in the theatre bar- well, Ken was a dear friend. He worked with Dad dozens of times over the years, and was one of Dad's most frequent Directors. Dad was in one of Ken's plays - at Stratford E. - while I was being born! He went into work covered in afterbirth, according to family legend. And Ken's wife, Toni Palmer, also a dear friend (and mentioned in the documentary) appeared many times with Dad over the years. I have an old clip of Toni and Dad doing a song and dance number in one of Ken's pieces. So many funny little connections. Salford, Manchester, an important location in Joan's history, is where my Grandma, Leila Berg was born and raised. She went on to be highly active in the Communist party, and also heavily involved in the Spanish Civil War. Probably knew Joan! (She was a celebrated and outspoken political and social activist throughout the same era). Lot's of elements in your documentary triggered goosebumps for me and echoed bits of semi-remembered family history. It was an excellent and well put together piece of work. I very much enjoyed it. (And I apologise for succumbing to the babble. I have autism and can't help monologuing sometimes!)

@@kitsworld This is what I made the film for - those connections are NOT babble. They are beautiful and important stories as well as being vitally important documents of the people’s history of these shores - I genuinely hope that one day we meet and that I can hear MUCH MUCH MORE “babble” as I’m utterly fascinated by your tales and grateful to hear them. Toni Palmer is a missing piece for me and a wonderful actor. And as for your dear grandmother - there’s a documentary a book a play and an LP in the telling of her life story! Incredible. Thank you for such a candid and personal sharing - it is deeply appreciated, Wendy

May I ask, who was your father? I may have heard of him.

@@johnohara197 Hi John, I tried to reply to this already but I think CZcams deleted it - I posted links to Dad's Theatricalia and IMDB pages, which may be why. Anyway, I can't believe I did all that typing and forgot to mention his name: Frank Ellis. I would love to hear back if you ever crossed paths. If you're in the biz you might have done. Cheers, Kit.

Thank YOU for taking the time to listen to these crucially important voices of people’s theatre history - much appreciated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch it Mike - the stories of these inspiring forebears of people’s theatre shouldn’t be forgotten and with folk like you gathering them up they won’t be. Much appreciated.

What a wonderful comment - sounds like golden memories. Thank you so much for sharing.

Im a woman😩

HeyItsSarahX She will always be sorely missed. She was wonderful