By Amy Marsden
“We Are the Lions, Mr Manager” took place on stage at the Alma Tavern and Theatre on 29-30 October 2025, and what an impactful, funny and moving show it was!
The show covers a decade (1968-1978) of Jayaben Desai’s life, the leader of the Grunwick strike, who fought for a union among migrant workers living in the UK. The performances include singing, dancing and chanting. The main setup is simple but effective: a projector and a prop of the Grunwick factory.
The show starts by briefly covering Jayaben Desai’s life before moving to the UK: it is colourful and radiant. Through light work, dancing and singing, the audience travels to India and Tanzania. Back then, she could express her culture freely. Then, it switches to her life in the UK, which is cold and unwelcoming: “No dogs, no Asians”. Her experience working at Grunwick is awful and soon the strike starts.
The show is led by two actors: Rukmini Sircar and Neil Gore. Rukmini Sircar plays Jayaben Desai and delivers phenomenal performances that capture the resilience, fearlessness and dedication of Jayaben. With a chin held high and a strong fist, she leads the audience to chant: “WE WANT UNION”. The audience unites and becomes part of the movement too. Neil Gore plays six different roles with style. The switch between roles is impeccable; each character has a set costume, accent and attitude. It is always clear who the audience is dealing with. He also performs songs with an electric guitar or a mandolin.
It was inspiring to watch the representation of a strong woman leading a pacifist fight against discrimination. The show highlights the fear and disrespect present in the workplace, particularly for migrant women, which serves as a reminder of the struggle many still face. This show is also about solidarity and unity between individuals. It emphasises the importance of standing together to achieve freedom and to, as said in the show, “Greet the Sun, Share the Earth”.
This is a reminder to support unity between people and communities for better outcomes. My favourite bit is when the “We Are the Lions” quote is said by Rukmini Sircar, which left me teary.
Find out more about the play here: https://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/shows/we-are-the-lions-mr-manger/