We The Young Strong

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. They join a new political movement, which – unlike political parties run by old people – will train them, pay them, empower them. Loyalty to the British Union of Fascists must be absolute; the future belongs to those who will fight for what they want. But what if this means fighting each other?

Inspired by archive testimony of young women detained under emergency regulations during the Second World War, We The Young Strong shines a light on a troubled period of economic and political marginalisation, austerity, extremist radicalisation, street violence, and fake news.

Followed by a panel discussion with journalist Aditya Chakrabortty (Senior economics commentator, The Guardian), 20th Century British Political History, women’s history, and British fascism expert Prof Julie Gottlieb (University of Sheffield). and East End expert and author David Rosenberg.

Written by Nicola Baldwin (UCL Creative Fellow) and directed by Cat Robey (Carne Deputy Director, Jermyn Street Theatre). Running time 80 minutes, followed by a short interval.

We The Young Strong has been supported by the National Theatre Studio, Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Criterion New Writing, The Lowry and developed with Manchester Jewish Museum and Working Class Movement Library.

This event is part of UCL Performance Lab, an experimental programme of art and cutting-edge research, and Bartlett 100, a year-long celebration to mark 100 years since the naming of UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment.

Image: Elizabeth Twells as 'Flora' in We The Young Strong, credit Michael J. Askew