Artists against Austerity

From time to time this blog has been known to go on (and on) about the importance of cultural work in the struggle for a socialist and just society, Occasionally it has been known to hanker for the days when labour movement  bodies used theatre, film and books to both entertain and further the struggle; to create A Good Night Out in John McGrath’s memorable phrase.

John McGrath (pic Scotsman)

Indeed Joyce MacMillan in today's Scotsman, reminds us that this January is the 12th Anniversary of John's death, and he (along with others like the recently lamented Dave Maclennan), was a major talent in the development of artistic work (in his case popular theatre) to further political aims, although the involvement of Trades Councils, Left Book Clubs and Workers’ Theatre Groups pre-dates John’s important contribution. Yet another theme, particularly apposite currently in Scotland, is for the left to come together, to park Yes/No antipathy and to start to mend the divisions of that debate. 

That’s why I’ve always been heartened by initiatives that the labour movement takes to utilise the hugely sympathetic and untapped talent that is out there in ‘CultureLand’. The activity now taking place around MayDay in Glasgow, a similar blossoming around the St Andrew’s Day Rallies in Scotland and the film show series tentatively undertaken by a local GMB branch, are excellent examples of things that can be done!

It is even better news to hear that one of the major bodies that has been largely successful in drawing broad support to the Anti Austerity struggle is also to dip its toe into the artistic pool in Scotland.

The Peoples’ Assembly against Austerity in Scotland has put out a call for the formation of an ‘Artists against Austerity’ assembly in the New Year. The aim is to put together a multi-platform arts event to be held before the 2015 General Election. They are looking for artists from all disciplines to come to an assembly in either Glasgow or Edinburgh on Saturday 31 January to pull together a steering group. I suggest that some of the people involved in the initiatives already mentioned could usefully help this one?

More details can be found here, or email artistsassemblyscotland@gmail.com by 18 January 2015 to confirm your attendance or if you have any queries or questions! Or if you want to contact me direct, I can point you to the relevant people.

Referendum shows weren't the highlight.

The Morning Star asked me to review the cultural side of the struggle for 2014. This is what I felt were the key moments of an eventful year. Next year already looks as if it too, is shaping up to be a goody - with a retrospective of Ewan McColl's music, and a celebration of Arthur Johnstone featuring at Celtic Connections 2015.

The 2014 referendum debate inevitably had an impact on this year’s productions. However the domination of pro-Yes sympathies in Scotland’s artistic community didn’t lead to as much important work as anticipated. Successful shows used the debate as a stepping-off point to examine the nature of Scotland, like Rona Munro’s James plays for the National Theatre of Scotland (NToS) at the Edinburgh Festival. 

Front looked at the 1WW from both sides

 

However it is a production in that festival that addressed a different political issue that gets my vote as outstanding. Front, a Flemish production from a German company about the first world war in Flemish, German, French and English was outstanding. Using both Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front and Henri Barbusse’s Under Fire as source material, this was a shocking, emotional and political view from both sides of the line. 

For those who said that the referendum was too close to allow that perspective, NToS also produced the Yes, No, Don’t Know Show, a series of short pieces curated by David Greig and the late and much-missed Dave MacLennan, which was vibrant and humorous. 

Celtic Connections was referendum-lite. Rebel Musics saw Dick Gaughan and Dave Swarbrick  explore the connections between reggae and Scottish music, the Roaming Roots Review’s look at West Coast US music sparkled and the powerful Imelda May rocked out.

Fraser Speirs on the moothy. Rab Noakes on Guitar

Glasgow’s MayDay Cabaret delivered a sell-out concert for the second year in the city’s Oran Mor, with stand-out performances from Bruce Morton and Rab Noakes.

Pro-Yes productions dominated the Edinburgh Festival fringe. Much was poor but David Hayman (pictured) in a A Pitiless Storm rose above the herd. Bravely, Phil Differ’s MacBraveheart had a pop at all sides and crackled with language gags, while Mark Thomas’s history of betrayal, Cuckooed, delivered a thoughtful story. 

 

We lost both 7:84/Wildcat/Play, Pie & Pint founder Dave MacLennan and politician Tony Benn this

The late, and much-missed Dave Maclennan

year. With typical Glasgow resolve, both became the subjects of excellent celebratory concerts, with a galaxy of stars marking the passing of two major talents.

Film of the year for me must go to Pride, the story of the LGBT community and their support for the striking miners in 1984-5. Although flawed by the failure to recognise the politics of a main character — Mark Ashton became general secretary of the Young Communist League — it still highlighted the strong links built between different communities under attack. 

Also heartening was the increasing use of cultural events by campaigns. A series of workers’ films is planned by a local GMB branch and  a range of talks and films was staged by Hope Not Hate in Glasgow around the anti-racist St Andrews Day rally. And of course the Morning Star’s own Our Class, Our Culture series continued its success.

Looking Forward (and Remembering) - A tribute to Tony

Tony Benn (photo courtesy Sunday Mail)

300 plus people squashed into Glasgow's Mitchell Theatre on Sunday to celebrate a legend. As compère Susan Morrison pointed out, the word was in danger of overuse, as artists like Fraser Speirs, James Grant and Arthur Johnstone followed one another onto the stage. But in reality one legend dominated. Tony Benn himself, was the life being celebrated - to him went the accolade

Despite the last minute absence of Roy Bailey, taken ill on his way to the concert, the bill in the two concerts was crammed with talent. The first (spoken word) concert featured the acid sharpness of Tom Leonard, the pointed humour of Elvis McGonagall and the up-front politics of Attila the Stockbroker. Held together by the stories of Bruce Morton, it was a revelation to those who possibly hadn't experienced performance poetry before.

The main bill, however, was reserved for the evening concert. Curated by singer-songwriter,

Rab Noakes (photo by Alan MacMillan)

Rab Noakes and introduced by Scottish Labour leadership candidate, Neil Findlay MSP (who had the initial idea) a positive galaxy of musicians from Scotland, augmented by guests from South of the border served up a great evening. Ably compèred by Susan Morrison, the first half was introduced by Rab and Fraser's version of Sixteen Tons. Arthur Johnstone and Stephen Wright replaced Rab to give us some Woody Guthrie (Playboys and Playgirls) and Adrian Mitchell's Victor Jara. Appropriately, that introduced some more poetry from Elvis McGonagall, whose sharp analysis and humour made the politics more pointed - and converted not a few to performance poetry!  

Emily Benn

While all the show took place under the watchful eye of Tony Benn from the big screen, his granddaughter, Emily, who read from Letters to my Grandchildren, made further family input. She thanked the organisers, and called on everyone to continue the fight for democracy, equality and peace that Tony Benn had given his life to. Rab Noakes' main set - Incorporating the ever-coruscating Spin closed the first half.

The second half rang the changes with the Qyeen of NRNXPO - probably the first time many of the audience have been exposed to rap! Attila the Stockbroker put some political meat on the bones before the double act of Alastair McDonald and Sheena Wellington brought us back to some traditional material - No, Trident No (Alastair), Mrs Barbour's Army (Sheena) and of course the song closely associated with her - A Man's a Man for a' that.

James Grant

James Grant's set moved us into the current day with dark songs of loss - My Father's Coat in particular. And the finale gave us a different take on The Red Flag. By reverting to its initial tune (The White Cockade) Rab and the ensemble breathed a new, much more jaunty, life into the song.

With the now traditional Jarama Valley/Bandiera Rosa winding up the night, the whole day was one of tradition, mixed with development. Encouraging new experiences, while celebrating old successes. Surely entirely appropriate for an evening for Tony Benn?  

Stars and family gather in Glasgow to celebrate life of Tony Benn

Excitement is building ahead of the range of events arranged to celebrate the life of Tony Benn next weekend. Two major concerts and a couple of discussion groups are planned for Sunday 30 November in Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre. The events will run from the afternoon into the evening, culminating in a grand concert, with the music curated by singer-songwriter Rab Noakes, and starring Squeeze’s Chris Difford, and Love and Money’s James Grant amongst a galaxy of other talent. Another appearance will be by Benn’s granddaughter, Emily, herself a political activist and Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

Rab Noakes said “It’s appropriate that a celebration of the life and work of Tony Benn should be based around music and song. He himself took part in many performances where his own writings were combined and interwoven with songs.”

And Tony Benn’s co-star in many of these performances – including Glastonbury  - legendary folk singer Roy Bailey will also sing. Other performers will be, the doyen of political singers, Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald, Sheena Wellington, and harmonicist extraordinaire, Fraser Speirs. Broadening the musical diversity is Edinburgh-based rapper, NRNXPO’s Qyeen and comedy compere Susan Morrison will try and keep it all in order!

The evening concert will be preceded by a poetry, performance and presentation concert at 4.30pm.

This features poet Tom Leonard, performance artists Attila the Stockbroker and Elvis McGonagall, compered by Bruce Morton.

In addition to singing, Roy Bailey will take part in a discussion about Tony Benn, Music and Politics to kick off the day, and that will be followed by a discussion on peace and nuclear weapons led by CND activists, Stephen Griffiths and Arthur West.

Jim Lister, of organisers FairPley said “We have had to rearrange this day from the Concert Hall to the Mitchell, so we can use the fact that all the venues are in close proximity as we have sharp timetables to meet. That means it may well sell out sooner, so we advise everyone to get their tickets quickly.”

The day’s events have been made possible by TU sponsors; Aslef, GMB, UNISON, Unite the union and PCS. The original idea came from Neil Findlay MSP.

Tickets for these events are available from the GCH box office on 0141 353 8000 or http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

Bread, and Roses too.

The increasing use of cultural and artistic forms by labour movement groups in Scotland continues apace! In addition to November 30th's Tony Benn celebration (see previous blog), news comes of a new initiative in the area of cinema.

Bread and Roses

A local Glasgow GMB branch is tentatively starting to show a series of films in a small cinema space in the city's Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA).   The first film is due next Sunday (23 November, doors at 6.15 pm) and it will be a screening of Bread and Roses. This is the entirely appropriate story of the unionisation and fight for fair treatment and pay waged by mainly immigrant cleaners and janitors in a Los Angeles office block. Ken Loach’s film follows the feisty Maya and Rosa as they meet union organiser Sam and stand up for their rights – often at great risk to themselves. The film will be followed by a discussion with local trade unionists.

The showing, which is intended to test out the water for a regular series of screenings, is timed to be part of Glasgow's regular anti-racist celebrations around St Andrew's Day (details of the Rally here). Tickets for the film are available from the CCA, here.

If this specific initiative by the GMB Apex Branch (which includes the staff of the STUC among its members) is successful, other screenings are planned next year, including Land and Freedom, another Ken Loach Film, this time on the Spanish Civil War timed to coincide with the anniversary of the first action by the British battalion of the International Brigade, and The Navigators a film where five Yorkshiremen try to survive after British Rail is bought out by a private company. This will be scheduled to mark International Workers' Memorial Day.  

As well as the two events above, greater Glasgow Hope not Hate has teamed up with a number of other groups to provide a whole cornucopia of films, discussion and talks around the St Andrew's Day celebrations. Spreading wider than Glasgow, it includes a talk by Denis Goldberg, one of the Rivonia trialists, alongside Nelson Mandela. This is in Irvine. Back in Glasgow's STUC, well known author, Daniel Gray (Homage to Caledonia) delivers one of the regular Morning Star Our Class, Our Culture talks (Weds 3 Dec, 7.00pm), and Jess Smith, a Scottish Traveller talks about her experience of discrimination in an event at the City's Hillhead library (Sat 6 Dec, 1.00pm).  A programme of events is at http://issuu.com/greaterglasgowhopenothate/docs/hnhstandrewseventslist2014

It is great news that the TU and labour movement is enthusiastically adopting staging cultural and artistic events.  Music and song have been with us for some time, of course, but other formats are also in the great tradition of the movement, which in the 1930/40's had regular programmes of book readings, film showings and even theatre performances. Will we eventually see a resurgence of the likes of the Unity Theatre?     

Emily Benn accepts invite to speak at Glasgow celebration

Emily Benn, the granddaughter of former parliamentarian and campaigner Tony Benn, has agreed to speak at November’s Glasgow celebration of the politician’s life, organisers have announced.

She will speak as part of the major concert organised for 30 November. the culminating event in a day also involving a spoken word event, and series of workshops, all in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.

Neil Findlay MSP from the organising committee welcomed her commitment, and said "It was always important to the organisers that the Benn family supported this event. We are delighted to have that support, and especially delighted that Emily is able to be present."

Emily Benn

Emily Benn said "I am really pleased to be able to attend and say a few words about my grandfather. A proud half-Scotsman, he loved attending public meetings across the country, I know the public support meant a great deal to him. I'm looking forward to coming to Glasgow to pay tribute to him."

Emily Benn daughter of Tony's eldest son Stephen, works in the City of London and is a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Croydon. She was recently selected as the Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Croydon South in the forthcoming Westminster Elections.

The event to celebrate the life and work of Tony Benn is being sponsored by four main Scottish Trade Unions - Aslef, GMB, UNISON and Unite the union and also supported by PCS. It involves a number of workshops, a spoken word event, and a major concert organised by FairPley. 

Rab Noakes

The concert is being curated by singer-songwriter, Rab Noakes, and will also star Chris Difford of Squeeze, folk legend Roy Bailey, Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw of Capercailie, James Grant, Political song doyen Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald and Sheena Wellington. In addition a new voice is NRNXPO's Qyeen - adding hip hop to the mix. It'll be compered by Susan Morrrison and Dave Anderson

The Spoken Word event (separate ticket or as part of a 'day ticket') is compered by Bruce Morton, and currently features Tom Leonard, Juliet Cadzow, and the impressively named performance poet, Elvis McGonagall. 

Workshops will also be available to discuss topics close to Tony's heart. Not finally fixed, but likely to include, folk music and peace campaigning amongst others.

Tickets for these events are available from the GRCH box office on 0141 353 8000 or http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

Justice at Work Campaign gets entertaining boost

Is it a concert? Is it a campaign? Unite Scotland is staging an event today as part of its

Justice at Work campaign that blurs such distinctions. Headlined by anti-blacklist

Ricky Tomlinson

campaigner, Shrewsbury picket and actor, Ricky Tomlinson, the event also stars victimised INEOS stewards Stevie Deans and Mark Lyons.

Providing the music, singer-songwriter, Rab Noakes leads a stellar cast including Arthur Johnstone, moothie maestro Fraser Speirs, Stephen Wright and rap artist NRNXPO Qyeens. Unite's General Secretary, Len McCluskey will also

Rab Noakes

speak as will Stevie Deans' daughter Ailis  and the whole event is compered by comedian, Susan Morrison.

Unite's Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty said

“Tonight’s gig will be an unabashed celebration of working-class achievement and struggle and also a display of solidarity to argue that decent jobs and decent lives go hand-in-hand with decent employment rights and safe, secure workplaces.”

Doors for the free show open at 7PM for a 7:30PM start and a limited number of tickets are available on a first come first served basis from info@fairpley.com.

The trade union movement will be watching this innovative approach to campaigning closely. It is a welcome development in engaging a broader section of people in campaigns, like the Anti-Blacklist Campaign. Associate producers, Fair Pley, continue to work with the Labour Movement and are busy planning an event in tribute to Tony Benn taking place in Glasgow on Sunday 30 November. Their versatility knows no bounds!

Time for the left to reclaim its place in Scotland

Now that the referendum is over, it is time (some would say past time) for the rebuilding of bridges and the mending of fences. If we on the Scottish left are genuine about our votes in the referendum  being about tackling austerity, defending the NHS and challenging poverty, then we owe it to ourselves to start doing these things - here in Scotland and at a UK level. I've just written about this in today's Morning Star.

It mentions a good start in bringing people of the left back together, being Sunday's Morning Star
Conference What now for the Labour Movement at the STUC in Glasgow from 11.00 till 3.30. 

This has speakers from both the Yes and No side of the referendum. Neil Findlay MSP, Chris Steohens of the SNP TU Group, Cllr Gordon Munro, UNISON Convener- Lilian Macer. There will be workshops on some of the key issues - Trident and NATO; Trade Unions, the People's Assembly and the community; and the EU, and the closing debate features People's Assembly Vice Chair, Bill Greenshields; Unite Senior Organiser, Rozanne Foyer; STUC Deputy Gen Sec, Dave Moxham and Scottish Left Review Board member, Isobel Lindsay.

My Star article lists some other events that could also usefully form part of the journey back.

Human rights seminar marks 30 years of campaigning for freedom of information in Scotland

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) turns 30 this year. And it is marking the anniversary with a major seminar in Glasgow on Friday (26 September) exploring whether FOI is part of the human rights agenda, and what still needs to be done to improve the law in Scotland. The event is also Scotland’s celebration of International Right to Know Day, which is on the 28 September.

Aidan O'Neil QC

Leading public, employment and human rights lawyer, Aidan O’Neil QC will address the issue of human rights and freedom of information.

Carole Ewart, Convenor of the CFoIS said

‘We are delighted that Aidan O’Neil can come and address our seminar on this important topic. As constitutional issues across the UK come up for discussion, we need to raise the importance of FOI and develop thinking on the interdependence of human rights and access to information, so we can inform debate on national and local issues.”

Another topic that will be discussed is the relative health of FOI legislation, North and South of the border.

Carole Ewart said

Carole Ewart

            “While there have been things to celebrate in the last 30 years, there is still much to be done. In particular the inclusion of Arms-Length bodies set up by public authorities, and ‘public’ bodies like Registered Social Landlords. We are concerned that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in maintaining a progressive and effective FOI regime.”

The seminar is being held jointly with Strathclyde University’s Centre for the Study of Human Rights Law at 2.00pm in the University’s Lord Hills Building. It is supported by the NUJ in Scotland.

Tickets are available from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-accessing-information-a-human-right-lessons-for-scotland-tickets-12969904333?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=

Tony Benn’s life and work to be celebrated in Glasgow

The release below went out to a wide range of media yesterday. The Herald picked up the story and

Tony Benn at 2011's UCS 40 anniversary

printed it here. This is the full release. Watch out for further announcements as other guests are added to the list!

A major Scottish celebration of the life of Tony Benn was announced today (Monday 22). Taking place in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on November 30 this year, the plan is for a series of events through the afternoon culminating in a substantial concert in the evening.

Rab Noakes

Singer songwriter Rab Noakes has agreed to curate the concert which will also feature Chris Difford of Squeeze, folk legend Roy Bailey, Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw, James Grant, Arthur Johnstone, and Alastair McDonald . Also planned is a spoken word event in the afternoon, along with discussion workshops on topics close to Tony’s heart

Neil Findlay MSP from the group set up to support and promote this event, said  “A number of our major trade unions felt it was important that a campaigner like Tony, who had strong links with Scotland, from UCS up to the present day, should be recognised and remembered here. We’re delighted to have the support of the Benn family for the event.”

The day is being supported by Aslef, GMB, UNISON and Unite in Scotland, who have commissioned FairPley – the people who organised Tony Benn’s sellout appearance at Celtic Connections in 2013 – to produce the show.

Stephen Wright, one of the directors of FairPley, said  “It was a real privilege to organise Tony’s appearances in Scotland over the last few years, at the Fringe, Celtic Connections and the UCS 40^th anniversary celebrations. We’re delighted to be involved in this major event to mark Tony’s life and legacy.”

Further addition to the line-up will be announced as they happen, but advance tickets have now gone on sale at - http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

Our NHS. Why the Yes campaign must destroy a UK-wide service

With the polls coming together as the referendum approaches, it would seem a good time to analyse the importance to that debate of the controversial claims around our NHS

This is a difficult issue for the Yes campaign. Firstly the NHS is that rare thing, a UK-wide institution that is both respected by experts and valued and supported by people across the UK; obviously the complete antithesis of what Yes campaigners want to see. Secondly, it is funded as part of a system (Barnett) that makes at least some attempt to recognise differing demands of different parts of the UK and fund them accordingly. Again an example of an UK-wide positive process that would be killed stone dead by a Yes vote.

In short and in principle, the NHS is a good example of what Better Together should be trumpeting. Sharing UK resources so that anyone in any part of the UK can receive treatment free at the point of delivery, wherever they need to receive it. Why BT hasn’t done so enough, we'll deal with in a minute.

Are the threats real?

The Yes campaign have to deal with the inevitable break up of our NHS that their aims predicate. To invent a back story for this split, a) they have tried to create an image of an irreparably damaged NHS South of the border, and b) argue that the only way out is to pull up the ladder, and abandon the rUK NHS. To do so they risk the claim that they will cut the 'hassle free access to specialist clinical facilities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland' that doctors put so much importance on, and abandon the collective creation, involvement and resourcing of our UK NHS.

So, if a successful UK-wide institution delivering services to us all is so clearly a problem it has to be denigrated. And not just for failings in England, but if possible how those failings will eventually reach across the border.

Eleanor Bradford of the BBC

So the targets picked on by the Yes campaign were Barnett and how it is threatened by English privatisation, and - when it quickly became clear via Eleanor Bradford amongst others, that privatisation itself threatens Barnett in no way - the overall impact of lowering levels of service in England and the knock-on damage to Scotland's Health Service.

What did SNP MPs think?

However, Yes have another problem with the 'impact of NHS privatisation on Scotland' argument. As is well known, SNP MPs do not (as a matter of principle) vote on legislation that has no impact in Scotland. But obviously, the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the main coalition legislation opening health care up to private commissioning) DOES impact, doesn't it? Everyone from Dr Philippa Whitford to Alex Salmond has

Dr Phillippa Whitford

told us so. However you'll look hard to find the SNP MPs voting against that bill (neither in the second nor the third reading!). Surely they couldn't have been under the impression its impact on Scotland would be non-existent (twice)? Hopefully, if a Labour government committed to repealing that law - as both Burnham and Miliband have committed to do - is returned in 2015, they won't make the same mistake again.

However, no matter what SNP MPs might think, the Yes campaign’s point about the privatisation of England's NHS does have an impact on Scotland and Scottish patients. Currently - although the NHS is run differently either side if the border - all UK patients are entitled to get the most appropriate care for their condition in the most appropriate venue. In some cases that means English specialist hospitals. That has been made clear by Sir Leonard Fenwick, the chief executive of the North East NHS foundation when he replied to Dr Whitford's bogus claims about cancer surgery in his area. A number of us also remember the emergency airlifts of Scottish patients suffering from swine flu, to a hospital in Leicester. The prospect of these areas of specialism down in England suffering because of the introduction of profit-driven, resource-undermining privatisation is very much something that we in Scotland should be concerned with. And we should be campaigning with our fellow NHS supporters across the UK to ensure that privatisation is stopped in its tracks and the Health and Social Care Act is repealed.

It is disappointing that Better Together seem to have been a) hypnotised by the 'Barnett myth' and b) hamstrung by the presence of parties representing the architects of this privatisation, and failed to highlight the REAL dangers to Scotland’s patients, but at least the Labour opposition at Westminster has made a clear commitment to repeal the odious Act.

Campaigning for the NHS across the UK

External support, or joint campaigning

We could still campaign in support of the English NHS in an Independent Scotland, of course, although we would a) then be offering solidarity to campaigners in a different country with a different healthcare system, and b) no longer have a right and a stake in a UK-wide NHS. Not impossible then, just unnecessarily more difficult.

And this leads to another objection that the Yes campaign has to challenge. The right of us all as patients to use the NHS across the UK would cease. Now, it is possible, even probable, that arrangements would be negotiated to allow continued access, but they would have to be created via some financial bargain, as Scottish and rUK populations would no longer be contributing to one cross border system.

Plus, of course, the real cast iron danger to any redistributive effect (however small) that exists in the Barnett formula doesn't come from English privatisation, or even from 'revenge plots' by Westminster politicians, but from a Yes vote! Separation of the nation, means separation of national healthcare systems, and separation of the tax and spend arrangements that fund them. So – no Barnett, no redistribution from a bigger pool to a smaller.

Our NHS, Our Campaign

So, while no one underestimates the danger to the NHS from privatisation, it is surely more likely to be defeated by working and campaigning together as part of our NHS, than by striking camp and stealing away into the night? An argument that can also, incidentally, be applied to many other pan-UK struggles and campaigns.

And ultimately this is why the break up of our NHS is quite so crucial to the Yes campaign. It is not just a successful practical service, it is also a symbol of a UK success with input from us all, and access for us all. Let's keep it that way. Vote No to continue and increase the campaign to defeat privatisation of our NHS - wherever that is threatened.

When Four Tribes go to war

Polyphonic and polylingual. Re-creation of First World War explores horror and common humanity

5/5

The polyphonic production of Front, by Hamburg's Thalia Theater and the Nederlands Toneel Gent at the Royal Lyceum - directed by Fleming Luk Perceval - is a truly impressive and moving performance. Lasting two hours without an interval, and performed in Flemish, German, French and English (English sur-titles allow us linguistically-challenged to appreciate it) it doesn't sound like something that is immediately accessible. But the pared-back set, the use of a backdrop of monochromatic images from the front, the noise of the collected thunder sheets hanging on stage all combine to evoke the horror.

Taken from a selection of scenes from both Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, and Henri Barbusse's Under Fire, the narrative circles the opposing front lines - represented by the lines of cast members along the front of the stage. It gives us the full perspective of the sufferings both in opposing trenches and on the home front. While actors spin like dervishes in an assault, the noise rises to a crescendo. Incongruously, yet entirely believably, a moment of romance between a nurse and a wounded soldier counter poses a spark of life amongst the destruction (although the future of that life is shadowed by the fate of the soldier). Above all, the characters of the young friends condemned by their fates to land in the hell of the First World War highlight the reality of this 'war for fatherland and freedom'. As one says, they are not soldiers, just civilians imported to the front.

I've seldom seen a production that evokes the trauma of killing. The horror of the impact of weaponry on bodies, both human and animal, is somehow more effectively portrayed by the flat, emotionless delivery. If you've a chance in Edinburgh today or Tuesday, go. You'll be gripped for the full two hours.

Front, 7.00pm until 26 August, Royal Lyceum Theatre,