Free screening of film about the 'The Derby Lock-Out’ 1833-34

QUAD hosts a free screening of film about ‘The Derby Lock-Out’ 1833-34

QUAD will be screening Locked Out, a drama-documentary which tells the story of events leading up to the period of strike action that took place in and around Derby from late 1833 to early 1834. The film brings to life the story of a group of people, some of whom in the face of awful working conditions were determined to fight for their basic human rights and went on to sow the seeds for the first ever trades union.

The focuses on mill worker Thomas Redfern and his family, depicting how strike action affected not only employees, but the employers (the ‘Masters’), as well as how the press reported the events at the time. The film examines local and national social history, as well as industrial history at the very beginnings of the trade union movement. 

Referencing the modern-day Union movement, the film includes footage from the Silk Mill Rally which annually commemorates the events of 1833-34. Considered one of the first factories in the world, The Silk Mill in Derby was one of many mills affected by the 1833-34 strike action and has played a crucial part in Trade Union history.

Locked Out features expert testimony from Bill Whitehead, author of ‘The Derby Lock-Out 1833-34 and the Origins of the Labour Movement’ Jonathan Wallis formerly of Derby Museums Trust, and The Rt. Hon. Dame Margaret Beckett MP. The rest of the cast and crew were drawn from in and around Derby and Derbyshire, with filming taking place at the Silk Mill, Pickford’s House, The Old Bell Hotel, and Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills. Directed by Liam Banks and Doug Smith, the Locked Out film project was made possible with the support of Unite the Union.

Locked Out will screen at QUAD on Saturday 17 September at 5:30pm. It will feature a live introduction by Bill Whitehead and screens on the same day as the annual Derby Silk Mill Rally Festival commemorating the 1834 Lock Out event.

Tickets are free and can be booked online: https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/LockedOut