A thespian solicitor is preparing for a big role in a new musical playing the part of pioneering MP and government minister Barbara Castle. Julie Fisher (pictured above), a regulatory prosecutor in the litigation team at Blackburn Council, will take the role in a musical adaptation of the film Made in Dagenham.

The show, inspired by real events, tells the story of women car factory workers in the 1960s fighting for equal pay - in a claim backed by Castle as employment minister in Harold Wilson's government. 

Fisher and the rest of the cast visited Castle’s statue, which was unveiled in her old constituency of Blackburn last October, to promote the show and draw inspiration.

Fisher said: ‘I’m delighted to be playing Barbara Castle in this show – she’s an iconic figure, a significant Labour Party politician who made her mark in what really was a man’s world at that time.

‘The musical ‘Made in Dagenham’, highlights her intervention in the Ford Dagenham strike – speaking out in support of the women strikers and going on to introduce the Equal Pay Act.’

The solicitor of 22 years has been involved in musical theatre for more than three decades with various societies and is a trained vocal coach who volunteers with youth theatre groups.

The show, staged by the Skipton Musical Theatre Co, plays at The Mart Theatre in Skipton from 27 to 29 October.

Musical adaptation of Made in Dagenham

Fisher and the rest of the cast visit Castle’s statue

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