A hunger-striking prisoner meets a novel that changes everything — based on true events.
In 1973 Ricky Tomilinson was imprisoned for unlawful assembly and conspiracy when picketing for support in Britain’s first National Building Strike a year earlier. During the course of Ricky’s sentence when he refused to conform, wear prison clothing, work and suffered on hunger strike he met a sympathetic and wise prison governor who introduced prisoner Tomlinson to Tressell’s great novel.
Acting
Ricky Tomlinson playing himself — lived experience, not performance.
Writing
Prison dialogue that actually respects working-class intellect.
Director
Johnny Vegas
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robert Tressell's 1914 novel became a sacred text for British trade unionists; Tomlinson discovering it in 1973 prison mirrors generations of working-class readers finding political consciousness in fiction.
Ricky Tomlinson later became beloved as Jim Royle in 'The Royle Family' — this is the same man who did actual prison time for picketing, directed here by comedian Johnny Vegas.
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