THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS

One person Magic Lantern show of the classic book The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists adapted by Neil Gore from the book by Robert Tressell directed by Louise Townsend

Neil Gore, presents a one-person version of the classic novel by Robert Tressell featuring projection, political conjuring tricks, live music and song. Meet the famous characters and enjoy the scenes, speeches and songs, featuring the Great Money Trick as its centrepiece.

.

 

REVIEWS

  • ' A one-man, many-charactered tour de force'
    Clare Brennan (Theatre Critic for The Observer)
    Read the full review

  • ' A phenomenal performance'
    John McDonnell MP (Shadow Chancellor)
  • After my Constituency Labour Party hosted two performances of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists earlier this month – reimagined for the stage by Townsend Productions and actor Neil Gore – I was inspired to bring this fantastic production to Parliament
    Dan Carden MP
  • 'A wonderful performance by Neil Gore'
    Ian Lavery MP President of the Labour Party)
  • 'It was fantastic. ❤️ actors!'
    Tracy Brabin MP ‏ (Former Coronation Street Star)
  • 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a wonderful entertainment for all the family'
    Peter Yates
    Read the full review

  • 'I left the theatre feeling empowered and thirsty to fight the power and change the future!'
    Katie Leon
    Read the full review

  • A strong and robust show that brings the characters, humour and inspirational ideas of this great book to life. It is needed now more than ever. You'll leave the theatre and join the struggle!”
    Ken Loach, Film Director
  • Tremendous
    The Times
  • 10/10 Sensational
    Liverpool Echo
  • 'A fantastic evening’s entertainment all round'
    Julia Armstrong
    Read the full review

  • 'Excellent performance of the 1914 classic. I was proud to be one of the MPs in attendance and I thought Neil really brought home the relevance to 2018.'
    Alex Norris MP
Screenshot 2025 12 15 at 14.04.24

Neil Gore, presents a one-person version of the classic novel by Robert Tressell featuring projection, political conjuring tricks, live music and song. Meet the famous characters and enjoy the scenes, speeches and songs, featuring the Great Money Trick as its centrepiece. 

This enduring and absorbing classic story of a year in the life of a group of Edwardian painters and decorators is brought to life by Neil Gore using his extensive knowledge of the book and the play, having performed it in many versions over forty years.

'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' follows a group of workers as they renovate ‘The Cave’, a three-storey town house, for Mayor Sweater. It traces their hardships and struggles for survival in a complacent and stagnating Edwardian England. These workers are the ‘philanthropists’ who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters. They are joined by artist Owen, whose spirited attacks on the dishonesty of Capitalism along with his Socialist vision, highlights the exploitation in their workplace but also focuses on the inequality in society as a whole

TOUR DATES