Almost 40 years after the 1973 Kirby housing rent strike (as captured in Nick Broomfield's 1979 documentary 'Behind The Rent Strike'), activist and singer Bruce Scott recounts his experience of taking part in the action. Bruce was regarded as "among the greatest exponents of Irish traditional unaccompanied ballad singing, and a powerful force at the heart of Liverpool’s Irish community" (Quiery, 2017). In this film he talks about the role of song writing in documenting radical struggles, and in particular the importance of music within his Irish heritage. Filmed in 2011, shortly after the election of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, Bruce speaks of how Liverpool has impoved in the preceding years under Labour, and his hope that the "children of Thatcher" wont reverse that progress through cuts.
This film was originally commisned for and shown as part of 'Happening on Hope Street' - a performance event at Liverpool Everyman Theatre, celebrating Liverpool's radical culture. This version of the film also includes a recording of Bruce's own performance at the event.
Bruce passed away on 8th December 2016 at the age of 75
REFERENCES
Broomfield, Nick (1979) - 'Behind The Rent Strike' - http://nickbroomfield.com/Behind-The-Rent-Strike
Quiery, Greg (2017) 'Bruce Scott obituary' - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/25/bruce-scott-obituary
SCREENINGS:
April 2011 - 'Happening on Hope Street' - Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, UK