Tony Benn joins folk singer on journey through history

May 19 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

WHAT do you get when you cross one of the country’s most well-known left wing figures with one of the folk scene’s established stalwarts?

In this case, it’s an award-winning duo who have combined their interests into one thought-provoking show.

Former MP Tony Benn and musician Roy Bailey appear at the Philharmonic Hall tonight as part of the Writing on the Wall festival.

Described as “a highly entertaining alternative view of how we got where we are today and where we could be going next”, the duo offer “a short history of political resistance and dissent in words and song”.

Benn and Bailey perform their show – co-incidentally titled The Writing on the Wall – together less than 10 times a year.

And what at first appears quite an unusual pairing soon makes a great deal of sense, with their collaboration having amassed the loyal following to prove it.

“What’s lovely about it is that people discover what they are thinking now, was thought by millions of people hundreds of years ago,” Benn told the Daily Post.

“It is giving people their own political history.

“It’s a very popular show and I like it when people suddenly realise they are not alone.”

The seeds for the stage show were sown with a book Benn edited which listed major statements for justice and human rights (called, needless to say, Writings on the Wall) over 500 years of British history.

Those writings form the basis for the evening, accompanied with song from Bailey, who is a retired professor.

And it’s no mere experiment. Their biggest ever audience was in front of 9,000 at the Cambridge Folk Festival and theatres are usually packed, says Benn.

Together, they have even won BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for best live act.

“Although I never sang a note,” Benn laughs.

“We’ve known each other for over 30 years.

“We do it in a very informal way and he never quite knows what I’m going to read and I never quite know what he’s going to sing.

“The night starts with the peasants’ revolt, and goes on to the English Revolution right up to recent history.

“It’s fun to do, that’s the main thing.

“I just love it and I love Liverpool.”

Writing on the Wall takes place throughout May at venues across the city.

* FOR the full line-up, visit www.writingonthewall.org.uk

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk