Friday April 12

LONDON LABOUR
AND THE LONDON POOR

Presented by
Rachel Dawick

‘The first attempt to publish the history of a people, from the lips of the people themselves – giving a literal description of their labour, their earnings, their trials, and their sufferings, in their own ‘unvarnished’ language; and to portray the condition of their homes and their families by personal observation of the places, and direct communication with the individuals.’

Preface to ‘London Labour
and the London Poor’

‘The first attempt to publish the history of a people, from the lips of the people themselves – giving a literal description of their labour, their earnings, their trials, and their sufferings, in their own ‘unvarnished’ language; and to portray the condition of their homes and their families by personal observation of the places, and direct communication with the individuals.’

Preface to ‘London Labour and the London Poor’

“A RARE
AND MAGICAL THING” 

New Zealand Musician

Rachel Dawick is a New Zealand folk artist whose previous album, The Boundary Riders, was a finalist for the NZ Tui Award Folk Album 2015. 

After living in London for the last four years, Rachel returns with her new folk album and book, London Labour and the London Poor, based on Henry Mayhew’s work from the mid-1850s, when he took to the streets to interview east Londoners, releasing these interviews as part of a series of articles in the Morning Chronicle, and later as a three-volume book. 

The songs focus on the voices of the people themselves – Jack Black, the Queen’s Rat Catcher; the teenage Mudlark; the Rhubarb and Spice Seller; The Acrobat; the Punch & Judy Man; and many more – all to recreate a snapshot of life on the streets. 

Mayhew’s socio-political work is a fitting album for today’s times as the same issues arise, voices that seem to echo the past. This album will be released in New Zealand over March-May 2024.

Dawick’s previous album and book The Boundary Riders explored the hidden voices of the working class women who left the UK for New Zealand in the 1800s. The album took her on a musical journey from Tui Award finalist for best New Zealand Folk Album in 2015 to being selected as one of forty artists performing at the BEAM festival in London in 2016 – a showcase of emerging British musical theatre writing. Since 2017 she has been part of BML (Book Music Lyric) as a lyricist and composer in London, developing her skills.

Don’t miss this unique evening of story and song.