Arts and Anti-Fascism

World War 2 was the culmination of a period of escalating divisions between the political Left and Right. The Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 was a prelude to outbreak of war across Europe. Spain’s Republican Government supported by socialists, liberals, and anarchists fought against Nationalists, monarchists, traditionalists and Falangists. While Britain officially pursued a non-interventionist strategy, the Fascist governments of Italy, Germany provided military aid. While Britain officially pursued a non-interventionist policy thousands of left leaning volunteers from across Europe including Britain went to fight on the side of the Republican armies. The political divides were mirrored within artistic communities 

In addition to direct involvement, British artists expressed solidarity with the Republican domestically.  

The People’s Theatre Movement was part of wider exploration of by and for the people. In practice the People’s Theatre movement involved collective decisions on programming, collaboration on topics within scripts and using the arts as a form of political communication. 

It was an early effort to develop a following for an arts movement that could act as a societal voice and a catalyst for change, both socially and politically. Bristol Unity Players were an amateur theatre group within this movement produced by Angela Tucker, who was a feminist, author, historian, theatrical producer (with sister Joan), solicitor, political activist, Marxist scholar and much more. 

These photographs were taken on a break during rehearsals for production On Guard for Spain, and members of the Bristol Unity Players Club can be seen dressed up as Spanish republicans who they and everyone in this movement were in solidarity with during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).