The Political History of Smack & Crack
The Political History of Smack & Crack is a twisted love story between two lifelong addicts, set against the backdrop of the uprising in the mid-80’s, amidst a heroin epidemic. On 18th September, actors Eve Steele and William Fox will perform a rehearsed reading of this play at Oldham Library.
We sat down with Ed Edwards, the play’s author, to find out more about the inspiration behind the play, and the journey that led him to write it.
The Political History of Smack & Crack is deeply rooted in personal and historical experiences. Can you tell us about the initial spark that led you to write this play? Was there a particular moment or memory that compelled you to bring this story to the stage?
I’d felt for a long time after the political defeats of the Thatcher and Blair years there wasn’t an appetite for real political theatre, but I was teaching a group of drama students in the mid-20teens and asked them if they’d like me to include some revolutionary history in the module we were doing and they were very enthusiastic – so I put a selection of themes on the board – one of which was the title of this play, which covers the revolutions in Afghanistan and Nicaragua – and the moment I wrote it down – kind of as joke – they immediately said yes! So, I knew there was something in it.
The play traces the lives of Neil and Mandy from the Manchester uprising in 1981 to their struggles with addiction. How did you approach blending real historical events with the fictional narrative of these characters? What was the biggest challenge in doing so?
The biggest challenge was getting politics into the play. I tried to have much more – because the Western governments – via their intelligence services – have been involved in so much of the world’s history of narcotics. But when we tried it out on audiences – everyone was interested but no one could follow the documentary sections – because there was so much to take in. So, in the end, I settled for the one story – which was the initial inspiration anyhow. This story is about the sudden appearance on the streets of heroin, in the wake of the 1981 inner-city uprisings.
Addiction is a central theme in The Political History of Smack & Crack, explored against the backdrop of Thatcher-era Britain. What message do you hope to convey about addiction and recovery through Neil and Mandy’s story? How does this reflect your own experiences?
The message is two-fold: that the modern history of widespread drug addiction has always been related to the suppression of rebellion by Western military intelligence – and that recovery from addiction is possible, but not guaranteed. The latter is a symbol of the possibility of revolution against the former. It’s possible for rebellion to succeed, but not guaranteed. Both are fraught with danger, and both require endurance and luck.
The play is described as an “angry, funny love song to a lost generation.” How do you balance anger and humour in the narrative? What role does humour play in conveying the socio-political commentary embedded in the story?
The comedy is the sugar that coats the bitter pill of the message. I hope the play makes you laugh; makes you cry and makes you think the world doesn’t have to be like this.
The play opens on the night of the Manchester uprising, a pivotal event that sets the stage for the rest of the story. Why was it important for you to start here, and how do you think this event shaped the characters’ lives and the narrative?
The truth is that Thatcherism and all the politics that followed it – i.e. the politics of finance capitalism – no longer had any use for people making industrial goods in the West any more. To do this, it had to smash the solidarity of the working class in Britain. Heroin was a big component of this. I’d always thought it, but when I started to study history, I realised this was a story that had happened before – again and again. All the politics I couldn’t get into the play itself – which was LOADS – I put in an essay in the playscript.
Can you walk us through your writing process for this play? How did you structure the narrative, and were there any challenges or discoveries that shaped the final script?
With writing I like to start with an idea – could be a character or even an actor I’m writing for – but I like to know as little as possible about where it’s going plot/story-wise. If an idea can surprise and delight me, then surely it could also surprise and delight an audience. If I know what’s going to happen – chances are the audience will also know and it’ll feel flat.
The play is inspired by your own experiences in jail and rehab. How did drawing from your personal life impact the writing process? Were there moments where the line between your story and the characters’ stories blurred?
I’ve sat in NA meetings for nearly 30 years and did 3 years in jail for drug offences back in the day, so I’ve got stories like these coming out of my ears. As you’ll see if you come to see the play – the love story is messed up – and being an addict myself – I’ve got plenty of experience with messed up love.
Thatcherism and its impact on inner-city communities are central to the play’s backdrop. How do you see the legacy of this era still influencing the UK today, particularly in the context of addiction and social inequality?
The heroin epidemic oiled the machinery of transition between the old industrial capitalism of the post-war boom and the even more predatory and decaying financialised capitalism that has currently brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. I think there were people in power in Britain who were more than happy with the situation as it unfolded.
What do you believe is the power of theatre in addressing issues like addiction, political unrest, and social injustice? What do you hope audiences take away from experiencing The Political History of Smack & Crack?
I’m not sure theatre can change the world, but a good piece of theatre can give you a sense of belonging to the human race and human history – you are part of an ongoing collective mass – as opposed to being stuck on your own. Theatre can give you a hint that there is more to life than your small individual self.
Thank you to Ed for speaking with us. See The Political History of Smack & Crack at Oldham Library on 18th September.
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A Recoverist Month event that, through the arts, changes the conversation on substance use and recovery.
Recoverist = Recovery + Activist
Recoverist Month September 2024 is an initiative led by Portraits of Recovery
Portraits of Recovery is a pioneering, Manchester-based, visual arts charity.