Punk Days - Harrogate Theatre

Punk Days, A one man theatre show with music at 45 revolutions per minute.

Part autobiography, part musical journey and part political coming of age, Punk Days is the true story of a mixed race, working-class kid growing up in 70s London, plagued by racism, who finds hope and liberation in the power of Punk and the fight against fascism.

“It was the summer of ’77 and I was a rebellious 16 year old: the Labour government was on the rocks, the Nazi National Front was on the rise, and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations were rudely undermined when the Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen went to the top of the charts, and was promptly banned by the BBC. The Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK exploded like a depth charge, blowing accepted musical rules out of the water. The Clash’s debut single White Riot pointed us to a different future. But what exactly was a White Riot? Wasn’t that what the Enoch Powell brigade and National Front thugs would like to do to us given half a chance?”

“I look around me at the sea of faces and something clicks. Maybe I don’t have to be so scared. Maybe we all can fight the fascists, drive them back or even overcome them? That London might be a different place, where I can grow up with ease...With ease”.

There is no future
In England’s dreaming

Don’t be told what you want to want to
And don’t be told what you want to
need. There’s no future, no future
No future for you.

Written and performed by Hassan Mahamdallie, Directed by Stef O’Driscoll.