The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. BBC RADIO DRAMA

A BBC Radio dramatisation of the Robert Tressell novel, first published in 1914.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists follows a house painter's efforts to find work in the fictional English town of Mugsborough (based on the coastal town of Hastings) to stave off the workhouse for himself, his wife and his son. The novel was a sardonic critique of the way society is organised, with the ‘philanthropists’ being poorly paid workers who continue to help make profits for the owners of businesses.

"We're all of us philanthropists. Toilin' and sweatin' at our noble task of making money for the bosses. Money is the cause of poverty because it’s the device used to rob the workers of the fruits of their labours. We're The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists!"

Written under the pen name Robert Tressell, Robert Noonan’s semi-autobiographical novel was published posthumously. Born in Dublin in 1870 and settling in Hastings, England in 1901, Noonan was a house painter and sign writer by trade (the inspiration for his pen name). He died penniless in Liverpool from tuberculosis in 1911 and was buried in a pauper's grave.

An explicitly political work, the novel is now widely regarded as a classic of working-class literature and by 2003 it had sold over a million copies. Noonan’s true identity as author of the novel was not revealed for 40 years after its publication.

Episode 1 00:00 Pity the Poor Painter
"We're all of us philanthropists. Toilin' and sweatin' at our noble task of making money for Mr Rushton. We're The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists!"

It's Edwardian England: Frank wonders if his fellow workers will ever realise their toil is profit for others?

Starring Brian Glover, Sean Barrett and Mark Straker.

Robert Tressell's novel, first published in 1914.

Dramatised in six parts by Gregory Evans.

Bob Crass .... Brian Glover
Robert Tressell .... Sean Barrett
Hunter .... Bryan Pringle
Frank Owen .... Mark Straker
Adam Sweater .... Peter Vaughan
Joe Philpot .... Norman Jones
Fred Harlow .... Robin Summers
Bundy .... Richard Tate
Bert White .... Richard Pearce
Alf Slyme .... David Goudge
Sawkins .... Michael Graham Cox
Will Easton .... Donald Gee
Jack Linden .... Philip Newman
Newman .... Peter Craze
Newsagent .... Christopher Good
Ruth Easton .... Kate Lock
Nora Owen .... Joan Walker
Frankie Owen .... Andrew Mulquin
George Rushton .... Denis Lill

Episode 2 57:29 Making Money For Mr Rushton
"The carpenter eats bread an' meat, the bricklayer bread an' cheese. But pity the poor painter when the leaves fall off the trees."

The renovation continues in Edwardian England:

Frank tries to educate his fellow workers about their plight.

Episode 3 1:54:39 The Great Money Trick
"Money is the cause of poverty because it is the device used to rob the workers of the fruits of their labours... I'll show you 'ow the Great Money Trick works."

Edwardian England: pressure on the workers mounts as Frank explains ‘capitalism’.

Episode 4 2:52:16 Other People's Hard Work
"Seems to me we needn't bother ourselves with the ratepayers at all.... We run this town! We've got the council in our pockets!"

Edwardian England: with renovation of the rich man’s house complete, the workers face winter unemployment.

Episode 5 3:49:35 Always For Profit
"For the employer it's a steady progress towards ease an' leisure an' independence. For the worker it's a grim journey fraught with poverty, illness and insecurity."

Episode 6 4:46:42 A Beast of Burden
"Work boys, work an' be contented. So long as you've enough to buy a meal. For if you will but try, you'll be wealthy by and by, if you'll only put your shoulder to the wheel."

Written under the pen name Robert Tressell, Robert Noonan’s semi-autobiographical novel was published posthumously in 1914.

Born in Dublin in 1870 and settling in Hastings, England in 1901, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is Noonan’s sardonic critique of the way society is organised, with the ‘philanthropists’ being poorly paid workers who continue to help make profits for the owners of businesses.

A house painter and sign writer by trade (the inspiration for his pen name), Noonan died in Liverpool from tuberculosis in 1911.

He was buried in a pauper's grave. His true identity as author of his novel was not revealed for 40 years.

Director: Michael Bakewell

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April - May 1989.

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