UNITE SW REGION MARQUEE PROGRAMME 2026

Friday

From 17.30 Unite South West Marquee opens!

Start off the Festival with your first port of call – the Unite South West Marquee. Here you’ll find lots of useful info plus a Festival must-have – a Unite SW cup – essential for your favourite tipple. While stocks last.

The Unite Marquee is a vibrant hub of activity where you can pick up a range of excellent goodies, information on Unite, and even join the union.

18.00 – 19.30 ‘To Win the Day’

Time to hear other voices in this iconic tale 

To Win the Day has been created and performed by the Dorset-based group, Time and Tide, and follows the extraordinary lives of the wives, mothers and families Tof the Tolpuddle Martyrs through local folk music of the time.  

Writer and musician, Sophie Wright, has worked with her theatre company to produce a powerful folk-drama about women facing adversity. Though the Tolpuddle story will be familiar to many, telling the tale from the women’s perspective, is a chance to see it through fresh eyes. 

To Win the Day follows Betsy Loveless, her two sisters-in-law Sarah and Dinniah and her niece, Eliza and the impact on their lives after their menfolk are convicted for ‘swearing an illegal oath’ and transported to Australia. Sophie has used contemporary documents and songs familiar to ordinary 19th century workers in the production.  This powerful short drama has never been seen at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival before and Unite are thrilled to be changing that.  Read more about To Win the Day 

Make sure you get to the Unite Marquee early as the show starts at 6 pm on the Friday evening. You’ll also be able to pick up a Tolpuddle Festival staple – your free Unite drinks cup. Ideal for a pint of refreshing lemonade – or even a cheeky half!   

Saturday

10.30 – 12.00 Unite Young Members @Tolpuddle

Join Unite South West Young Members Chair, Jordan Rawlings and our Young Members’ panel to discuss the world of work and apprenticeships for young workers. The panel will be sharing their experiences of the journey through apprenticeships and into union activism. With Unite Young Member’s officer Frazer Lake & SW Equalities Officer Lorraine Gibbs.

12.00 The great Unite FDA and Landworker giveaways

Form an orderly queue! The Unite Food, Drink and Agriculture (FDA) sector have got some quality giveaways this year including a very special self-care pack – available to women attendees only.

Collectors of the now legendary annual Unite Landworker T-shirts will not be disappointed either – we have an amazing design this year, so Tolpuddle newbies will love them too. For all items stocks are limited. Don’t miss out.

14.30 – 16.00 – Rural women – Celebrating the fearless heart

Tales old and new of and from fearless women whose actions really made a difference. Panel includes Bev Clarkson, ex-Unite food and ag national officer, Monique Mosley, Unite food worker, Maggie Roberts, rural campaigner – and we’re expecting more big names. Chair – Amanda Campbell, editor, Unite Landworker. Come along and be inspired!

17.00 onwards – Attila the Stockbroker

Kicking off Tolpuddle’s Saturday night, Unite South West region proudly welcomes the multi-talented, Attila the Stockbroker, to the Unite Marquee, for the first time.

Attila, a punk poet-singer-songwriter-social commentator among other things, will be live at the Unite marquee from 5 pm so join us for an early evening crowd pleaser.

Sunday

10.00 – 10.30 am Dorset Red

For early birds catch that Sunday morning Festival vibe with some great tunes and anthems from Dorset Red, Dorset’s premier socialist choir. With old faves like Power in a union, and Bella Ciao to international protest songs – sung with feeling. Critically acclaimed, defo worth seeing – bring your coffee!

The Unite Marquee will remain open through the morning and lunch period to welcome visitors from around the region and beyond.

13.00 – 13.30 – Wreath laying

An important moment as representatives from the Unite South West & Wales regions and the agricultural and food workers’ sector lay wreaths alongside others at the graveside of Martyr James Hammett.

14.00 Procession

Gather outside the Unite Marquee from 13.45 and bring your Unite banners!