Introduction

The Liverpudlian screenwriter Jimmy McGovern — author of the award-winning television dramas Cracker and Hillsborough — worked closely with a group of Liverpool dockers and their wives to produce a screenplay about an industrial dispute at the docks which began in September 1995 and lasted for more than two years. Dockers is based on the personal experiences of the dockers and their wives.

The drama, produced for Channel 4 and first shown in July 1999, is presented for schools in three half-hour programmes, accompanied by a two-part documentary entitled Writing the Wrongs. The documentary follows the production of Dockers from its conception through to the final script and filming.

As well as offering a deep insight into the social justice and ethics of the dispute, the documentary shows the whole creative process from script to screen. It includes guest appearances from novelist Irvine Welsh and actor Robert Carlyle.

In writing a television drama of their struggle, McGovern focuses the participants’ attention on particular dramatic elements, introducing concepts with which students may usefully approach their own reading, writing and performance of dramatic texts in class.