No flowers: performative interventions 'at the moment of' Margaret Thatcher's passing BUSH, Sophie
This document is the author deposited version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it. Published version BUSH, Sophie and DANIELS, Morgan (2015). No flowers: performative interventions 'at the moment of' Margaret Thatcher's passing. TDR/The Drama Review, 59 (2), 103-113.
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Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive http://shura.shu.ac.uk No Flowers Performative Interventions “at the Moment of” Margaret Thatcher’s Passing Sophie Bush and Morgan Daniels
Even Though We Know It’s Not Right We will laugh the day that Thatcher dies Even though we know it’s not right We will dance and sing all night — Hefner, “The Day That Thatcher Dies” (2000)
It is with this sense of improperness or inappropriateness that we would like to begin — that yearning to celebrate the passing of, say, Margaret Thatcher, all the while being eaten away by vague notions having something to do with “respect for the dead.” Tony Blair, speaking to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live the day after Thatcher died, laid out the moral code when asked about the previous night’s street parties in, among other places, London, Sheffield, and Glasgow: “I think that’s pretty poor taste. You’ve got to, even if you disagree with someone very strongly — particularly at the moment of their passing show some respect” (BBC News 2013b). Why, exactly? Perhaps this critical question propelled the performative interventions on and around 8 April 2013 (the day of Thatcher’s death) and 17 April 2013 (the day of her funeral). What Blair identifies as “the moment of [...] passing” is a vital space for meaning-making, a funny stasis in which, because death’s taboos are stressed, things like street parties, the burn- ing of effigies, and mock funerals and trials become all the more important precisely because of their flagrancy. They represent attempts to short-circuit narratives motored by “respect,” “man- ners,” and “decency” — the sort exemplified by etiquette expert Jean Broke-Smith: “[I]fpeople are politically anti-[Thatcher] I hope they will be kind enough to say they didn’t agree with her, but they respect what she did. Now is not the time to churn up silliness or bring up bad points — it’s good etiquette to let her rest and focus on her good points” (BBC News 2013a). Why, exactly?
Sophie Bush is a Lecturer in Performance at Sheffield Hallam University and has taught at the Universities of Sheffield, Huddersfield, and Manchester Metropolitan. Her research and teaching interests lie in the history, practice, and politics of contemporary British theatre. Her doctorate, on the work of Timberlake Wertenbaker, was awarded by the University of Sheffield, and her first book, The Theatre of Timberlake Wertenbaker, was published by Bloomsbury/Methuen Drama (2013). She maintains an involvement with practical theatre-making as a director and devisor. [email protected].
Morgan Daniels received his PhD from Queen Mary, University of London, with a doctoral thesis entitled “The effects of ‘antiestablishment’ BBC comedy on politicians, the public and broadcasting values c.1939–73.” He teaches British history at Queen Mary and lectures on history and the media at Arcadia University’s London Center. [email protected].
TDR: The Drama Review 59:2 (T226) Summer 2015. ©2015 New York University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 103 104 Bush/Daniels interview withthePrimeMinister: soldiers? Thisquestionwasbroached, obliquely, on5April,byPeterAllen,atthe endofashort political currency, precisely becauseoftheimmanentstorytellingpotentialbrave (read:dead) [1909:138].) AfterTaussig, isitpossible,inthisinstance, tomakeaconnectionbetweenwarand Sir Wilfrid Lawson:“ItmaybelaiddownasarulethatallwarsarepopularinEngland” on 2April1982(inKing1985:113).(We recalltheLiberal MP andtemperancecampaigner according toGalluppolls,priorthefortuitousArgentinian invasionoftheFalklandIslands (Taussig 2006:6). icy thatseemedsoplausiblethankstotheemotionalcapitalaccrued bythe3,000deadof9/11 Taussig pointstothefictivequalityof Americanforeign policyunderGeorge W. Bush, pol- like this: Johnson1964). Michael his Taussig“plans andprograms[...]becausetheyareright” ( putsit Johnson’s useofJohnF. Kennedy’sassassinationtofullpolitical advantage, pushingthrough do withdeathasnarratologicaltoolforthestate. Onemighthighlight, forexample, Lyndon B. Thatcher, herdeath, and, muchmorebroadlyspeaking, careerpolitics. The firstpointhasto Benjamin’s famouswordshaveramificationsinvariousdirectionswhenitcomestoMargaret can tell. He that the storyteller Death has borrowedis the sanction of everything his authority from death. Authority nitas andmultivocalmeaning-making. performances gaintheirpowerbyopeningthepossibilityforsomethingakintoritualcommu- them foraworldaudience.We suggesttheseenduring,locallyproducedbutgloballywitnessed of Thatcher’sdeaththathasattractedthemedia’sscrutinyandtherebypublicizedpreserved protest. Infact,itispreciselytheopennessandlivenessofperformativeprotestsinwake died, clandestinetransiencecouldhardlyexplainthepotencyandpopularityofperformanceas tributing abagfullofpamphlets,forexample(seeBodek1997).Butin2013,theyearThatcher in 1930sBerlin,beingasaferwaytotransmitideasofresistancetheriseNazismthandis- theatre, suchasthosestagedbytroupesaffiliatedwiththeKPD(GermanCommunistParty) part, fromtheprotectivetransienceofperformance;ablink-and-you-miss-itpieceagitprop held associationswithprotestandtransgression,toonumeroustocite.Thishistorystems,in and meaning,conventionsintentions”(1993:xxix).Similarly, secularperformancehaslong- aspirations weaveathreadofimaginativepossibilitiesfromwhichmayemerge[...]newsigns ics, ofcreativetensionsandtransformativeaction”;fromsuchactions“individualcollective the performanceofritualas“asiteandameansexperimentalpractice,subversivepoet- opens upmyriadpotentialmeaningsandnarratives.JeanComaroffJohndescribe plicity ofpotentialmeaningsbyestablishingcertainnarratives,performanceisamomentthat momentness” ofperformance.Ifdeathisamomentthatshutsdownandclosesoffmulti- marvelous professionally trainedbravecourageous soldiersandmarinesinorder to and sendingthebiggestfleetthat’s everbeenmountedinpeacetime, withthemost THATCHER: IbelievetheBritishpeopleare fullybehindusinretakingthoseislands Margaret Thatcher, meanwhile,wasamongtheleastpopularBritishpremiersofalltime, Strauss 2005) the powerthatcanaccruetomodernstate, thatgreat machineofdeathandwar!” (in for thedeadbeingwhatseparateshumanfromanimal[...]Justimagine, then, logical evidenceandphysicalanthropologythatthecorpseisoriginoftaboos, respect many culturessincethefirstburial. IndeedGeorgesBataille[...]arguedfromarchaeo- The deadareagreatsourceofmagicalélan, grace, andpower. This hasbeenpresentin We takethis“at-the-momentness”ofdeathandofferasanantidotethe“at-the-
— Walter Benjamin, “The Storyteller” ([1936] 1999:93) Margaret Thatcher’s Passing 105 - - - is a sign — (1925:69) (1925:69) False Prophets ing in large numbers, numbers, ing in large James — James M. Gillis, shocked, but composed and determined shocked, — her battle with dementia and the death of her husband in 2003. Ed her battle with dementia and the death of her husband in 2003. adding, “it is not political” (see, for example, Hennessy 1997:261). Referring 1997:261). Hennessy for example, (see, “it is not political” adding, — — re-establish British sovereignty on those islands and to see that the islanders once again to see that the islanders on those islands and British sovereignty re-establish British rule.live under you think do business, war is a very destructive modern question, ALLEN: Just as a final start dy in the country if people that kind of support you’ll retain all attempts to destroy democracy by terror not only that this attack has failed but that 1984) Thatcher Foundation (Margaret ism will fail. because that’s really what we’re confronting? really what we’re because that’s but the out, many people are with you when you start The test is not how : THATCHER I well and truly finished. until the task be you can stick to it, test of resolve is whether I believe parliament will keep the government will keep its resolve, shall keep my resolve, (Margaret firmly. the British people will stick to that resolve its resolve and I believe 1982a) Thatcher Foundation 1984 for the storyteller too. For example, the IRA’s experience is a great boon A near-death to disrupt It was an attempt not only than this. But the bomb attack clearly signified more attempt to cripple Her Majesty’s democratically and terminate our Conference; it was an and the of the outrage in which we have all shared, That is the scale elected Government. fact that we are gathered here now “And now it must be business as usual” Thatcher announced a few moments later. Such “busi- Such Thatcher announced a few moments later. now it must be business as usual” “And “the emer and Marxist doctrine about class warfare” “outmoded included criticism of the ness” gence of an organized revolutionary minority who are prepared to exploit industrial disputes, who are prepared to exploit industrial disputes, gence of an organized revolutionary minority and order and the destruction of democratic par but whose real aim is the breakdown of law trade union death’s sanction, with (near-) Thatcher paired, Thus liamentary government.” one told by the It is a convincing story, activity. action and mainland Irish Republican terrorist and Democracy was under attack from all sides, left no less than the right: something called The last words “conviction.” about the emergence of a premier with “inevitability” there was an 1984). Thatcher Foundation (Margaret “Democracy will prevail” Thatcher’s speech are: of Business as usual. This neat focus on resolve over effect was a classic Thatcher trick: “Crime is crime is crime,” “Crime is crime is crime,” trick: Thatcher over effect was a classic This neat focus on resolve in Northern Ireland in 1981, at Maze Prison hunger-strikers was her response to republican 10 of whom died Thatcher Engineers, in 1982 in a speech at the Institute of Electrical to the Falklands later noble and brave acts which has reason to be thankful that those “our generation declared that of courage and valour in to Britain’s name are matched by deeds brought fame and renown Thatcher Foundation 1982b). (Margaret story” And we saw that over the Falklands our time. Note “story.” at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, which Margaret bombing of the Conservative Party conference thoughts must at once be for unlike five of the conference-goers, survived. “Our first Thatcher, in hospital recovering from their injuries” insisted those who died and for those who are now continuing: the Prime Minister the day after the attack, Sympathy to world the invites piety, doubtful with though disingenuousness, engaging most with Doyle, Conan when So, a where cases on to pass and criticism,” stifles “Sympathy say only may we boy, dead his with talks his to listen involved. not is emotion sacred and deep Miliband, for example, managed to cover both of those in one go in his mostly limp speech, managed to cover both of those in one go in his mostly limp speech, for example, Miliband, One way the storytellers got to work in the days after 8 April 2013 was to invoke Thatcher’s April 2013 was to invoke One way the storytellers got to work in the days after 8 struggles latter-day 106 Bush/Daniels regard asavice Academy Award–winner, GlendaJackson:“We weretoldthateverythingIhadbeentaughtto ever sobrieflyderailingthereal-timemyth-makinggoingoninHouse,wasdouble the soleMembertomakeaspeechon10April2013criticizingMargaretThatcher, thereby Who bettertogooff-scriptthananactor? there wasanydoubt,aperformancetoo,sham,anexchangeofstoriesondeath’ssanction. son whohasbeendeceased,butanopportunityfortributes”(col1650).Sothe“debate,”ifever well established.Thisisnot,andhasneverbeen,ageneraldebateonthememoryofper occasions onwhichtheHousechoosestomaketributesapersonwhohasbeendeceasedare point ofordercounteredthecriticism:“TheconventionsHouseinrespectthoserare ward” (Hansard2013:col.1650).Tony Baldry’s(ConservativeMPforBanbury, Oxfordshire) greed, selfishness,nocarefortheweaker, sharpelbows,knees,allthesewerethewayfor tions” was thestrongesttropeinmomentofMargaretThatcher’spassing:topraiseher“convic- ple whoadmiredher, andIhonourherpersonalachievements”(Hansard2013:col1617).This agree withmuchofwhatshedid,butIrespectherdeathmeanstothemany, manypeo- again) “Whateverone’sviewofher, MargaretThatcherwasauniqueandtoweringfigure.Idis- here iswhatwemightcallthe“Whateverone’sviewofher”response,asin(Miliband’swords than amatterofmultiplemanoeuvringstogetthroughtheproblemsday.” Inanutshell, act onthem.”LaterhequotesThatcherdirectly:“Politicsismorewhenyouhaveconvictions is amarkofhersignificanceaspoliticalleader. Someonewithdeepconvictions, willingto “Mr Speaker, debatesaboutherandwhatsherepresentedwillcontinueformany years.This Margaret Thatcher’sdeath,butusefultofocusonduehisroleasLeaderoftheOpposition: analysis. Take Miliband,againbynomeansaloneinprovidingarespectful“left”responseto after all. passing, meaningitbecomesallaboutthedeathofsomeoneinherlate80swhowasonlyhuman effect isthatthemomentof Thatcher’s passingbecomesallaboutthemomentof Thatcher’s with illness. Sheborebothwiththeutmostdignityandcourage” (Hansard 2013:col. 1617). The much asthemannerofherfinalyears. Thelossofherbelovedhusband, Denis, andherstruggle Rt HonBaroness Thatcher ofKestevenLGOM”: “And asaperson, nothingbecameherso the “motion” (looselydefined), “ThatthisHousehasconsideredthematteroftributesto typical oftheday, totheHouseofCommonson10 April 2013duringthespecial “debate” on Spanish border, saiditisnotthefuturethatweare fighting forbutthepast,defeated honoring noreliminating, quiteclearly, willsufficehere. the pastonlytointerit. Writing is a tombthatbothhonorsandeliminates” (1988:99). Neither de Certeaumadeexplicit: “writing placesapopulationofthedeadonstage[...]andspeaks making surroundingnotspeakingillofthedeaduntilitistoo lateareproblematic, asMichel ing intheaftermaththatsoughttohushuphistory. The implicationsforhistoricalmeaning- both thehistoricalstorytellingthatmadethisamomentin firstplace, andalsothestorytell- ing” ismorelikeanegative-spacedrawing, concerned notwiththe “moment” atall, butwith Our thumbnailsketchofwhat Tony Blaircalled “the momentofMargaret Thatcher’s pass- even thedead will not be safe from the enemy if he wins. And this enemy has not ceased to be victorious. Only that historian will have the gift of fanning the spark convinced that of hope in the past who is firmly Even theDead There wereaswellnumerousperformativeinterventions.Perhapsitisnocoincidencethat While itmaybeobvious,andperhapssoundtoomuchlikeDerrida,deathcanstymie Walter Benjamin, writingshortlybeforedeathbyhisownhandatPortbou ontheFrench- — whatever one’sviewofher. — and Istillregardthemasvices
— Walter Benjamin, “Theses on the Philosophy of History” ([1940] 1999:247) — was, infact,underThatcherism,avirtue: - - Margaret Thatcher’s Passing 107 both - — contrary to Jean Broke-Smith’s Jean Broke-Smith’s contrary to — were acts of political resistance and attempts to establish or maintain a resistance and attempts to establish or maintain were acts of political — is to churn up silliness and bring up bad points. up silliness and bring is to churn repetitive and list-like: — — A number of performances created during the weeks of Thatcher’s death and funeral of Thatcher’s death during the weeks of performances created A number COFFIN IN THE SHAPE OF THE FREE MARKET OF THE SHAPE COFFIN IN TOXTETH THE COLOUR OF MOURNERS IN THE KEY OF SPITE MUSIC IN NO FLOWERS THE PHRASE SPELLING OUT THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE ROUTE AS SOCIETY” THING “THERE IS NO SUCH NO FLOWERS WAGE THE MINIMUM THE SHAPE OF COFFIN IN STANLEY THE COLOUR OF PORT MOURNERS IN THE STYLE OF INDIFFERENCE MUSIC IN NO FLOWERS THE PHRASE SPELLING OUT THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE ROUTE LIB” WOMEN’S TO NOTHING “I OWE (Etchells 2013:2–5) NO FLOWERS in form and function media and the government. to that being established by the mainstream counter-narrative 55 Funerals his work with Sheffield-based exper most famous for Etchells, Tim The performance artist , which , a text called 55 Funerals produced Forced Entertainment, imental theatre company The text is characteristic of April 2013. download for free solely on 17 he made available to Etchells’s style once-over and repeatedly. Implied here, surely, are two ideas: that the fight for the vanquished the fight for the vanquished are two ideas: that here, surely, Implied and repeatedly. once-over of the ordinary; and the performance that outperforms mode of historical analysis demands a pres- the dead among the be a sense that even would “victory,” to a reverse that, fundamental Perhaps what is needed are not safe either. ently victorious Etchells’s text is performative in a number of ways. First, we expect Etchells, as a theatre-maker, as a theatre-maker, we expect Etchells, First, of ways. Etchells’s text is performative in a number The text’s rhythmic and for performance. to produce texts that are intended as blueprints his text available the way that Etchells made Secondly, repetitive qualities beg to be read aloud. of the text was advertised on the SCUDD (Standing The availability was performative in itself. is somewhat a forum that digital mailing list, Conference of University Drama Departments) that occur on and arguments debates, advertisements, legendary for the performances of egos, to the list carries aspects of performativity in that Posting a message it on an almost daily basis. stage fright, the same degree of trepidation, for many, and doing so carries, it is highly public, stage or performance-related anxiety that is normally associated with a more conventional, to deliberately cultivate certain personas; and although Others seem to use the list performance. we witness more upon occasion, and debate, research, recruit, it is primarily used to advertise, for David Hughes’s provocative skits in response to, such as artist explicitly performative uses, what was noticeable about this forum of provoca- Yet some unusual calls for papers. example, was their Thatcher’s passing, in the moment of politically engaged people, exhibitionist, tive, the link to which was posted by his colleague Etchells’s text, silence on the matter. near-total and it did not was the first related message, Andrew Quick at the University of Lancaster, though the inspiration behind Etchells’s text is Furthermore, April 2013. appear until 17 which Thatcher in his email, no explicit mention of Quick made notably, patently obvious, Etchells, Tim the following new text produced by might be interested in “You simply stated: etiquette advice 108 Bush/Daniels outside theacademiccommunity, therewasaconsiderablymorevocalresponse. by Etchells’sprovocativetext, isaninterestingandunexplainedphenomenon. Contrastingly, around theeventof Thatcher’s deathandfuneral, despitetheperformativepotentialprovided SCUDD community to engage in any online debate, “performance,” or “audience participation” miss averydearaunt” (Ramsay2013). The reluctanceofthevastmajorityusuallyvocal mother orgrandmother: “Thank youSophieforthisintervention. Intermsofsensitivity, Iwill alent toneofrespectfortheelderlylady, whomanyarguedshouldjustbeseenassomeone’s There wasjustonein-public/on-listresponsetothis, cynicallybutsubtlyprobingtheprev- responses toQuick’semailorEtchells’swork. Infact, therewasjustours: made availablefordownloadjusttoday.” Also notablewerethelackofpublic/on-list testify “for”or “against” Thatcher. ing invitedguestsandthosewhojusthappenedtobedrinkingtherethatnight, wereaskedto manager ofherownperformancevenue, theBlueShed. Membersoftheaudience, compris- bar hostedaspecialeventorganizedbyDeborahEgan, aveteranoftheSheffieldartssceneand stand-up comedy, andspoken-wordevents. Ontheeveningof17 April 2013, thedownstairs ties andservesasavenueforrangeofperformances, fromtraditionaltheatrepiecestomusic, company. A highlysuccessfulventure, thepubhelpstofundsomeofcompany’sactivi- The RiversidePubinSheffield’sindustrialDon Valley isownedbythePointBlanktheatre Mock TrialThe coals inside:thelostspoilsofindustryThatcherdecimated. effigy, uponwhichangercouldbevented,butthe deeper, moreconsideredsymbolismofthe of theThatcherpiñatathatcarriedwithitnotonlyafirstorder ofmeaningasa“Guy,” orhated tume; amicrophoneforparticipantstospeakorsinginto;and thecarefullyconstructed“prop” event wasfurtherinscribedwitharangeofsemioticmarkers of performance:thejudge’scos- nized bytheatre-makerstotakeplaceinavenueusedforand associatedwithperformance.The the Rotherhides. for arousingperformanceof “Margaret Thatcher’s Dead” fromlocalbandDon Valley and with abaseballbatuntilitreleaseditshoard:notcandy, butcoals. We thenreturnedinside Conservative Partyblueas Thatcher oftenwas, hungfromatree. We beatthe Thatcher piñata tribes. After Thatcher wasfoundguilty, wemovedintothepubgardenwhereadummy, cladin in hislistof Thatcher’s crimes. There weremusicalnumbers, poems, andstraightforwarddia- and losingtheeyesightinoneeyeafterahomophobicbeating, whichheblamesonSection28, ble testimonycamefromfreelancecreativeproducer Andrew Loretto, whocitedcutstothearts 3. 2. 1. tions, orotherwise “theatrical” events. (Bush2013) participating in, orwitnessinganytexts, performances, rituals, commemorations, celebra- in hearingfromanyotherartistsandtheatre-makerswhomarkedyesterdaybycreating, Many thanksto Tim (and Andrew) forsharinghispiece. Iwouldbeequallyinterested This eventinvitedparticipationfromarangeofdifferentpeople,althoughitwasorga- It is a common British custom to burn an effigy or “Guy” on a bonfire on 5 November, ignorance about these matters and resulting in inadequate provision of LGBT services. councils in England and Wales from “promoting” homosexuality, contributing towards continued confusion and In the UK, Section 28 of the Local Government Act that prohibited of 1988 was a homophobic localruling Sophie Bush was there as an invited guest. failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in what became known as the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. tradition stems from the public humiliation and execution of Guy Fawkes and associated conspirators after their 1 Eganactedasjudgeandwasdressedaccordingly. A nota- 3
or Bonfire Night. This 2
Margaret Thatcher’s Passing 109 Burn, Burn, Burn!” Then there were fire- Burn!” Burn, Burn, — With an atmosphere somewhere between a championship play-off final and a political a championship play-off final and an atmosphere somewhere between With of those long summer- anthem Go” We Here Go, We Here Go, We “Here rally the old shouts one man to coal on it,” “It wants some [...] rang out again. of-’84 picket line battles to light the mock funeral landlord of the Rusty Dudley pub tries gales of laughter as the (2013:8) pyre. hallmarks of what Mikhail Sheffield mock trial bear many of the Both this event and the prevailing truth and from the established order; celebrated temporary liberation from the and prohibitions. norms, privileges, rank, it marked the suspension of all hierarchical It was change and renewal. the feast of becoming, Carnival was the true feast of time, (10) hostile to all that was immortalized and completed. I decided I wanted to come The strike days were tough times and we’ll never forget. apart from the togetherness but when the It’s all bad memories and be part of it again. I’m not an aggressive person or confronta- pits shut it took the heart out of the place. can talk to people who You tional but it made my blood boil remembering the strike. In a similar vein, although more publicized, was the mock funeral held in the ex-mining town of in the ex-mining town mock funeral held was the publicized, although more vein, In a similar through coffin was paraded Thatcher in a prop of An effigy April 2013. also on 17 Goldthorpe, wreathes of the alongside floral pyre, It was burned on a “hearse.” on a horse-drawn the streets to Thousands gathered “SCAB.” here spelled but “NAN” or “DAD” spell out kind that usually Maggie Maggie, “Maggie, and chant: cheer, watch, The Mock Funeral The Mock works. Though not orchestrated by theatre professionals like the mock trial in Sheffield, the the mock trial in Sheffield, orchestrated by theatre professionals like Though not works. in the Sheffield Star: Martin Smith reported overtly theatrical. Goldthorpe funeral was performance of sanctioned a subversion of the official, Bakhtin calls the carnivalesque: through taking place at the very same time on the streets of London, Thatcher’s actual funeral, real cremation Thatcher’s of “serious ritual” of the the use of humor and chaos; a burlesque Thatcher death celebrations has centered on Much of the discussion surrounding the (1984:5). “basis of the states, as Bakhtin ignoring the fact that, “etiquette,” and “bad taste” debates about rituals frees them completely from all religious and laughter which gives form to all carnival the very function of Furthermore, (7). from all mysticism and piety” ecclesiastical dogmatism, such as etiquette in order to make way for the the carnival is to overturn restrictive structures suppressed and to allow voices and energies that are normally eccentric and the sacrilegious, created by carnival or the carni- “world upside-down” or “mundo reverso” The to be heard. to be examined and contested on “truths” received valesque is a space that permits ideas and Bakhtin asserts, The carnival, to be exposed (11). “gay relativity” and for their equal terms, the such as the early Roman state, Bakhtin suggests that in previous societies, Furthermore, and (glorifying) and deriding the deceased,” “funeral ritual was also composed of lamenting funeral was “official” an Thus, ‘official.’” equally “were equally sacred, that both these responses of different and for a number on a number of levels, multivocal and served as a cathartic event and class struc- “in the definitely consolidated state Bakhtin continues, “But,” “stakeholders.” In other (6). of the two aspects became impossible” “such an equality West, of the modern ture” an image was being established, “prevailing truth” while one April 2013, in Britain in words, for those who opposed or objected to “immortalized and completed,” Thatcher’s career of or sanctioned channel through which to express such there was no official Thatcher’s politics, (and heavily crit- “unsanctioned” in places such as Goldthorpe and Sheffield, Rather, feelings. felt deeply icized) carnivalesque performances provided a much needed outlet for those who and sympathy that were being established admiration, estranged from the narratives of respect, Thatcher’s pass- by all the official organs of the state as the correct response to the moment of reflected on her reasons for Ward, Carol “funeral,” One participant at the Goldthorpe ing. attending the event: 110 Bush/Daniels originally fromthe1939film musical The Wizard, ofOz whichreachednumber twointheUK ing firm(inBryan Times 1990:3). Itisinteresting tonotethenthateventheuseofthissong, it is ‘ding-dong thewitch isdead’sortofstuff,” reportedJuliaMeehan, ananalystinaconsult- ingly, fromthecity’s financialdistrict: “We’ve hadtwodaysofpartyingintheoffice. Alotof (Bryan Times 1990:3), comingnotonly from “jubilant leftists” (West 1990), but, moresurpris- Thatcher resigned, inNovember1990, London washitby “an airofdisbeliefandcelebration” but ratherachancetore-enactthepreviouspartialvictoryof Thatcher’s resignation. When these participantsblindtothefactthat Thatcher’s deathwas not, initself, atangiblevictory, death, butmarkingsomethingwithafardeeper, symbolic, almostmythicalvalue. Norwere to understandisthatthosewhoparticipatedinthemwerenot celebratinganindividualhuman look ugly:performancesofpetulantandimpotenthate. Butwhatmanyofthesecriticsfailed To many, thecelebratoryand/orcriticalperformancesthatmarked Thatcher’s deathwillalways Conclusions garde performance: his chapter“FromRitualtoTheatreandBack,”fitsintodescriptionofritualistic,avant- cannot beconsideredpureritual,butitdoessitonthecontinuumdescribedbySchechnerin uplifted, sweptaway, takenover”(Schechner2013:70).Ofcourse,theGoldthorpemockfuneral pants “feelatonewiththeircomrades;personalandsocialdifferencesaresetaside.People and theoristssuchasVictor Turner andRichardSchechner. Thatis,astateinwhichpartici- for somethingakintothecommunitasofritualperformance,asexploredbyanthropologists valesque opportunityforthetransgressionandcontestationofprominentnarratives,butalso it again”(emphasisadded).Inotherwords,theseperformancesprovidednotonlythecarni- death providedanopportunitytorekindlethattogetherness;be,inWard’s words“partof doubt, emphasizedbytheirpoliticalexclusion.Finally, sheassertsthatcelebratingThatcher’s positive memorywasthe“togetherness”thatcreatedamongthemselves,atogetherness,no doned” andostracizedbytheirnationatlarge,butthatanotherwiseterribletime,theone under Thatcher; whyshouldtheynotbethoughtofassurvivors? fering isworthyoftheterm? The peopleofcommunitieslikeGoldthorpeundoubtedlysuffered is controversial;thesepeopleweren’ttorturedorgassed, butwhodecideswhatdegreeofsuf- Hussein, ColonelGaddafi. To applytheterm “survivor” tothosewhosufferedunder Thatcher brating thedeathordownfallofafigureresponsiblefortheirsuffering;thinkHitler, Saddam vivors” (1995:73). This termisimportant;noonequestionstheetiquetteof “survivors” cele- Howard Brentonreferstothosewhocelebrated Thatcher’s resignationin1990as “excited sur London politicians, anobliquepoliticalissue, but, likeperformance, alived, feltexperience. boil”; “makes thehaironyourneckstandup.” This isnot, asitmaybeforyoungscholarsor lived throughthem, arestillaverytangiblereality. Note Ward’s language: “made myblood each other. The resulting experienceisofcollectivecelebration. ([1977]2003:156) calls “spontaneous communitas,” thedissolutionofboundariesshuttingpeopleofffrom goal ofsuchperformancesistoentertain, tohavefun, andtocreatewhat Victor Turner rallies, parades, orcoercivechurch-going), butasacommunity, evenacongregation. The paying individualstrangers, orasforcedparticipantsinashowofsolidarity(asmass by ahostileestablishment[...]addressthemselvestotheaudiencenotassticksofmoney- These experiments, stillrelativelyscatteredandtentative, andalwaysbeingpressedback Second: Ward’s commentsmakeitclearthatthepeopleofthesecommunitiesfelt“aban- A numberofpointsarecrucialhere. First:eventssuchastheminers’strikes, forthosewho Smith 2013:8) doned us. They didn’tliveintheNorthandtheycareaboutthosewhodid. (in went throughitandmakesthehaironyourneckstandup. The governmentjustaban- - Margaret Thatcher’s Passing 111 - www.vacuumdays.com/55-funerals/. We Love the City. CD. the City. Love We 2013). These reenactments allowed their 2013). These reenactments allowed their Observer Jamaica rang me laughing with joy. ‘I’ve just been down to Downing Street,’ ‘I’ve just been down to Downing joy. rang me laughing with A History of Northern Ireland 1920–1996. London: Palgrave Macmillan. A History 1920–1996. of Northern Ireland — . London: Pimlico. London: Pimlico. Illuminations. April 2013. Accessed 17 55 Funerals. 2013. HC Deb vol. 560 cols 1613–53, 10 April. 10 560 cols 1613–53, HC Deb vol. 2013. Camden House. 18 April. forum, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Africa. University Press. University Press. www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22066540. Accessed 24 May 2013. 9 April. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22080238. 2013. Accessed 24 May April. 9 UK Politics, Like those who celebrated in April 2013, the November 1990 partiers were fully aware 1990 partiers were 2013, the November who celebrated in April Like those Viewed in this light, the celebrations held upon Thatcher’s death cannot be read simply as upon Thatcher’s death cannot be read simply in this light, the celebrations held Viewed . Columbia, SC: Columbia, . and Brecht Chorus, Agitprop, Berlin: Weimar in Proletarian Performance 1997. Richard. Bodek, London: Nick Hern Books. 1980–1994. and Journalism Essays Hot Irons: Diaries, 1995. Howard. Brenton, 24 November:3. “Thatcher’s resignation sparks bit of madness.” 1990. The. Times, Bryan Posting to Standing Conference of University Drama Departments (SCUDD) email 2013. Sophie. Bush, in Postcolonial Modernity and Its Malcontents: Ritual and Power 1993. Comaroff. and John L. Jean, Comaroff, Columbia York: New Conley. Tom by Translated of History. Writing The 1988. Michel. de Certeau, 2013. Tim. Etchells, The Macmillan Company. York: New Prophets. False 1925. James M. Gillis, Hansard. “The That Thatcher Day 2000. Dies.” Hefner. 1997. Thomas. Hennessey, References IN: Indiana Bloomington, by Hélène Iswolsky. Translated World. Rabelais and His 1984. Mikhail. Bakhtin, BBC News Magazine, Thatcher and the taboo of speaking ill of the dead.” “Margaret 2013a. BBC News. BBC News Thatcher death celebration parties in poor taste.” Blair: Margaret “Tony 2013b. BBC News. 1999. Walter. Benjamin, that Thatcher’s departure from office was only a nominal victory. Howard Brenton describes Howard Brenton describes victory. office was only a nominal departure from that Thatcher’s had been lifted, if [...] as if the curse we all got stuck in again [...] before “a small celebration - the resig the celebrations surrounding also like those in 2013, day” (1995:73). But, only for a “a remembers Brenton, director,” for communitas. “An eminent theatre nation fulfilled a need very level-headed man earlier partial victory of her res- an opportunity to invoke and reenact the mance, they served as reports of the street party held in Brixton on the day ignation. This is particularly clear in the an original newspaper billboard from 1990 of Thatcher’s death, which cite a “man brandishing announcing Thatcher’s resignation” ( around the fire (so to speak); to teach their chil- participants to come together as a community where the new ones lie; to consider how best to dren why to fear old dragons; to acknowledge the next fight. In short, they allowed participants to conquer them; and to steel themselves for the authority of death. create their own narratives that challenge singles chart during the week of Thatcher’s death, was a reenactment, echoing a time when it echoing a time when was a reenactment, Thatcher’s death, during the week of singles chart of her resignation. but the symbolic death actual death, Thatcher’s celebrate not was used to he said, ‘to see her off the premises. It seemed the only place to be’” the premises. It seemed the only place he said, ‘to see her off For these people, the (73). to be physically present, to gone was not enough; they were compelled news that Thatcher was physical space in which it was tak- of her resignation in the same participate in the performance alongside other people doing to go to a specific place to mark an occasion ing place. The need feature of both ritual and performance. the same is a crucial through their use of the semiotics of perfor physical death. Rather, a response to her actual 112 Bush/Daniels West, Michael. 1990. “Britishers mixedabout Thatcher’s resignation.” FortScott Tribune , 23November:1–2. Taussig, Michael. 2006. Walter Benjamin’sGrave. Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress. Strauss, DavidLevi. 2005. “The MagicoftheState: An Interview withMichael Taussig.” Cabinet18. Smith, Martin. 2013. “Three decadesonandthehateisasstrongever.” SheffieldStar,18April:8. Schechner, Richard. 2013. Performance Studies: An Introduction. London:Routledge. Schechner, Richard. (1977)2003. Performance Theory. London:Routledge. Ramsay, Gordon. 2013. PostingtoStandingConferenceofUniversityDramaDepartments(SCUDD) Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 1984. “Speech toConservativePartyConference.” Accessed 27May2013. Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 1982b. “Speech onWomen inachanging World.” 26July. Accessed 28May Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 1982a. “Radio InterviewforIRN.” 5 April. Accessed 28May2013. www Lawson, Wilfrid.1909. King, Tony. 1985. “Margaret Thatcher: The StyleofaPrimeMinister.” InTheBritishPrimeMinister, 2nd Johnson, Lyndon B. 1964. “President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Annual MessagetotheCongressonStateof Jamaica Observer. 2013. “Hundreds celebrate Thatcher’s passing.” Jamaica Observer,9 April. Accessed Accessed 27May2013. http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/18/strauss.php. email forum, 18 April. www.margaretthatcher.org/document/105763. 2013. www.margaretthatcher.org/document/105007. .margaretthatcher.org/document/104914. & Co. edition, editedby Tony King, 96–140. Durham, NC:DukeUniversityPress. /archives.hom/speeches.hom/640108.asp. the Union, January8, 1964.” Lyndon B. JohnsonPresidentialLibrary. www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson 2XzHNMhEG. 2013.1 June www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hundreds-celebrate-Thatcher-s-passing_14016434#ixzz Sir Wilfrid Lawson: A Memoir. EditedbyG.W.E. Russell. London:Smith, Elder