Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.37.60
Object Name
Poster
Title
Westminster Pensioners Action Group present Tea and Rock Cakes - A play by the Bread and Butter Theatre Company
Place
Paddington Printshop, London
People
John Phillips (designer); Paddington Printshop; Westminster Pensioners Action Group; Bread and Butter Theatre Company
Date
1974
Description
Screenprinted poster, "Westminster Pensioners Action Group present Tea and Rock Cakes - A play by the Bread and Butter Theatre Company - Followed by Refreshments" in blue at the top. Below is a blue print of two older people chatting over two steaming cups of tea. Smaller text at the bottom in white reads "Marylands Community Centre Chippenham Mews - All Senior Citizens Most Welcome Admission 5p". The background is light orange. Inside the steam trails from the tea are collages of illustrations, with some text including "Jarrow Crusade...Ken...Mary Pickford...Drury Lane Pantomime...Goodbye Dolly...War Declared Official."
This poster was made by Paddington Printshop, a community graphic design and print workshop in West London, co-founded by John Phillips and Pippa Smith. Between 1975-1991, the centre printed over 400 designs for left-wing community organisations. These publicised local political campaigns such as housing rights and food co-ops, to social gatherings including play days, gardening clubs, gigs and festivals. Their do-it-yourself style was part of the proto-punk ethos.
Multimedia
