Danny Mellor

A Message From Danny

First things first – thank you. Thank you for coming to see Undermined and for taking the time to look at my programme. Without you, none of this is possible.

I never thought that ten years on I’d be performing a play that first started off as a final assessment at Drama School – but here we are!

I originally wrote the play to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the miners’ strike. Now it’s the 40th Anniversary, it seems even more important to remind people of the need for unity.

Undermined is a play that tells the stories of ordinary people and how we can learn the mistakes and successes of the past. It’s most importantly a story about people, not politicians.

Over the years I’ve performed the show I’ve met some INCREDIBLE people who have shared their experiences of the strike. Some happy, some sad, some still understandably angry at the injustice that was shown to the miners and their families, and in many ways, still is.

If you enjoyed the show then please do leave feedback which you can do by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Timeline Of The Development Of Undermined

2014

Undermined started as a half hour end of year assessment when Danny attended the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama. Originally named ‘Shafted’, Danny took inspiration from a diary by former Silverwood Miner and local Rotherham lad, Bruce Wilson. The diary was titled ‘Yorkshire’s Flying Pickets’.

2015

2014

The show would become 50 minutes and head to the Edinburgh Fringe alongside best friend and director Ben 'Jammy' Butcher. Rehearsals were on weekends in Jammy's living room in Essex! The show was a success, receiving numerous 4 star reviews and being nominated for an award.

2016

2014

2016

The first national tour of the show began, touring from Scotland to Cornwall and everywhere in between!

A highlight would be performing for a huge crowd with the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign at Barnsley's Civic Theatre.

2017

2016

Undermined received a London transfer to the iconic Wilton's Music Hall. It then embarked on a Scottish tour supported by Unite The Union.

Danny also had the amazing opportunity to perform at Durham's Redhills Miner's Hall.

2020

2017

2020

Danny was contacted by a friend & producer who wanted to take the show on tour in Spring 2020. He was also due to take the show to Spain for an English Theatre Festival. Unfortunately, for understandable reasons, this didn't happen...

2021

2017

2020

A very spontaneous tour was planned in Yorkshire and various other venues with the support of the incredible Red Ladder Theatre Company.

Special Thanks

Ben 'Jammy' Butcher

It's a one-man show, but certainly not a one-man process. Without Jammy in my life I wouldn't be the actor I am today nor would Undermined be the show it is now.

Thank you Jammy for all the MANY shows you've directed me in at University and beyond and for your insane amounts of patience, talent, determination and organisation. For reigning in the show (as best he could...) and for pushing me to be better and better.

Without you, none of this would've happened.

Thank you, mate.

Parents

The best parents I could ever ask for who made the fatal error to tell me when I was a child that "they'd support me in whatever I wanted to do." So, here I am!

And they meant it. They have been unwavering in their support in all areas of my life and I can't thank you enough.

Love you both.

Bruce Wilson

Bruce's diary was a huge inspiration for the play. And meeting Bruce and chatting over numerous pints at the pub in 2015 really helped me define what the shows new direction would be.

Thank you for your generosity.

Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign

This important organisation whose mission is to get an inquest into the strike, particularly the behaviour of the police at Orgreave have been incredible.

They took a chance on a fresh-faced 23 year old who justified why his play would be a great device to raise money for the campaign and have been supportive ever since.

Red Ladder Theatre Company

The great Yorkshire Theatre company who took the show under their wing in 2021. Thank you.

About Danny Mellor

Danny Mellor is an actor, writer & sometimes stand-up comedian born and raised in South Yorkshire. He studied Drama at The University Of Hull and Acting at the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, graduating in 2014.

Most recently, he’s been touring around the UK with the 2023-2024 production of The Full Monty.

In Summer 2024 Danny toured with Cornwall based Miracle Theatre in their production Love Riot.

Danny has written two other shows with long-time collaborators Badapple Theatre Company. The one-man farcical comedy Yorkshire Kernel and the comedy satire Suffer Fools Gladly.

Other theatre credits include:

Bomb Happy - Everwitch Theatre Company

The Snow Dancer - Badapple Theatre Company

Blister - Paines Plough

On Behalf Of The People - The Melting Shop

After The Accident - Cube Theatre

TV Credits Include:

Coronation Street (ITV)

Happy Valley (BBC)

Da Vinci's Demons (Starz)

The Full Monty TV Series (Disney+)

Danny Mellor

Undermined Programme

A Message From Danny

Timeline Of The Development Of Undermined

2014

2014

2014

2015

2014

2014

2016

2014

2016

2017

2017

2016

2020

2017

2020

2021

2017

2020