British Council Logo UK Films Database
Project Detail

The Big Meeting

Synopsis

Every second Saturday in July the city of Durham is taken over by miners, trade-unions and the public for a major event known locally as "The Big Meeting". The Durham Miners' Gala is an annual celebration of noise, colour, culture, creativity, unity and endeavour. Attracting 200,000 people, banners and brass bands parade through the streets to honour their heritage. 'The Big Meeting' reflects the past, present and future of the Gala and labour movement, whilst following four protagonists over the course of this momentous working-class occasion.
Visit Film Website

Details

Year
2019
Type of film
Features
Running time
91 mins
Format
Digital
Director
Daniel Draper
Producer
Christie Allanson, Daniel Draper
Executive Producer
Matthew Bell, Susanne Levin
Editor
Christie Allanson
Screenwriter
Daniel Draper
Director of Photography
Allan Melia
Sound
Stefan Kazassoglou
Composer
Patrick Dineen
Principal cast
Charlotte Austin, Laura Daly, Heather Wood, Lynn Gibson, Stephen Guy, Heather Ward, Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, Dennis Skinner, Ian Lavery, Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner, Margaret Aspinall, DBC Pierre, John Irvin, Paul Mason, Selina Todd, Robert Colls,

Genre

Human Rights

Categories

Documentary

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Shut Out The Light

21 Park Way
Toxteth
Liverpool
L8 1TS

Sales Company

Shut Out The Light

21 Park Way
Toxteth
Liverpool
L8 1TS

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Betty Cook of National Women Against Pit Closures Iron Ladies

Director: Daniel Draper

Year: 2025

The story of working-class women who, during the 1984–85 Miners' Strike, found themselves at the forefront of a battle against the British state. From Scotland down to Kent, women from the coalfields shed light on their experiences of the year long struggle, and how they became the backbone of the Strike. With many still active today, their actions reshaped the landscape of political activism for working-class women.

Biography Human Rights
Liverpool Story Liverpool Story

Director: Daniel Draper

Year: 2025

Finding beauty in the ordinary, Liverpool takes centre stage in this year-in-the-life documentary portrait. ​ Communities and voices are observed from a fresh perspective as the city navigates through an eventful year. Mirroring the ebb and flow of the River Mersey, LIVERPOOL STORY is an intimate document of daily life, observing the city and its people over the passing seasons.

Biography
Manifesto Manifesto

Director: Daniel Draper

Year: 2022

Walton, North Liverpool. An area severely effected by austerity and home to the safest Labour seat in the country. Filmed over three-years by filmmakers who hail from the area, MANIFESTO is a first-hand account of grass-root community activism, depicting the work and effort that goes into party politics away from Westminster. National topics - the NHS, education, the environment, worker’s rights, Brexit, internal selections and the 2019 General Election - monumental issues across society, are discussed and debated as Walton Constituency Labour Party campaign for change through Labour’s ‘For The Many’ manifesto.

Human Rights