Gemma Arterton was cast in the role of Rita, a working woman and mother who becomes a union leader amidst the strike, despite the wishes of her husband and children, who feel neglected by her focus on labour issues.

Meanwhile, in Westminster, the Prime Minister Harold Wilson is being briefed on the depressing state of the economy and the high rates of industrial unrest (“Always A Problem”).

Back in Dagenham it's Friday night in the pub (“Payday”) and tensions are running high as the men confront the girls about not accepting a re-grading.

After a confrontation Rita storms out of the pub, as the girls remind Eddie he's forgotten it's their 10th wedding anniversary - sending him running after her (“I'm Sorry I Love You”).

He tells Hopkins to stop the production line and lay all the men off in an attempt to pressure the girls into going back to work (“Storm Clouds”).

Mr Tooley throws a spanner in the works by tearing up the speech and confronting Rita backstage where he tells her that she's just a little girl before stalking off.

The musical is based on the 2010 film Made in Dagenham,[2] which in turn centred around the true-life events[3] of the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968.

[13] The musical has a book by Richard Bean[14] and is directed by Rupert Goold,[15] with choreography by Aletta Collins,[16] set and costume design by Bunny Christie[17] and lighting by Jon Clark.

[18] The show's premiere production began previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London,[21] on 9 October 2014, with its official opening night coming on 5 November.

[22] Rehearsals for the production began on 4 August,[23] with their first public outing coming on 28 September, with an appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium[24] and in November the cast performed "Everybody Out" on the BBC's Children in Need.

[33][34] The cast included Daniella Bowen, Angela Bain, Daniel Carter-Hope, Dan de Cruz, Sophie-May Feek, Jeffrey Harmer, Callum Harrower, Joey Hickman, Anthony Hunt, Martina Isibor, Graham Kent, Claire Machin, Wendy Morgan, Jamie Noar, Loren O'Dair, Elizabeth Rowe, Sioned Saunders, Sarah Scowen, Steve Simmonds, Thomas Sutcliffe and Alex Tomkins.

A 10th anniversary concert production, led by Pixie Lott as O'Grady and Bonnie Langford as Castle, played at the London Palladium on 16 March 2024.

The cast also included Killian Donnelly as Eddie O'Grady, Trevor Dion Nicholas as Mr Tooley, and Peter Duncan as Monty.

[47] Nevertheless, even some of those who praised the musical criticised some aspects of the production, with Hitchings calling it "occasionally crass and a little too manipulative (the final number ["Stand Up"] is an especially brazen bid to get us on our feet)".

Simon Edge, for the Daily Express, complained of an "underpowered central performance from Gemma Arterton as Rita ... she lacks any of the goofy charisma that Sally Hawkins brought to the film role, so that it's hard to see how her character ever came to the fore of this dispute".