The Spongers (1978)

The Spongers Poster

1h 31min | Drama, TV Movie | Jan 24, 1978 | Released

Set against the backdrop of Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the play depicts a single mother's struggles as welfare cuts affect the poor and disabled. The derogatory term 'spongers' is used by British tabloid press to describe people who are dependent on welfare support, however the play presents the case of a family who really need the help of welfare support. The title sequence shows the title of the play, 'The Spongers', superimposed over a picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, denoting them as 'the real spongers' as Royal finances are paid by British taxpayers.

Director: Roland Joffé

Producer:

Writer(s):

Story:

User Reviews

No user reviews found...

Cast & Crew

Cast (46 Members)

Sullivan

Presenting Officer at Tribunal

Christine Hargreaves

Pauline

Social Services Committee

DHSS Clerk

Pauline's GP

Director of Social Services

Dr Whitehead

Councillor Conway

Dr Whitehead

Left Wing Councillor

Tribunal Committee

Peter

Paula

Bailiff

Workman

Jubilee Committee

Lesley Nightingale

Asst Supervisor at Home

Planning Committee Chair

Gertie

Group Policy Meeting Leader

Jubilee Committee

Deputy Director of Social Services

Tribunal Committee

Social Services Committee

Housing Committee Chair

Angela Catherall

Jackie

Policeman

Gary

Grace

Baby Dawn

Mrs Johnson

Supervisor at Home

Josephine Antosz

Warden at Hostel

Marion Shakespeare

Chair of Tribunal

Ann Haydn-Edwards

Clerk

Jubilee Committee Chair

Jubilee Committee

Education Committee Chair

Yvonne Nicholson

DHSS Clerk

Bailiff

Foreman

Comedian/Club MC

Local in Pub

2nd Policeman

Roads Committee Chair

Bernard Hill Sullivan

Roger Sloman Presenting Officer at Tribunal

Christine Hargreaves Pauline

Joan Peters Social Services Committee

David Hatton DHSS Clerk

Peter Lawrence Pauline's GP

Fred Pearson Director of Social Services

Donald Gee Dr Whitehead

Bernard Atha Councillor Conway

Donald Gee Dr Whitehead

Peter Ellis Left Wing Councillor

Ann Aris Tribunal Committee

Peter Kerrigan Peter

Paula McDonagh Paula

Phil Kernot Bailiff

Ted Carroll Workman

Eileen Beldon Jubilee Committee

Lesley Nightingale Asst Supervisor at Home

Johnny Allen Planning Committee Chair

Gertie Almond Gertie

Joe Kenyon Group Policy Meeting Leader

Gwen Harris Jubilee Committee

Ina Clough Deputy Director of Social Services

Len Annett Tribunal Committee

Fred Gaunt Social Services Committee

Jack Platts Housing Committee Chair

Angela Catherall Jackie

Mick Miller Policeman

Gary Todd Gary

Grace Allen Grace

Dawn Booth Baby Dawn

Elaine Lindsay Mrs Johnson

Frances Cox Supervisor at Home

Josephine Antosz Warden at Hostel

Marion Shakespeare Chair of Tribunal

Ann Haydn-Edwards Clerk

Joanna Clay Jubilee Committee Chair

Ken Rose Jubilee Committee

Anthony Dutton Education Committee Chair

Yvonne Nicholson DHSS Clerk

Gwyll Williams Bailiff

Johnny Hackett Foreman

Emrys Evans Comedian/Club MC

Bill Moores Local in Pub

Stuart Lee 2nd Policeman

Barry Hart Roads Committee Chair

Crew (2 Members)

Director

Writer

Roland Joffé Director

Jim Allen Writer

Age At Time Of Release

33

32

31

Christine Hargreaves

38

N/A

See more...

Recently Viewed

Clear your history

Poster

View all history