Can I correct a couple of things from the programme publicity.
The Critics Group did not break up either because of MacColl's "autocracy", nor did it break up "acrimoniously", as is often claimed.
At the beginning of 1971 MacColl announced that he intended to concentrate on theatre work - his life-long interest.
He invited us all to either participate in setting up an agit-prop theatre group, or to become members of 'The London Singers Workshop' which had been established a few years earlier by Sandra Kerr. It was proposed that the Workshop be run by Terry Yarnell, in my opinion, the best singer from The Critics Group.
This was, in practical terms, the end of The Critics Group as a singing workshop.
The break-up was amicable - a theatre group was set up using a gym in Camden Town as a movement venue and The Union Tavern as a rehersal/performance venue.
As far as I know, the theatre group had no name, though 'Big Red Eye' was once mooted.
A year later the drama group broke up acrimoniously; we were not involved then so we have no details - we do know that MacColl had what was described as 'a breakdown' over the breakup.
London Singers Workshop lasted for 20 years as a working group, for a short period with the assistance of MacColl and Seeger, who came along to give suport and advice.
MacColl could occasionally be demanding to work with; personally there were some members of the C.G. I would have been far more reticent to express criticism of the work than I would Ewan, who I always found approachable.
I look back on my time spent with the Group as the most enjoyable and formative period of my life - as far as I'm concerned - my thanks to Ewan, wherever his ashes may be blowing.
Jim Carroll