A SALTCOATS playwright who had dreamed of staging a week of plays devoted to the lives of the workers of the former Nobel Explosives factory at Ardeer will have to put the plans on hold after funding was knocked back.

Jack Dickson says that plans are just “on hold” though and the group will try again for funding from Creative Scotland.

The group wanted to stage the play about the tragic story of the 10 young women who lost their lives following an explosion at Nobel.

They had originally planned to show it as part of the Tidelines Book Festival in Irvine but lockdown meant it was put on hold.

Instead, they made a short film about the women which was available online for the community to watch.

This year Jack applied for funding to stage it outdoors at the site for a week with volunteers in the area helping it happen.

But this week they were dealt the blow that their application for funding had been refused.

Jack said: “It is disappointing but we’re going to apply for 2022 so onwards and upwards.”

“Thank you to everyone who gave their time so generously as part of the application and watch this space for hopefully more positive news early next year.”

Jack explained why the play was important: “On that day in May 1884, 10 young women tragically lost their lives while working at Nobel’s Dynamite Factory, many of them were under the age of 21.

“I was so moved when I found out about them losing their lives, I decided I should write a play for them and the thousands who worked at Nobels and ICI.”