Acting career In 1931, with other unemployed members of the Clarion Players he formed an agit-prop theatre group, the "Red Megaphones". During 1934 they changed the name to "Theatre of Action" and not long after were introduced to a young actress recently moved up from London. This was Joan Littlewood who became MacColl's wife and work partner. In 1936, after a failed attempt to move to London, the couple returned to Manchester, and formed the Theatre Union. In 1940 a performance of The Last Edition – a 'living newspaper' – was halted by the police and MacColl and Littlewood were bound over for two years for breach of the peace. The necessities of wartime brought an end to Theatre Union. MacColl enlisted in the British Army during July 1940, but deserted in December. Why he did so, and why he was not prosecuted after the war, remain a mystery. In an interview in June 1987, he said that he was expelled for "anti-fascist activity". Allan Moore and Giovanni Vacca wrote that MacColl had been subject to Special Observation whilst in the King's Regiment, owing to his political views, and that the records show that, rather than being discharged, he was declared a deserter on 18 December 1940.
ACting careeR in 1931, wITH othER uneMployeD mEmBeRS oF tHe clarion players he FOrmed An aGIt-pRop tHeAtre gRoUp, the "rED megapHonEs". durIng 1934 tHEY ChanGEd thE nAme to "theatrE Of actIOn" aNd nOt loNG aFtER Were introduCed TO A YounG actrEsS Recently moved uP From london. tHis WaS joan LiTtLeWoOd wHO BECame MaccOLl'S wife and wOrk partNer. iN 1936, after a faILed atTEmpt to movE to londoN, tHe coUPlE rEturNEd to manchEsTer, anD foRmed ThE thEatre uNiOn. in 1940 a pErFormANCe Of tHe laSt EditIOn – a 'LivIng neWspaPer' – wAs HALted BY the PolICE anD mAccoLl ANd littlEwood Were bOund ovEr for Two YeArS FoR breach oF thE peace. THe NEcesSItIes of wartime BrOUghT an enD tO tHEAtrE UnIOn. mAcCoLl eNlIsTeD in tHe bRitIsH army DuriNG juLy 1940, BuT desertEd in dEcembeR. WHY he did So, aND why he was NoT PRosecutEd aFTEr tHe WaR, reMAIn a mysteRy. in An inteRviEW in jUNE 1987, he Said thAt He Was exPellEd for "antI-fAscisT aCTiviTy". AlLan MoORE and giovaNNi vaCca wROte tHAt MaCcoll HAD been SUBject tO SPecIal observATioN Whilst in the KiNg's Regiment, owiNg To his polItICal viEwS, ANd thaT THe records shoW That, ratHer than beiNg diSCHArged, he waS declAred a dEsErteR on 18 deCember 1940.