The Pitmen Painters
Now Closed
Booking Period
- Show Opened
- 29th Sep 2011
- Booking Until
- 14th Apr 2012
Running Time
Age Restrictions
Contains some profanity, so probably best for teens and above.
What's it all about?
In The Full Monty they stripped, in Brassed Off they formed a band. Here, in this moving true story celebrating the extraordinary potential of ordinary men, a group of miners discover a passion for painting. This heartwarming and hilarious show from the writer of Billy Elliot is a must-see, and now’s your chance to catch it after a triumphant Broadway run.
Who's in it?
One of the reasons this play has been such a success is that many of its actors actually come from mining communities. Michael Hodgson and David Whitaker, who play two of the miners, and Ian Kelly, who plays their art teacher, have been with the show since it first opened in Newcastle.
You might also recognise some of its stars from popular soaps. Trevor Fox, who plays Oliver Kilbourn - perhaps the most talented of all the miners - is Emmerdale's DC Collins. And fellow miner George Brown is played by Joe Caffrey from Doctors.
Suitable for
With its earthy humour and simple message of pursuing your dreams, this is not just a play for art aficionados - although if you do have a strong interest in painting you’ll certainly find it fascinating.
Above all, it's a show about ordinary people making good. So if you liked The Full Monty or Educating Rita, you’ll love this Billy Elliot for grown ups.
What's the story?
In 1930s Newcastle, your employment options were limited. But a group of miners proved that their ambitions and talent were anything but, by setting out on a journey of self-discovery and becoming celebrated artists.
If you’ve ever felt that exploring your creativity was an impossible dream, this true story about men who lived lives of hardship, yet still managed to take on the establishment and win, is truly inspirational.
What the critics say
The Pitmen Painters, in Max Roberts' perfectly pitched and acted production, manages to be tragic, funny and illuminating in one fell swoop of energy
Breathtaking in its scope, Lee Hall's remarkable play provides a fascinating debate about art and socialism
Lee Hall's new play and Max Roberts' sublime production are ablaze with intellectual vigour, political passion and incendiary emotional energy. A beautiful work of art that everybody should see
Customer Reviews
Loved every minute of it.
Right from the first scene this show was brilliant. The humour was unforced and the actors were just so goooood. The pace of action and scene changing was just right and for me it was art at its best - moving, entertaining, informative, challenging, funny.
I couldn't go because I was sick but my partner and a friend loved the play, performance and venue. It also reminded us of why education and learning is so important and the cuts in funding are to be resisted. Thanks
I had watched a documentary on the Pitmen Painters and was interested in their story. The play did not disappoint. The script was good and the characters were well drawn and interesting. The achievement of these men shone through their words. I really enjoyed the whole experience.
We loved it. It was hilarious at the same time as being a serious exploration of the relationship between art, education, politics and class. Best line had to be 'This is a democratic organisation; we'll have no voting here!' My response was also coloured by the fact that my grandfather was a miner in Ashington pit, coming South in 1926 when the pit was 'locked out' during the General Strike. I grew up with stories of Ashington. Fabulous play. If we had any criticism it would be that the first half is better than the second; it did turn into a bit of a diatribe, but hard to see how else to end it, given the reality of what happened.
We had great seats and thoroughly enjoyed the show. The acting was excellent and there was a really good atmosphere among the audience.
