The Pitman Painters

The play was based on a true story of five men exploring the world of art and their individual artistic abilities and interests.

The set was a basic construction depicting an old and sparsely furnished Army style hut where a group of four miners from Northumberland and a “dental mechanic” met regularly under the auspices of the Workers Educational Association for an Art Appreciation evening class. Tables and chairs were moved on and off to depict the various scenes and the  scene, location and timeline changes were projected on to a screen at the back of the stage. In addition, a loud bang highlighted the end of a scene.

Central to the story was Robert Lyon, convincingly played by Joseph James. He was a Master of Art from Kings College hired by WEA to run the class. Joseph was suitably formal and rather posh and well spoken as befitted the role.

The five men were all very different characters who were well cast and achieved a certain balance to the group. Without exception, each one acted out his character extremely well and maintained the local dialect. Much of the dialogue was strident and somewhat angry and each of the actors dealt with this brilliantly .There was considerable comedy and humour throughout the play, well handled by all. Dave Hossack, as George Brown was a typical trade union shop steward and also the local  WEA organiser, obsessed with rules, procedures and the “committee”. Dave was perfect for this role, assuming an air of immense importance. Gray Searle, as Oliver Kilbourn was a quieter character who proved to have considerable artistic ability, recognised and supported by local heiress and collector, Helen Sutherland, played convincingly by Fiona Haskell. Gray had to grapple with the competing loyalties of whether or not to leave the mines and concentrate on art and he played this out in a sensitive and compelling way.

Luke Eversley, as Jimmy Floyd, was loud, abrasive and very cynical of the class whilst Matt Byham, as Young Lad, was argumentative and brash. Stuart Williams, as the “dental mechanic ”Harry Wilson ,was an intellectual, prone to political rants and he was great in this role.

Zoe Bell, as model Susan Parks, caused a frisson of anxiety as she was  expecting to model in the nude for the art “students” and showed a lovely truculent attitude to the students’ misgivings. The cast was completed by Malcolm Hollister as Ben Nicholson, a well known artist, who adopted a very disparaging attitude to the students’ work.

Matt Byham played the cornet competently at the end when  the actors sang the Gresford Hymn, written by Robert Saint, a miner, to commemorate a major pit disaster in 1934.

Costumes were all relevant to the times and sound effects and lighting most appropriate

This was an absorbing, humorous and sometimes emotional play acted out by a very talented cast, directed by Neil Arbon. Many congratulations to Neil for his innovation and skilful direction in bringing this absorbing production to stage.

The audience were very appreciative and I really enjoyed the play.

Congratulations to everyone involved in any way.

 

 

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