THE PITMEN PAINTERS. To 28 November.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne/London/Tour.
THE PITMEN PAINTERS
by Lee Hall.
Live Theatre To 3 May 2008.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm & Sun 13, 27 April 4pm Mat 10, 19, 24 April, 1 May 2pm.
revived at Lyttelton Theatre London 2-22 Sept 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed (except 2 Sept), Sat 2.15pm, Sun 3pm.
Audio-described 11 Sept, 12 Sept 2.15pm.
Captioned 20 Sept.
then tour to 28 November 2009.
Runs 2hr 45min One interval.
TICKETS: 0191 232 1232.
www.live.org.uk (Newcastle-upon-Tyne).
020 7452 3000
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk (London).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 3 April.
From coal to oils in a remarkable story.
Who’d have thought a black-and-white slide showing three elderly men outside a wood-hut could be the emotional culmination of a full-length drama? But it is in Lee Hall’s play (based on a book by art critic William Feaver), which opens at a Workers’ Education Association evening-class in 1930s Ashington.
Art was the only subject the local WEA could staff. The mismatch between lecturer Robert Lyon’s aestheticism and the desire of his mainly pitmen pupils to relate art to their lives makes for a difficult birth, complicated by group-secretary George’s punctilious adherence to rules and dental technician Harry’s Marxist interventions.
Early scenes are full of Hall’s quick wit, as complexities emerge. Harry’s Marxism makes him clear-sighted against others’ instinctive political responses. The men’s confidence grows as they paint, till they frankly dismiss middle-class mush about every worker being an artist.
Serious dilemmas emerge; one painter’s offered a dangerous choice involving a lifeline from the pits. Lyon’s motives are criticised in the most problematic scene, where he draws one of his protogees in stereotypical pitman’s clothing. For once the writer seems to be imposing ideas on his characters.
Otherwise, the play’s full of humour, energy and characters who insist on their independence (only rules-bound George seems to drop out). And Hall keeps in mind the political context of pitmen’s paintings, and what politics has done to their days of hope.
There are exemplary performances, from Deka Walmsley’s George, repeatedly crumbling in the face of opposition, David Whitaker’s Jimmy, never quite getting the hang of larger matters, Michael Hodgson as the politically insistent Harry and Christopher Connel who develops from pure comedy to take on the heaviest mantle of responsibility.
Ian Kelly gives Lyon a brisk restlessness, though he and others rightly leave the painters in the limelight. Max Roberts’ production is a fine showpiece for the remodelled Live Theatre stage, which presents matters forcibly yet intimately. But the show, up to that final image of members of Ashington Art Club, will still be well worth the ticket (there are hardly any to be had in Newcastle) when it visits London in May.
George Brown: Deka Walmsley.
Oliver Kilbourn: Christopher Connel.
Jimmy Floyd: David Whitaker.
Young Lad/Ben Nicholson: Brian Lonsdale.
Harry Wilson: Michael Hodgson.
Robert Lyon: Ian Kelly.
Susan Parks: Lisa McGrillis.
Helen Sutherland: Phillippa Wilson.
Director: Max Roberts.
Designer/Costume: Gary McCann.
Lighting: Douglas Kuhrt.
Sound: Martin Hodgson.
Video design: Shanaz Gulzar.
Video editor: Laura Flynn.
Associate costume: Lydia Hardiman.nes
27-31 Oct 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2pm Audio-described Wed (+Touch Tour 6.30pm) Captioned Sat 2pm The Lowry Salford 0870 787 5780 www.the lowry.com
3-7 Nov 7.30pm Mat Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm Lyceum Theatre Sheffield 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
10-14 Nov 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm Captioned Fri Theatre Royal Norwich 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
17-21 Nov Tue-Wed 7.30pm Thu-Sat 8pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm Theatre Royal Bath 01225 4488844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk
24-28 Nov 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com
2008-04-09 08:43:33