The Pitman Painters

Based on Guardian art critic Bill Feaver’s book on the subject, The Pitmen Painters gives us a dramatised account of a group of miners from Ashington in Northumberland who, under the tutelage of Robert Lyon from King’s College in Newcastle, began to paint and gained national fame. Hall takes the basic story and, obviously, makes changes, including reducing the number of members of the group and fictionalising the characters, but the play remains true to the historical truth. In a laughter-filled evening, his acutely observed characters present us with an exploration, not just of art and culture, but of class and community, politics and people.