Review: The Pitmen Painters *****

There are no big names in the cast, the set is simple and its title is as blunt and to the point as its characters – yet The Pitmen Painters is easily one of the best plays staged at The Grand for some time.

Written by Lee Hall, author of Billy Elliott, The Pitman Painters is meaningful and extremely funny and reflects through the medium of art, the political and social culture of the early 30s and 40s.

The story, based on fact, tells of a group of Ashington miners, who hire a professor to teach art appreciation at their 6p a week Workers Educational Association classes. But soon theory is abandoned and these men, reluctantly at first, start to paint, finding their new found artform a relief from the harsh tribulations of working down the pit and the classes become the focus of their lives outside work.

We learn of their personal tragedies, brutal experiences, and their quest for self improvement, which are brilliantly interspersed with comic situations and classic Geordie humour. Over the years we see their work acquired by collectors. They make friends with avant-garde artists, whilst still spending their days down the pit. The production is pacey and cleverly staged. But the success of The Pitman Painters comes from the brilliant portrayal of the individual characters. From the archetypal union rule quoting George Brown (Deka Walmsley) and Jimmy Floyd (David Whitaker) who goes to classes “to get out of the house” to Oliver Kilbourn (Trevor Fox) who wrestles with a life-changing decision, Harry Wilson (Michael Hodgson) the red hot socialist and the unemployed Young Lad (Brian Lonsdale) there are convincing and believable performances.

As their upper class tutor David Leonard is superb capturing the class divide of the time. Completing the cast are Joy Brook, the heiress art collector, who shares some wonderful poignant moments with Oliver and Susan Parks (Viktoria Kay) as the life model prepared to bare all for the sake of art. Whether you’re an art lover or not The Pitman Painters is a must see.

To Aug 27.