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The Pitmen Painters

By Lee Hall

Directed by Jacqs Graham

Production Manager: Helen Hollick

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8-13 April 2025​

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LAUNCH
  • Sunday 5 January, 5:00pm
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AUDITIONS
  • Tuesday 7 January, 7:00pm
  • Thursday 9 January, 7:00pm
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AUDITION PIECES

TBC

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REHEARSALS

  • Tuesday and Thursday evenings

  • Sunday mornings

We will break for The Weir show week.

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CONTACT

Director: Jacqs Graham • 07882 600588 • jacqsludgate@me.com

Synopsis

When a group of coal miners begin evening classes with a Master of Painting from Kings College Newcastle, they want to learn about art: what’s good, what’s bad and what it all means.
 
Working down the pit by day and discussing the old masters by night, the men discover that there’s more to the art world than they had first thought. And when they start painting for themselves, the art world discovers there’s more to this group of coal miners than they expected too…
 
What started out as an unassuming evening class in Art Appreciation in the 1930s becomes one of the great stories of the century, as The Ashington Group’s paintings take the British art world by storm. Based on this true story, The Pitmen Painters is an inspiring, funny, feelgood play about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and the magic that can be found in everyday life.

Characters

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The play is based on the true story of The Ashington Group and you can research most of the named characters. We’re not looking for impersonations of the people but will pay some attention to ages - not too specific though. Period is 1930s, north east England (accents essential and coaching will be provided). As well as the actual script, we will tell the story through song, movement and painting.
 

  • George Brown - the ‘leader’, is obsessed with procedures, rules, regulations and order (40s/50s)
     

  • Oliver Kilbourn - probably the most complicated of the group, though he tries not to show it (30s/40s)

  • Jimmy Floyd - what you see is what you get, a literal man (30s/40s)
     

  • Young Lad & Ben Nicholson - (doubling opportunity) - a chance for a youthful looking actor to play both George’s nephew (amiable and tolerated) and Ben Nicholson -  a modernist painter (late teens to mid-20s)
     

  • Harry Wilson - passionate Marxist, sees everything through an ideological lens (30s/40s)
     

  • Robert Lyon - teacher from the University posh, classic English tweedy gentleman (30s/40s)
     

  • Susan Parks - young model who is recruited to pose for the life drawing class - nudity is not required in this role (20s)
     

  • Helen Sutherland - wealthy, upper class, patron of the arts (40s/50s)
     

For George, Oliver, Jimmy, Harry and Young Lad we will need north eastern accents, a willingness to sing unaccompanied and some movement ability (not dancing). Please have a go at the accent when you audition and also bear in mind that we will provide accent coaching.
 

For Ben Nicholson, Robert Lyon, Helen Sutherland and Susan Parks - posh, RP accents - not overplayed to the point of parody.
 

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