'The Pitmen Painters' reveiw

Malvern Festival Theatre

THE PITMEN PAINTERS (Bill Kenwright Productions)

Following sell-out seasons at the National Theatre, on Broadway and in the West End, the award-winning play, The Pitmen Painters, returns to Malvern Festival Theatre this week to packed houses. Penned by Lee Hall, creator of the worldwide sensation Billy Elliot, The Pitmen Painters tells the true story of a group of Northumberland miners who, in 1934, hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class, which quickly transformed into an actual painting class. The resulting works soon drew attention from collectors, critics and other prestigious artists and gave this group of miners standing in the art community while they continued to toil down the mine. Over ten years, the pitmen struggle with the attention they receive from a class system, to which they don’t belong, as they strive for nationalisation of the pits.

A previous cast photo of the WEA and Prof. Lyon

A different cast to the previous tour, everyone, without exception, delivers fantastic performances, in this wonderful ensemble piece. Joe Caffrey, Philip Correia, Riley Jones, Nicholas Lumley and Donald McBride make up the intriguingly diverse members of the WEA, while Louis Hilyer presides as the educator and Catherine Dryden and Suzy Cooper delightfully challenge the male energies with their liberal minds. The actors excel in their roles, particularly Jones with his characterisation of Lumley’s nephew and Correia, an incredible young actor, who gives a breathtaking, passionate performance as Oliver Kilbourn.

Despite the set being in need of some necessary care and attention in places, not unusual for a Kenwright production, Max Robert’s perfect direction with Gary McCann’s stage design ensures the play captivates from the very beginning.

The Pitmen Painters is pure, inspirational theatre. Hilarious, tragic, poignant, educational, thought provoking and extremely moving, the tale of these miners unquestionably captures the heart. In essence it’s the prequel to Billy Elliott but whatever it may be it is definitely superb and utterly brilliant! This stunning production runs until Saturday and has to be seen.