FOR football fans of a certain vintage Ashington is synonymous as the birthplace of Sir Bobby Charlton, brother Jackie and their mum’s cousin Jackie Milburn.
The Northumberland pit village is also the birthplace of the unlikeliest of artists who swopped the pick for a paint brush and whose story became a world-wide success.
‘The Pitmen Painters’ is written by ‘Billy Elliot’ playwright Lee Hall and it is the second production of their 2018/19 season by Saddleworth Players at Delph’s Millgate Theatre on November 24-December 1.
It tells the story of four miners and a dental technician who invite a university professor to teach an art appreciation class, overcoming initial scepticism and ignorance to become painters in their own right.
Martin Roche, a theatre writer and acquisitions agent has been selected to direct The Pitmen Painters and is excited by the forthcoming performance and the variety of entertainment on offer at Millgate Theatre.
“It is such a fascinating piece of work,” said Middleton born, Oldham based Martin. “It is about real people, real events and history.
“History can be a bit dry but these people went on a fascinating journey. And unless you bring them to life, you have got a lecture about art.
“My challenge is to bring the characters to life and bring it off the page.
“For these men, they wanted to self-improve themselves. So, they decided to have this man to talk about art appreciation.
“They didn’t know why it meant but thought it might be good to have someone with an ‘ology’ come in and talk to them.
“Mr Lyon a lecturer from college turns up with a project and loads of slides. He asked them ‘what do you think of these paintings because they expected to be told what it meant.
“In the end, to make them understand, he said do it yourself. They were getting bits of wood and painting it with gloss. But Lyon saw in them something quite special.”
For Martin, it’s a directorial debut at the Millgate Arts Centre.
He said: “It is a real gem for the arts in the area, not just in Saddleworth, but much wider afield.
“I spend a lot of time in theatre round the country and Millgate do put the passion into art.
“I have come in objectively. But now I have seen it and I have worked with them, I am happy to come back and help.
“I will do anything for them. It is a great set up and a beautiful little venue.
“Audiences are seeing good quality stuff, not overpriced, and Pitmen Painters will be well worth a watch.”
• The Pitmen Painters runs from Saturday, November 24 to Saturday, December 1.
For more details and tickets go online:
www.saddleworthplayers.org.uk/shows/pitmen-painters or ring: 01457 874644.
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