UK Theatre Network

The Pitmen Painters
MK Theatre
reviewed by Louise Winter, 20th October 2009



Lee Hall’s play about the Ashington Group, a group of miners who took up painting as a result of art appreciation classes in 1934, is funny and thought provoking.  As the laughs come thick and fast it first appears that we may be stuck in the realm of class-based comedy. Here, as in Billy Elliot, also by Hall, is the comedy of the straight talking Northern voice and this is the basis for much of the laughter. It is more than this though. It is an exploration of class, culture, art and politics wrapped up in a hugely funny and entertaining package.

The Ashington group originally came together as a Workers Education Association class who had tried to find an economics lecturer. This failed so they decided to try something different and invited Robert Lyon, played by Ian Kelly, to give them art appreciation classes. Initially he showed the men slides of Renaissance art.

This approach did not engage the men so a more practical approach was suggested; the men were to start making images themselves. Lyon first encouraged them to try linocuts and then to start painting. This then led to a subject being set each week, for example ‘The Deluge’ or ‘The Hermit’. The men would produce a painting at home and each week display it before the group to be critiqued.
Before long word spread and the group became of interest to the art establishment. Helen Sutherland, the shipping heiress, played by Phillipa Wilson, was integral to the group getting to know artists such as David Jones and Ben Nicholson, and visiting London galleries.
Max Robert’s staging of this play is in itself an education and one of the great joys is the simplicity of the staging and the placement of the paintings centre stage, projected as they are onto three large screens. It is a delight to see so many of the images as the fast and furious group discussions take place beneath them. 
The story of Oliver Kilbourn, (Christopher Connel) perhaps the most talented of the group, is heart rending and deeply moving as we watch his struggle to decide which path to take when he is given a life changing opportunity.

Each member of the exemplary cast must be mentioned Deka Walmsley, David Whitaker, Michael Hodgson, Brian Lonsdale, and Lisa McGrillis. Performances are faultless and this is no doubt due, in part, to the fact that this remains the original cast from the premiere in 2007. 

Hall intimately understands his subjects and the community about which he writes but never resorts to sentimentality. Nor is he patronising to us or to them.
This is storytelling and acting at its best  - a powerful and skilfull exploration of the passionate debates and arguments surrounding art, self-expression, socialism and community. This production is a must see and truly deserving of The Evening Standard’s Best Play Award. 

The Pitemn Painters plays at MK Theatre until 24th October 

27th Oct – 31^st Oct, The Lowry, Manchester

2nd Dec 2009 – 18^th Jan, The Lyttleton Theatre, London