“WE ARE WOMEN AGAINST PIT CLOSURES AND WE’RE OCCUPYING THIS PIT”
So starts the description from the production of this play we saw at The New Vic on Wednesday. Fun and friendship is one of our themes for this year, and this evening was a real opportunity to bring this to life. Originally a radio dramatization, it is based on the true story of four extraordinary ordinary women who protested against pit closures in the ‘90s. Here is what else the New Vic says:
“Anne, Elaine, Dot and Lesley. Four ordinary women, facing the closure of their community. It’s 1993 and the Parkside Colliery pit may be winding down, but they’re not giving up.
Their bras stuffed with contraband, they take a tour of the pit and refuse to come up. Settling into the depths of the mine, making tissue roses and walking imaginary dogs, they face bribery and threats. But as they dig in, those up top start to realise these ladies are not for turning.
This powerful play full of Northern wit by Maxine Peake follows on from the critically-acclaimed Beryl, and tells the true story of four women taking a stand in the face of a changing world.”
The play was laugh out loud funny at times, especially in the first half, whilst the women were getting themselves settled down the mine. The second half was more lively and inevitably more powerful as the women faced 4 days down on the cold and dark, with only coal sacks to wrap round them. It must have been a challenge to create the set as a convincing mine, and some of us found it a bit gloomy, and one-dimensional, and we wondered what the wandering miners’ role was as they appeared at various points, some with modern kit, others with Davy lamps from a previous age. Despite some clichés towards the end, the dialogue and drama of the story made it a powerful play, and reminded us that it is passion that drives courage and comradeship when a stand needs to be taken.
We certainly enjoyed ourselves and made an evening of it with supper at the theatre beforehand.