Live Theatre Newcastle and National Theatre Present THE PITMEN PAINTERS

Bill Kenwright presents The Live Theatre Newcastle and National Theatre co-production of THE PITMEN PAINTERS

By Lee Hall

Inspired by a book by William Feaver

Directed by Max Roberts

Originally produced by Newcastle's acclaimed Live Theatre, and following sell-out seasons at the National Theatre and on Broadway, Bill Kenwright presents the award-winning play THE PITMEN PAINTERS, which embarks on a National tour this spring prior to opening in the West End.
Written by Lee Hall, creator of the worldwide sensation Billy Elliot and directed by Max Roberts, THE PITMEN PAINTERS has received huge critical acclaim and won the Evening Standard award for Best New Play.

In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collections; but every day they worked, as before, down the mine. Examining the lives of a group of ordinary men that do extraordinary things, THE PITMEN PAINTERS is a humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics.

Lee Hall wrote the screenplay for Billy Elliot and adapted it for the West End in 2005, winning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Billy Elliot opened on Broadway in November 2008. His plays also include Spoonface Steinberg (Ambassadors), Cooking with Elvis (Live Theatre, Assembly Rooms and West End), and an adaptation of Herman Heijerman's The Good Hope for the NT.

The cast features many of the original actors who starred in the original National Theatre and Broadway productions; Christopher Connel, Deka Walmsley, David Whitaker, Brian Lonsdale and Trevor Fox are joined by new cast members David Leonard, Caroline Faber and Viktoria Kay.

THE PITMAN PAINTERS - UK TOUR DATES 2011

Wednesday 6 - Saturday 16 April Box Office: 01753 853 888

Theatre Royal, Windsor Website: www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

Monday 16 - Saturday 21 May Box Office: 01223 503333 (tickets on-sale 11 April)

Arts Theatre, Cambridge Website: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Monday 23 - Saturday 28 May Box Office: 01225 448844

Theatre Royal, Bath Website: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Monday 30 May - Saturday 4 June Box Office: 01902 429212

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Website: www.grandtheatre.info
Monday 6 - Saturday 11 June Box Office: 01323 412000

Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne Website: www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
Monday 13 - Saturday 18 June Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Theatre Royal, Nottingham Website: www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk

Monday 20 - Saturday 25 June Box Office: 01483 440077

Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Website: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
Monday 27 June - Saturday 2 July Box Office: 01253 290190

Grand Theatre, Blackpool Website: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Monday 4 - Saturday 9 July Box Office: 01752 230440

Theatre Royal, Plymouth Website: www.theatreroyal.com

Monday 11 - Saturday 16 July Box Office: 0844 871 7651

Richmond Theatre, Richmond Website: www.ambassadortickets.com
Monday 18 - Saturday 23 July Box Office: 01325 486555

Civic Theatre, Darlington Website: www.darlington.gov.uk/Culture/Arts/
Monday 25 - Saturday 30 July Box Office: 0844 871 7627

King's Theatre, Glasgow Website: www.ambassadortickets.com
Monday 1 - Saturday 6 August Box Office: 01684 892277

Festival Theatre, Malvern Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Monday 8 - Saturday 13 August Box Office: 0844 493 9999

Tyne Journal Theatre Website: www.thejournaltynetheatre.co.uk

Monday 15 - Saturday 20 August Box Office: 01702 351135

Palace Theatre, Southend Website: www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk
Monday 22 - Saturday 27 August Box Office: 0844 848 2706

Grand Theatre, Leeds Website: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
Monday 29 August - Saturday 3 September Box Office: 08448 717 650

Theatre Royal, Brighton Website: www.ambassadortickets.com
Monday 5 - Saturday 10 September Box Office: 01892 530613

Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
Monday 12 - Saturday 17 September Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Website: www.belgrade.co.uk

Monday 19 - Saturday 24 September Box Office: 08448 717 620

Churchill Theatre, Bromley Website: www.ambassadortickets.com

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