COAL - the true story of an industry and a community’s fight for
survival
THE drama, the tragedy and the unbreakable spirit of a working class community fighting
for its future comes to the stage as Gary Clarke Company embarks on a major 2016
national tour with COAL!
COAL commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike and reflects award
winning choreographer and dancer Gary Clarke’s own experience of growing up in the
Yorkshire coalfields.
COAL is a riveting dance theatre show that takes a nostalgic but honest look at the hard
hitting realities of life at the coal face, the back breaking physical graft and the impact it
makes on body and soul, both underground and on the surface.
Strong, powerful and emotive, COAL explores the darker underbelly of the mining
industry, unearthing the true nature and body wrecking demands of a working class
industry now almost completely forgotten.
It is based on years of personal research by Gary Clarke including extensive interviews
with Anne Scargill - former wife of NUM president Arthur Scargill - and Betty Cook, the
founders of Women Against Pit Closures.
He also spent time with Chris Skidmore of the National Union of Mineworkers, Bruce
Wilson, author of Yorkshire’s Flying Pickets, Barnsley historian and author Brian Elliott
and Paul Winter of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign.
“COAL is a direct response to my upbringing in the working class mining village of
Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire. It's about trying to capture a time in British history that is
too easily forgotten. It is an attempt at keeping the memories of the mining industry alive,
an industry that I believe shaped the fabric of our society and how we live our lives today.
These communities are at the heart of COAL.” Gary Clarke 2015.
COAL, which has received a Strategic Touring Grant from Arts Council England, now
embarks on a national tour featuring 16 performers - seven professional contemporary
dancers including TC Howard (acclaimed for her work with Vincent Dance Theatre and
Wendy Houstoun), a live on stage brass quintet playing music originally devised for the
internationally acclaimed Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band and four local community
women, specially recruited at every venue.
Providing the distinctive voice of Margaret Thatcher is actor Steve Nallon, still best known
for his many performances as the controversial Prime Minister in long-running cult TV
satirical comedy hit Spitting Image.
Performers are pushed to physical and emotional extremes, with an evocative score of live
brass classics organised by Musical Director Steven Roberts and a thunderous
soundscape by Noise Artist Daniel Thomas.
Dramaturgy is by Lou Cope (well known for her work with award winning performers like
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui), with costumes and set by nationally acclaimed designer Ryan
Dawson Laight and lighting by Charles Webber.
COAL combines Gary Clarke’s vivid visual performance style and splintering physical
language as it marks the 30th anniversary of the turbulent end of the Miners’ Strike.
Early responses to COAL
“Gritty and gutsy.” Metro
“One of the most exhilarating and moving experiences I have had for some time …”
Victoria Firth, Director, Lawrence Batley Theatre
"Fabulous, politically spot on." Julia Armstrong, The Sheffield Star
“It was a privilege to be in the audience and hear and see the effect the piece had…” Ian
Morley, Barnsley Civic Theatre
COAL is co-commissioned by DanceXchange, Cast Doncaster, The Place, Dance City,
Dance4 with Nottingham Playhouse, The Civic Barnsley and Yorkshire Dance with
additional funds from The National Lottery through Arts Council England, Individual
Giving through kick-starter with support from The Northern School of Contemporary
Dance and The NUM.
www.coaltour.co.uk (live January 2016)
#coaldance
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Barnsley born Gary Clarke is an award-winning dancer and choreographer with a
national reputation for creating compelling dance theatre that resonates with both
audiences and critics.
By far one of Britain’s most exciting contemporary dance artists, Gary’s breadth of
knowledge, experience and dynamism result in him being regularly invited to make
new work on various scales and perform with leading companies and
choreographers.
Over the last decade he has worked on a variety of projects with Lea Anderson’s
The Cholmondeleys & The Featherstonehaughs, Matthew Bourne’s Adventures in
Motion Pictures (AMP), Lloyd Newson’s DV8 Physical Theatre, Liv Lorent’s
balletLORENT, Candoco Dance Company & Jerome Bel, Retina Dance Company,
Nigel Charnock + Company, Bock & Vincenzi, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Sadler’s
Wells Productions, Maresa Von Stockert & Tilted Productions, New Art Club, Javier
De Frutos, Wendy Houstoun, Frauke Redquart Company, Opera North and
Compagnie Felix Ruckert.
During 2011 and 2012, he worked as a movement artist alongside Brad Pitt on the
Hollywood blockbuster film World War Z.
Gary has been making his own work for the past 10 years, which has toured both
nationally and internationally, receiving critical and audience acclaim.
Gary Clarke Company dancers are: TC Howard, James Finnemore, Alistair
Goldsmith, Nicolas Vendange, Joss Carter, Connor Quill and Eleanor Perry
Spring Tour Dates
DanceXchange Birmingham - 8pm, February 11(World Premiere),12/13. Featuring
members of City of Birmingham Brass Band. For tickets: 0844 338 5000 or
www.dancexchange.org.uk
Civic Theatre Barnsley - 7.30pm, February 19/20. Featuring members of Carlton Main
Frickley Colliery Band. For tickets: 01226 327000 or www.barnsleycivic.co.uk
Cast, Doncaster - 2pm and 7.30pm, March 5. Featuring members of Carlton Main
Frickley Colliery Band. For tickets: 01302 303 959 or www.castindoncaster.com
The Riverfront, Newport (presented as part of British Dance Edition 2016) – 3pm, March
16. Featuring members of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. For tickets: 01633
656757 or www.newportlive.co.uk/riverfront
The Place, London - 8pm, April 15/16. Featuring members of North London Brass.
For tickets: 020 7121 1100 or www.theplace.org.uk
Dance City Newcastle - 7.30pm, April 29, 2.30pm and 8pm April 30. Featuring
members of NASUWT Riverside Band. For tickets: 0191 261 0505 or
www.dancecity.co.uk
Nottingham Playhouse (with Dance4 as part of Neat16 Festival) 8pm, May 23/24.
Featuring members of Thoresby Colliery Band. For tickets: 0115 9419419 or
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
**More UK dates to follow COAL Autumn TOUR 2016** - from Glasgow,
Huddersfield, Derby and Canterbury to Durham and Caerphilly…to date.
Suitable for age 12 and upwards
Released on behalf of Gary Clarke Company by John Highfield PR. For further
information call 07776 180911 or email: info@johnhighfieldpr.co.uk