COAL by Gary Clarke Company 2016

Created to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1984/5 British miners’ strike, award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke presents COAL, a riveting dance theatre show which takes a nostalgic look at the hard hitting realities of life at the coal face.

“All of us owe the comparative decency to poor drudges underground, blackened to the eyes with their throats full of coal dust, driving their shovels forward with arms and belly muscles of steel”

George Orwell (1934)

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 forgotten.

Bringing together Clarke’s striking physical language performed by a company of 7 stunning professional dancers, a local community cast of women and a live brass band, COAL is an emotional, moving and ever-relevant exploration of community, solidarity and survival.

Winner of 2016 UK Theatre Awards Achievement in Dance

“An absorbing, immediate slice of history rendered with the kind of emotional truth that deepens its impact as popular entertainment.” **** The Times

“Outstanding” **** The Times

Co-commissioned by DanceXchange; Cast; The Place; Dance City; Dance4 with Nottingham Playhouse; The Civic Barnsley; 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 National Union of Mineworkers.

This project was performed as part of NEAT Festival 2016.