The Pitmen Painters

Box Office: 020 7452 3000

Age: General

Genre: Play

Sub Genre: Comedy

Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters is a humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics.

Following sell-out seasons at Live Theatre Newcastle and in the National’s Cottesloe theatre, The Pitmen Painters returns to the London and the National Theatre, this time to the larger Lyttelton theatre.

The Pitmen Painters tells the story of a group of Ashington miners who, in 1934, 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.

Playwright Hall, who wrote The Pitmen Painters in 2007, is best known as the man who wrote the screenplay for successful British film Billy Elliot, winning an Oscar nomination in the process. He continued his association with the project by adapting the piece for the stage, helping to create Billy Elliot The Musical with director Stephen Daldry and director Elton John. Hall’s other plays include Spoonface Steinberg and Cooking With Elvis, while his screen work includes 2008 film Hippie Hippie Shake and the 2007 television adaptation of The Wind In The Willows, which starred Matt Lucas, Bob Hoskins and Imelda Staunton.

For more about The Pitmen Painters read the First Night Feature from the production’s earlier sold out staging at the National Theatre Cottesloe.

Performance Details

previews from: 27 Jan 2009
opening night: 31 Jan 2009
booking until: 17 Feb 2009

show times: Mon-Sat 19:30, Mats 14:15 - In rep, please check theatre for performance dates

ticket prices: £10-£41

duration: 2h40

Assisted Performances

captioned performance: By STAGETEXT on Sat 7 Mar at 14:15, tickets £12 T: 020 7452 3000 E: boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk

audio described performance: By In-house on Fri 6 Feb at 19:30, Sat 7 Feb at 14:15 & Wed 11 Mar at 19:45, tickets £12 T: 020 7452 3000 E: boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Creative Team
Venue Information
Access Information

cast: Christopher Connel, Michael Hodgson, Ian Kelly, Brian Lonsdale, Lisa McGrillis, Deka Walmsley, David Whitaker, Phillippa Wilson

author: Lee Hall

director: Max Roberts

sound: Martin Hodgson

lighting designer: Douglas Kuhrt

designer: Gary McCann

producer: National Theatre in a co-production with Live Theatre, Newcastle

map: View Map

address: South Bank,London,United Kingdom,SE1 9PX

nearest tube: Waterloo (250m), Southwark

nearest bus: 76, 77, 211, 507, D1, D11, P11 (York Road)149, P11 (Stamford Street)1, 4, 26, 68, X68, 76, 168, 171, 171A, 176, 188, 501, 505, 521 (Waterloo Bridge)

nearest train: Waterloo (250m)

parking: 5 spaces reserved for orange badge holders at riverside end of Cottesloe Ave. 4 extra bays opposite Cottesloe theatre for evening performances. Car Park beneath theatre. Spaces reserved for disabled customers near lifts. Free parking voucher available from box office for orange badge holders (present ticket at information desk). Automatic doors and ramps from the Car Park to the lobby and lift.

air conditioned: Yes

Assisted Performance Booking Information

Access Booking: Tel: 020 7452 3000 Information Desk 020 7452 3400 EMAIL: boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Accessible Facilities Venue Information

discounts: Discounts available for all disabled people.

limited mobility: Row V of the Stalls is the most accessible area. Aisle seats have the most legroom.

access description: Main entrance reached from Upper Ground via Theatre Avenue to Theatre Square and a drop off point approx. 40m from main entrance. Box Office and information desk on left. No steps to back row of Stalls (1 step between rows). Glass Lift (80cm wide) up to Circle (or 22 steps up). 3 steep steps between rows in the Circle. Staircases between levels have handrails on both sides; stairs in the auditorium have one handrail.

hearing impaired: Infra-red system with headsets or neck loops. Collect headsets/loops from box offices. Induction loops at service counters.

guide dogs policy: Guide dogs are not currently allowed in the auditorium, however staff are happy to dog sit. Dogs will be looked after in the cloakroom.

wheelchairs: No steps to the back of the Stalls through entrances on either side of the Long bar. 4 spaces for wheelchair users in row V. Transfer seating available to aisle seats. Wheelchairs stored at back of auditorium.

toilets: Women’s and men’s at ground floor level and Circle level.

disabled toilets: Adapted WC next to right-hand Stalls entrance.

bars: 6 licensed bars. Access information: No steps to Lyttelton Long Bar and buffet from the main foyer. Glass lift to Lyttelton circle bar, moveable seats and tables.

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