The true story of a community’s fight for survival during the miners’ strike takes centre stage this weekend.

An absorbing, immediate slice of history, COAL is a dance theatre show by the Gary Clarke Company which takes a nostalgic but honest look at the hard hitting realities of life at the coal face.

Gary grew up in a working class mining village in Yorkshire and has gone on to become a dancer and choreographer. He has even worked with Brad Pitt on the Hollywood blockbuster film World War Z.

COAL is based on years of personal research by Gary, including interviews with Anne Scargill, the former wife of NUM president Arthur Scargill, and Betty Cook, the founder of Women Against Pit Closures.

“COAL is a direct response to my upbringing in the working class mining village of Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire,” he said.

'It’s about trying to capture a time in British history that is too easily forgotten'

“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.”

The show, which received a touring grant from Arts Council England, features 16 performers, a live brass quintet playing music originally devised for the acclaimed Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band and four local women, Georgie Bainbridge, Nikki Carter, Moya Munro and Sue Risby who star as pit women for the Kent date.

Providing the distinctive voice of Margaret Thatcher is actor Steve Nallon, best known for his performance as the former PM in satirical TV comedy Spitting Image.

With an evocative score of live brass classics organised by musical director Steven Roberts, it also has a soundscape backdrop by noise artist Daniel Thomas.

SHOW DETAILS

COAL will be at Gulbenkian in Canterbury on Friday, October 28 at 7.30pm and is suitable for 12s and over.

For tickets at £12.50 call 01227769075 or visit thegulbenkian.co.uk