Theatre and Dance

Twenty-five years after the miners' strike Gary Clark is recalling the workers that staffed the industry. He is one of the most exciting talents in contemporary dance today but in 1984 he was a young boy growing up in the South Yorkshire mining village of Grimethorpe.

Gary spoke to BBC Leeds website

Coal - a celebration of the miners

"Coal is not about the strike on stage, it is about the job of mining - the physicality of the work. There are two women and two men in the cast.

"Above ground the dancers move to brass band music but as they descend underground they begin to become human machines working to a thunderous soundscape of clanging and banging.

"Part of the work is danced in a blackout so the audience can't quite see what is happening and glimpses are revealed as the audience's eyes adjust to the low light.

"I've spoken to a lot of miners, including many members of my family around Grimethorpe, and I've been to the National Coalmining Museum for information.

"The idea is not to be too abstract but to keep it real, I want to give a realistic first-hand experience to the audience, that's why there is a real narrative and people will begin the appreciate the effort that went into the job."

Coal to be performed at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds, was created specially to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the strike using music and movement to look at the hard-hitting realities of life at the coalface.

In 1984 British industry was about to be hit by one of the longest and most bitter industrial disputes in the nation’s history. The miner’s strike lasted for a year leaving an indelible mark on the industrial landscape of the nation, tearing apart communities and dividing families as the miners fought to a bitter end with Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government.

“I see Coal as a celebration of all those men who fought for their rights.” Explains Gary.

Coal will be staged at a number of Yorkshire venues including theatres, Working Mens’ Clubs and the National Coalmining Museum .

Gary trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds between 1998 and 2001.

Coal in Leeds
Friday 22 and Saturday 23 May 7.30pm, Yorkshire Dance, Leeds