The Bitter Taste of Coal
Date - 15th July 2014
Society - Vane Tempest Theatre Group
Venue - Seaham Town Hall
Type of Production - Musical
Director - Keith Armitage
Musical Director - Ben Wardropper
Report - Author: Peter Oliver
Vane Tempest Theatre Group production of “The Bitter Taste of Coal” portrayed the events of the 1880 Seaham colliery disaster. This musical play written by two Seaham men, Mick Smith, who had the original idea and wrote the songs portrayed and whose forbearers were directly involved in the tragedy, and Steve English, a former miner and writer who wrote the script and supported the cast with the technical understanding of mining.
In my opinion this production was one of the most emotional and heartfelt pieces of artistic work I have seen in the time that I have been a Regional Representative. Coming from a mining family, I was amazed with the attention to detail and the amount of research that went into this production, and it was clear from the audience that they appreciated it. Congratulation must go to Director Keith Armitage and Musical Director Ben Wardropper, and a special mention must go to the two members of the orchestra whoplayed beautifully and aesthetically movingly.
“The Bitter Taste of Coal” was simply staged, with the emphasis on the cast and the story, and it worked extremely well. Recalling the events leading up to the disaster, the event itself, and the rescue operation were perfectly narrated by Nick Antcliff and Suzy Wake. The production was set in two eras, and told the events of the disaster in 1880, and being recalled by miners’ wives in 1980.
There was some excellent acting by the strong cast, especially Ben Wardropper, Robert Urwin, Aaron Hepple and Jonathan Wharton as the colliery miners portraying the emotional and realistic scenes being trapped underground following the disaster. A special mention to Aaron Hepple for his musical number “A Canny Black Eye” and Robert Urwin for his musical number “You Diddle, Ill Dace” both numbers delivered well. There were strong performances from Laura Geary and Natassia Cole portraying the miners’ wives dealing with the aftermath of the disaster. There was an excellent delivery by Laura in her musical number “The Golden Shawl” which was beautifully delivered and very emotional. Strong performances from Peter Sheyhane, as the 5th Marquess of Londonderry, Paul Henry, as the Government inspector, Steve White, as Mr Stratton, the colliery manager, and Robert Reynolds, as Ralph Marley, the pit deputy.
All gave excellent performances. Special mention to the miners’ children played by Jessica Graham, Emily Armstrong, Lauren Henderson and Leon Stoves with some nice acting coming through, and finally excellent acting and singing by the miners’ wives played by Julie Ann Marshall, Gemma Parnaby, Debbie Finkel, Carolyn Adgar, Kathryn Burnett, Helen Southwick, Susan Antcliff, Natalie Bowmaker, Katy Collins, Emily Harrison, Margaret Ridley, Lindsey Southwick and Lyn Swinburn. The harmonies and emotions in the the musical number “The Miners’ Wives” were beautiful.
The set design and costumes added to the recreation of the time simply but effectively. Without exception the whole cast worked together to ensure that they delivered a remarkable and enjoyable performance. Special mention must go to Keith Armitage for the programme design which was well edited and contained some excellent pieces of history. Well done to everyone at Vane Tempest Theatre Group on an excellent performance.
Date - 15th July 2014
Society - Vane Tempest Theatre Group
Venue - Seaham Town Hall
Type of Production - Musical
Director - Keith Armitage
Musical Director - Ben Wardropper
Report - Author: Peter Oliver
Vane Tempest Theatre Group production of “The Bitter Taste of Coal” portrayed the events of the 1880 Seaham colliery disaster. This musical play written by two Seaham men, Mick Smith, who had the original idea and wrote the songs portrayed and whose forbearers were directly involved in the tragedy, and Steve English, a former miner and writer who wrote the script and supported the cast with the technical understanding of mining.
In my opinion this production was one of the most emotional and heartfelt pieces of artistic work I have seen in the time that I have been a Regional Representative. Coming from a mining family, I was amazed with the attention to detail and the amount of research that went into this production, and it was clear from the audience that they appreciated it. Congratulation must go to Director Keith Armitage and Musical Director Ben Wardropper, and a special mention must go to the two members of the orchestra whoplayed beautifully and aesthetically movingly.
“The Bitter Taste of Coal” was simply staged, with the emphasis on the cast and the story, and it worked extremely well. Recalling the events leading up to the disaster, the event itself, and the rescue operation were perfectly narrated by Nick Antcliff and Suzy Wake. The production was set in two eras, and told the events of the disaster in 1880, and being recalled by miners’ wives in 1980.
There was some excellent acting by the strong cast, especially Ben Wardropper, Robert Urwin, Aaron Hepple and Jonathan Wharton as the colliery miners portraying the emotional and realistic scenes being trapped underground following the disaster. A special mention to Aaron Hepple for his musical number “A Canny Black Eye” and Robert Urwin for his musical number “You Diddle, Ill Dace” both numbers delivered well. There were strong performances from Laura Geary and Natassia Cole portraying the miners’ wives dealing with the aftermath of the disaster. There was an excellent delivery by Laura in her musical number “The Golden Shawl” which was beautifully delivered and very emotional. Strong performances from Peter Sheyhane, as the 5th Marquess of Londonderry, Paul Henry, as the Government inspector, Steve White, as Mr Stratton, the colliery manager, and Robert Reynolds, as Ralph Marley, the pit deputy.
All gave excellent performances. Special mention to the miners’ children played by Jessica Graham, Emily Armstrong, Lauren Henderson and Leon Stoves with some nice acting coming through, and finally excellent acting and singing by the miners’ wives played by Julie Ann Marshall, Gemma Parnaby, Debbie Finkel, Carolyn Adgar, Kathryn Burnett, Helen Southwick, Susan Antcliff, Natalie Bowmaker, Katy Collins, Emily Harrison, Margaret Ridley, Lindsey Southwick and Lyn Swinburn. The harmonies and emotions in the the musical number “The Miners’ Wives” were beautiful.
The set design and costumes added to the recreation of the time simply but effectively. Without exception the whole cast worked together to ensure that they delivered a remarkable and enjoyable performance. Special mention must go to Keith Armitage for the programme design which was well edited and contained some excellent pieces of history. Well done to everyone at Vane Tempest Theatre Group on an excellent performance.
