PITMEN PAINTERS PUTS WANSBECK CENTRE STAGE

Wansbeck has been put in the spotlight, with its past and present celebrated by leading North East politicians, business leaders and journalists.

They attended a special showing of the highly-acclaimed play, The Pitmen Painters, at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.

Set in the 1930s, it tells the story of a group of Woodhorn Colliery miners in Ashington who took up painting and were briefly acclaimed by the art world.  The play was written by Lee Hall of Billy Elliott fame.

Nearly 80 years after The Pitmen Painters story, Wansbeck is unrecognisable.  Mining, of course, has long gone but the area has seen the birth of scores of new businesses which have been supported by the Go Wansbeck project, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.

In recognition of this transformation Wansbeck has been named the most enterprising place in the UK and is in the running to win the national Enterprising Britain competition.

Guests, including Cllr Jeff Reid, leader of Northumberland County Council, chair of One North East Margaret Fay, and Head of News at Tyne Tees Border Catherine Houlihan, received a briefing about the work of Go Wansbeck before watching the play. 

Go Wansbeck chair, Brian Smith, said: ““The story of the Pitman Painters is about people from Wansbeck with traditional skills showing a desire to develop new skills.  That is what we are trying to achieve with Go Wansbeck.  People from all kinds of background are learning about enterprise in our schools and businesses.  Wansbeck is
the most enterprising place in the North East and our guests tonight heard our story and enjoyed some great entertainment.”                                                                       

Winners of last week’s Rio Tinto Alcan Wansbeck Business Awards ­- Alison Taylor, founder of Business of the Year Food Local Food, and Kate Dawson of New Business of the Year, All in One – also attended.

Margaret Fay said: “It was a fantastic evening and a real pleasure to meet Alison and Kate who are doing so well with their businesses.  Despite the current economic problems, new businesses in Wansbeck are flourishing and I think that is a great tribute to the people of the area and the hard work of the Go Wansbeck team. “

Philip Bernays, chief executive of the Theatre Royal, said: “The Pitmen Painters is a truly wonderful play that provides a deeply moving portrayal of a strong community in Ashington at a time of great social change and on the brink of war.  It is no surprise that it has captured the hearts and minds of people across the region and sold out several weeks prior to opening.  It is an honour to be able to welcome the council and business leaders of Wansbeck here to celebrate the area’s future, while also paying respects to, and celebrating its past.”