Described as 'emotional dynamite' Gary Clarke Company revives their multi-award-winning production COAL for 2027 - a riveting dance theatre show which takes a nostalgic look at the hard-hitting realities of life in the coalfields.

Strong, powerful and emotive

“All of us owe the comparative decency to poor drudges underground, blackened to the eyes with their throats full of coal dust, driving their shovels forward with arms and belly muscles of steel” George Orwell (1934)

Originally created to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1984/85 British Miners’ Strike, COAL premiered in 2016 and toured extensively to critical and audience acclaim until 2018.

COAL explores the darker underbelly of the mining industry unearthing the true nature and body wrecking demands of a working-class community now almost forgotten.

Bringing together Clarke’s powerful story telling with striking and highly physical choreography performed by 7 professional dancers, a local community cast of women and a live brass band, COAL is an emotional, moving and ever-relevant exploration of community, solidarity and survival.

“One of the most powerful, moving pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen on the miners’ strike” Paul Winter (Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign)

Winner of UK Theatre Award Achievement in Dance & Critics’ Circle National Dance Award