The Pitmen Painters
THIS ARCHIVED EVENT ENDED ON THE 7TH FEBRUARY 2010
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Lee Hall's exquisite play is back at the Lyttelton this winter following a UK tour, and it feels like the homecoming of a National treasure, such is the vivid impression The Pitmen Painters has made. "Ablaze with intellectual vigour, political passion and incendiary emotional energy" said The Times, the play delves into the raw, spirited, probing world of a group of Northumbrian miners who undertake an art appreciation class and end up artists themselves through their heartfelt, uninhibited paintings. It's similar territory to Hall's most famous work, Billy Elliot, though the pitmens' story is a true one and sentimentality is completely discarded, "kept in check by political reality" (The Guardian). What we are left with is a humour-filled, evocative portrayal of a close-knit community in the period before World War II; these working-class heroes ignite in themselves and in us a burning hope that the world could be different, with more possibilities, but Hall also brushes his play with a poignant retrospect that keeps it politically edgy.About National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre
The Lyttelton is one of three theatres which make up the National Theatre. It was built in a proscenium style, but has thoroughly modern sightlines and acoustics. There really is no bad seat here as there are no circle rails or view-blocking pillars. More about National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre
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London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel Double Rooms: 15% off from £565
Strand, WC2R | 9 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
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London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel Deluxe Double Rooms: 77% off from £95
372 Strand, WC2R | 9 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
This West End Art Deco hotel right on the Strand and next to Covent Garden is in a fantastic location for accessing central London and theatreland. ...More
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel Double/Twin Rooms: 19% off from £375
1 Aldwych, WC2B | 10 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
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London > Events > Exhibitions Dates: Every day 10am-9.30pm
London Eye, Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, South Bank, London SE1 | 8 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The London Eye is one of the most cherished tourist attractions in the capital and has been since its opening in 2000. Now, thanks to a ...More
London > Events > Exhibitions Dates: Friday 25th May 2012 - 10am-5.30pm
London School Of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A | 11 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Speakers discuss judging people and viewpoints....More
London > Events > Exhibitions Dates: 23rd May, 24th May and 25th May 2012 - 10am-8pm
London School Of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A | 11 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, prints, videos and installations by students....More
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 2 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Originally the National Film Theatre, the BFI Southbank is the perfect film buff's cinema, with three large screens and a smaller studio space showing up to ...More
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
With a huge 26m x 20m screen, a 12,000 watt digital surround sound-system, and the special multi-dimensional technology of the IMAX format (short for Image Maximum), ...More
London > Entertainment > Arts Centres
Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The Southbank Centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion (usually negative) on its distinctive design - famous detractors include ...More
Sights and Attractions near The Pitmen Painters
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 2 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968. It mounts temporary exhibitions of contemporary and historical art. The gallery, named ...More
London > Attractions > Museums
Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The most comprehensive and accessible collection of poetry from 1914 in Britain, The Poetry Library within the Southbank Centre contains 90,000 items and is still growing. ...More
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
Bargehouse Street, Off Upper Ground, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Originally a power station, later a reprocessing plant owned by the Oxo Company, the bold, Art Deco Oxo Tower was marked out as ripe for demolition ...More
London > Shopping > Books
Riverside, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The family-run Foyles book shop has been in the book selling business since 1906. Around 30,000 books are stocked at this branch on a broad range ...More
London > Shopping > Delicatessens
63 Stamford Street, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Konditor & Cook specialise in the creation of amazingly tasty cakes which are also sold on to some of the finest restaurants in the city. This ...More
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
22 Cornwall Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 5 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Konditor & Cook specialise in the creation of amazingly tasty cakes which are also sold on to some of the finest restaurants in the city. This, ...More
Restaurants near The Pitmen Painters
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 2 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Benugo is a high class chain of cafes selling handmade sandwiches, salads and desserts. What makes it stand out from the over-crowded coffee shop market is ...More
London > Restaurants > French restaurants
9 Belvedere Road, The White House, , London, South Bank, London SE1 | 3 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
French cuisine ...More
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The menu at Canteen reads like a comforting childhood reminiscence with some sophisticated bunting thrown on top. Devilled kidneys on toast, followed by an excellent slow-roast ...More
London > Education > Arts and Drama
Somerset House, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R | 7 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and prime ...More
London > Education > Medical Schools
Strand, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R | 7 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the obvious ...More
London > Education > Careers Services
4-6 Staple Inn, London, Holborn, London WC1V | 17 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Situated in the heart of London, Career Energy – formed in March 2002 - offers comprehensive advice on careers, career change and job searching. They’ll analyse ...More
Leisure near The Pitmen Painters
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
Westminster Bridge Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 9 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Fancy detoxing in the building where the Greater London Council used to run the city? The Spa at the London Marriott County ...More
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
3 Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 9 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The concrete promenade along the South Bank greatly benefits from this large patch of green grass for striders, strollers and sightseers to relax on. Not ...More
London > Leisure > Martial Arts
Topnotch Health Club, 3 Tudor Street, London, City, London EC4Y | 11 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Grandmaster Gedo Chang's Hapkido martial arts schools emphasises practical self-defence, confidence, balance and fitness. The ancient Korean martial art of Hapkido is made up of three components: ...More
London > Nightlife > Pubs
25 Roupell Street, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
A short walk from the South Bank Centre, The Old Vic and The National Theatre this traditional old watering hole is a good place to have ...More
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
36 The Cut, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 9 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
This is a gastropub that takes both parts of its name seriously, and you can certainly have a good evening just popping in to sample some ...More
Nightlife near The Pitmen Painters
London > Nightlife > Bars
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Boasting one of the best views in town, the Oxo Tower Bar is perfect for combining a spot of leisurely (if static) sightseeing with some classy ...More
London > Nightlife > Bars
1 Aldwych, London, Covent Garden, London WC2B | 10 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
Named one of the top five hotel bars in the world by the Sunday Telegraph, the Lobby Bar at the chic One Aldwych hotel is renowned ...More
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
47 Villiers Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2N | 10 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
London's oldest wine bar and family-run underground tavern. Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon’s is now home to a regular, thriving crowd ...More
Meeting venue hire near The Pitmen Painters
London > Business > Venue Hire
South Bank, London, South Bank, London SE1 | At The Pitmen Painters
The Deck is a modern roof-top venue with stunning views over the Thames, available for hire at the National Theatre, part of the Southbank Centre which ...More
London > Business > Venue Hire
South Bank, London, South Bank, London SE1 | At The Pitmen Painters
The greatest theatre in the world? Probably. Each year the three superb venues in the National Theatre put on a significant proportion of the world's best ...More
London > Business > Venue Hire
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from The Pitmen Painters
The Royal Festival Hall's refurbishment has done away with 'The People's Palace', the marvellously 1950s restaurant that used to occupy this space, and replaced it with ...More
National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre events
TIMES 14th April 2012 to 28th May 2012 PRICING £12-£40
Living within the deceivingly quaint Irish town of Inishfree, Thomas Magill is too aware of the range of characters that surround him. With the miserable drunk Dwain Flynn, the blasphemous flirt Mrs Cleary and Timmy O'Leary who enslaves his lovely mother, it is up to Thomas to save the sin within this town. However even with God on his shoulder, ho... More about this event
Travelling Light
TIMES 29th May to 2nd Jun 2012 - Various Times PRICING £12-£47, Tue-Thu mats OAP £12-£27, disabled £12 & £15, Mon-Fri, Sun under 18s/Sat mats under 18s £12-£23.50
Antony Sher stars in Nicholas Wright's drama, in which a young boy is enthralled by the flickering silent images on his dad's cinematograph. Forty years later, as a successful film director, he looks back on those early years. Directed by Nicholas Hytner.
The Last Of The Haussmans
TIMES Various Times PRICING Jun 12-18 previews £12-£29.50, Jun 19-30, Jul 1-31, Aug 1-31, Sep 1-16 £12-£47, Mon-Fri/Sun 7.30pm, 2.15pm & 2.30pm child £12-£23.50, Wed 2.15pm OAP £12-£27
The feisty yet sadly ageing drop-out Judy Haussman is joined at her creaking Art Deco home by two of her offspring, the local doctor and a troubled teenager, and together, they try to cling to a world of drink, infatuations, free love and failure. Comedy drama by Stephen Beresford.
In Conversation With Julie Walters: Talk
TIMES 3pm PRICING £5, concs £4
The actress discusses her career with theatre journalist Al Senter.
The Doctor's Dilemma
TIMES Various Times PRICING Jul 17-23 previews £12-£29.50, Jul 24-31, Aug 1-31, Sep 1-12 £12-£47, Mon-Sun 7.30pm, 2.15pm & 2.30pm child £12-£23.50, Wed 2.15pm OAP £12-£27
George Bernard Shaw's comic look at the dodgy ethics of people who play God features Aden Gillett as Harley Street doctor, Sir Colenso Ridgeon. Directed by Nadia Fall.
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Our recommendations in the same street as The Pitmen Painters
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What's On Today Near National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre ![]() Festival! Exhibitions | Until 4th June 2012 National Theatre At National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre Embracing festivals of all size and nature - from the boisterous and intoxicating Rio Carnival to the cerebral rhythms of ...More Misterman Theatre | Until 28th May 2012 Lyttleton Theatre At National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre Living within the deceivingly quaint Irish town of Inishfree, Thomas Magill is too aware of the range of characters that ...More Detroit Theatre | Until 15th June 2012 National Theatre: Cottesloe Theatre At National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre Ben and Mary welcome new neighbours Sharon and Kenny, yet even with the friendly barbecues, their friendship soon runs out ...More Udderbelly's Full Fat Australian Comedy | On 25th May 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre ...More Comedy in the Dark Comedy | Until 2nd July 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre So you've heard of dating in the dark and dining in the dark, but how about Comedy in the Dark? ...More Sean Hughes: Life Becomes Noise Comedy | Until 27th May 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre Sardonic Irish stand-up Sean Hughes brings his show Life Becomes Noise to this year's Udderbelly Festival. The youngest comic to ...More Nina Conti - Talk to the Hand Comedy | Until 13th June 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre With a puppet show for grown-ups, Nina Conti is taking to the stage at this year's Udderbelly Festival. The award ...More Best of the Comedy Store Comedy | Until 7th July 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre With the Udderbelly Summer Festival brimming with humorous acts, it was only fitting that the Best of the Comedy Store ...More The Joy Of Sketch Comedy | Until 11th June 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre Part of the Udderbelly Festival, The Joy of Sketch offers sketch comedy from Pappy's, Cardinal Burns, Adam Riches, Delete The ...More ![]() The Boy With Tape On His Face Comedy | Until 29th June 2012 Southbank Centre 4 minutes walk from National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre The Boy With Tape On His Face serves up a Neapolitan ice cream of genres: mime with noise, stand-up with ...More
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