Overview
Eliot Smith Dance returns to Alnwick Playhouse with the 10th Anniversary celebration of one of our most popular and acclaimed productions, Eliot Smith's PITMAN – inspired by the story of The Ashington Group, also known as the Pitmen Painters.
Coinciding with the company's 15th anniversary, this new iteration features enhanced production values, a cast of six exceptional dancers, and an ambitious new theatrical vision. Inspired by ten paintings created by the Ashington Group – a collective of coal miners from a small Northumberland village who achieved international acclaim for their art – PITMAN brings their creativity, resilience and community spirit to life through compelling choreography, striking theatrical design and a rich musical score spanning folk, jazz, swing, classical and traditional brass band music.
PITMAN celebrates a unique chapter of North East heritage with energy, emotion and contemporary relevance. Described as "a masterpiece of contemporary dance that honours history with heart and soul" (NE Volume), PITMAN is an uplifting and moving theatrical experience that connects past and present through dance.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (NE Volume)
Book early, secure your seat today!
EVENT INFORMATION
Dates & Times
Wednesday 11 November 2026
-
1:30 pm – Press and Public Performance
-
7:30 pm – Press and Public Performance
Thursday 12 November 2026
-
11:30 am – Relaxed Performance (Schools Go Free)
Running Time
-
Approximately 80 minutes
-
Includes a 20-minute post-show talk
-
No interval - short pause between performance and post-show talk
Age Guidance
-
Suitable for ages 8+
-
Contains recorded music
Pre-Show Touch Tour
-
Wednesday 11 November 2026, 6:30pm (e-mail info@eliotsmithdance.com to confirm attendance
♿ Facilities and Accessibility at Alnwick Playhouse, click here
The History of the Show
UK Premiere: 10 November 2016
Newbiggin Maritime Centre, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
PITMAN originally comprised six sections inspired by paintings from the Ashington Group collection. Following its premiere, it was presented at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, before touring community venues across the North East and appearing at Dance City Theatre in spring 2017.
Later in 2017, Eliot Smith created three additional sections, presented in a sold-out run at The Holy Biscuit, Newcastle upon Tyne. PITMAN was also performed at the Northumberland Miners' Picnic at Woodhorn Museum in 2017 and 2018. In 2020, the work was adapted into a digital format during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, marking the 90th anniversary of the Ashington Group, all nine existing sections were brought together for the first time alongside a new tenth section inspired by a painting chosen through a public vote. This expanded version premiered at Alnwick Playhouse on 6–7 December 2024 and toured to sold-out audiences in spring 2025, including Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. PITMAN was also reimagined for film and recorded at Woodhorn Museum.
The 2026 iteration is the most ambitious to date, featuring bespoke lighting, enhanced costumes, and a fully integrated narrative structure, transforming PITMAN into a tour-ready theatrical production.
With plans for national and international touring from late 2027, PITMAN continues to celebrate North East heritage, working-class creativity, and contemporary dance.
Creatives and Cast
Eliot Smith
Director & Choreographer
Yamit Salazar
Rehearsal Director & Dancer
Lighting Designer
To be announced
Costume Designer
To be announced
Dancer
To be announced
Dancer
To be announced
Dancer
To be announced
Dancer
To be announced
Dancer
To be announced
Apprentice
To be announced
Photographer
John Lyons
Acknowledgments
PITMAN (2026) is an Eliot Smith Dance commission, created in association with Alnwick Playhouse and presented with the kind permission of The Ashington Group Trustees. The production is developed with the support of Woodhorn Museum | North East Museums and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, with additional support from Dance City.
