Welcome to the Miner's Lamp Theatre Company

Our Latest production: A Day in August. Written to remember the 104 miners who lost their lives in the William Pit Disaster on Friday, August 15 1947. First production of 'A Day in August' will be at Haig Mining Museum on Saturday August 18 2007 Pics, Peter Reay

An Evening of Mining Memories

THE problem with any play about mining in West Cumbria is that it’s odds on it will end in disaster, death and tragedy.

Death by gas, explosion, pit fall or lung disease was such a routine matter in West Cumbria in the 19th and 20th centuries one wonders why it was still classed as ‘news’ for this and other local papers. But An Evening of Mining Memories was not the gloomy or depressing night out you might have expected. Sure, there was heart-rending accounts of death in the pits but there was also humour, camaraderie and the chance to wallow in some golden nostalgia.

Alan and Eleanor Butler from The Miners Lamp theatre company were the hosts for the Saturday evening with their meticulously researched accounts of episodes from West Cumbrian’s mining past. I know this must be a labour of love for them but even so one has to marvel at the mnemonic skills needed for such a lengthy script, packed with such technical detail – and all in local dialect. That they had got it right was evidenced by the much oohing and aahing from the audience as they reeled off tales of days on ‘golden sands’ with a bottle of ‘fizz’!

They had two tales to tell: one surrounding the death of a miner in Wellington Pit in 1910 and the other focusing on the impact of the William Pit disaster of 1947. Seen through the eyes of a husband and wife, brought the audience closer to the tragedy and gave it an added poignancy. Sharing the Rosehill stage that evening was Whitehaven Male Voice Choir – though only just. They had to squeeze to fit on and the musical accompanist, Aileen Rule, was sadly hidden from view. But thank goodness they did manage to fit on stage because it’s always a delight to hear these fine voices.

They were kept in line by the firm hand of musical director Hugh Robinson.

Soloist for the evening was Gillian Rothery ensuring a varied evening’s entertainment for the full house.

Proceeds from the evening went to Haig Colliery Mining Museum which helps to ensure this area’s honourable mining tradition isn’t forgotten. And with evenings like this at Rosehill, there can’t be any better way of remembering those who gave their lives for that precious ‘black gold’.
Review by Mr Alan Cleaver and published in the Whitehaven News.

Wordsworth Revisited 1	Rural Retreat	The Parting Gift

Also Blackout, Wordsworth Revisited 2 and The Reluctant Choirboy

Playlets and Sketches with strong Cumbrian themes for all venues and occasions