PITMAN | ELIOT SMITH DANCE

Bring the power of Eliot Smith's PITMAN into your home with Eliot Smith Dance's acclaimed production, inspired by the extraordinary story of The Ashington Group, also known as the Pitmen Painters.

Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of the company's most celebrated works and coinciding with Eliot Smith Dance's 15th anniversary, this new iteration features enhanced production values, a cast of six exceptional dancers and an ambitious 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.

Whether you're discovering PITMAN for the first time or revisiting this much-loved production, you can now experience this powerful celebration of North East heritage wherever you are. Thought-provoking, uplifting and deeply moving, PITMAN connects past and present through the universal language of dance.

★★★★★ – NE Volume

"A masterpiece of contemporary dance that honours history with heart and soul."

Pitman is created with the kind permission of The Ashington Group Trustees and in collaboration with Woodhorn Museum, supported by public funding by Arts Council England.

Ticket holders will receive a link on 11 December 2026 at 19.00 via email to access the online performance.