Gary Clarke

A show which looks at the heart, and decline, of the coal mining industry is heading to Stirling.

COAL arrives at Macrobert Arts Centre for three special performances from September 28 to 30.

Strong, powerful and emotive, COAL explores the darker underbelly of the mining industry, unearthing the true nature and body wrecking demands of a working class industry now almost completely forgotten.

The show was selected because of its relevance to the area, with the Macrobert launching a new outreach programme to coincide with the show.

COAL is based on years of personal research by Gary Clarke including extensive interviews with Anne Scargill - former wife of NUM president Arthur Scargill - and Betty Cook, the founders of Women

It’s about trying to capture a time in British history that is too easily forgotten

Against Pit Closures.

Gary also spent time with Chris Skidmore of the National Union of Mineworkers, Bruce Wilson, author of Yorkshire’s Flying Pickets, Barnsley historian and author Brian Elliott and Paul Winter of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign.

He said: “COAL is a direct response to my upbringing in the working class mining village of Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire. It’s about trying to