Four Local Women Star in COAL at The Marlowe

Award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke's true story of an industry and a community's fight for survival is at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next week. Jeulz Gambrill, Amanda Gerrard, Reiltin Tighe and Yolanda Varney responded to a call for performers from the community and successfully auditioned. None have professional theatre experience, but they all have a link to the mining industry.

At the age of 11, Jeulz's grandfather George Wood was one of the youngest to go down South Normanton pit in Derbyshire. Jeulz (55), who was born in Whitstable but now lives in Broadstairs, said he only worked below ground for a few years: "Don't ask me how, but he managed to learn to read and write, so he become the one who wrote the dockets for the older miners.

"I can remember my grandmother telling me his family had one pair shoes and whoever got up earliest in the morning and got the shoes on, went to school."

As well as her maternal grandfather - who played trumpet in the colliery band - and his brothers, other family members on Jeulz's paternal side were miners. She said: "I was incredibly close to grandad, so this is beyond a thrill for me. He would have been very proud."

Amanda Gerrard's mother Eileen Selwood was born in the mining village of Pity Me, Durham, where her stepfather William (Billy) and his brother Eric worked at Sacriston mine, which closed in November 1985. She said: "It was a tough life but it was a tight community who looked after each other. The community's still there, even though there aren't any mines."

Former primary school teacher Amanda (63), of Whitstable, went on: "Mum tried to escape her working class roots and joined the Wrens quite young, met my Dad and was married at 18. If Mum and Grandma were here to see Coal, they could see their life and their roots being celebrated. It's really important to me that I am part of that.

"I can't think of a better way of celebrating my working class heritage."

Reiltin Tighe (39), moved to Canterbury from Dublin with her mum, Avril Leonard, in the 1980s. Avril did Women's Studies at Kent University - the only place to offer it at the time - and her thesis was on the women of the miners' strike.

Reiltin, a paediatrician with three children and now living in Whitstable, said: "I remember as a young child going round the houses in the local mining communities with mum and a Dictaphone. She was writing their stories and it made a real impression on me. She was the sort of mum who'd always take me on marches - it was part of growing up. She was quite political and a very strong woman - fiercely feminist."

Avril still lives in Canterbury and she will be in the Coal audience, supporting her daughter.

Yolanda Varney (43), of Hoath, was inspired to audition for Coal by her daughter, Lucy (nine). She said: "Lucy took part in a dance showcase at The Marlowe. She is being tested for autism and doesn't like people looking at her, but she stood there and she did it.

"When they said they needed women for Coal, I thought if she can then I can."

Yolanda had two great uncles who worked down the pits - one looked after the pit ponies at Chislet - and her stepfather worked 30 years in the industry, 18 underground.

Yolanda was the first female engineer in the Royal Navy; in training she was the lone women among 1,000 men. She left the Navy to become a funeral director: "When Haiti had their civil war, with the Navy I worked in body clearing and most of them were just pyred. That kind of struck a chord with me so I decided to go into the funeral business in civvy street."

Coal commemorates the 30th anniversary of the miners' strike and reflects Gary Clarke's own experience of growing up in the Yorkshire coalfields. The four local women are joined on stage by seven professional dancers, and a live brass band.

There are limited tickets for the show, which is on Thursday 6 February and is suitable for those aged 12 and above. Call the Box Office or go to marlowetheatre.com for availability.

Photo: Yolanda Varney, Reiltin Tighe, Jeulz Gambrill, Amanda Gerrard

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