posted on 11 Jun 2016

Close The Coalhouse Door by Alan Plater

Based on the inspirational writings of Sid Chaplin, this play-script by Alan Plater takes a playful but ultimately thoughtful and even rueful look at the history of the mining communities of the North East. The play was originally commissioned in 1968 and was given its atmospheric musical score by the great folk musician, Alex Glasgow.

Plater was clearly drawing inspiration from Joan Littlewood's production of Oh, What A Lovely War and blended traditional working class music hall with more modern experimental theatre in a concoction that was an unexpected hit with both a working class audience and the politically aware intelligentsia. The use of a small ensemble cast of actors lends the play a close and intimate atmosphere and a sense that the audience is in on all the jokes, irony and bitter-sweet reflections.

He has also made the play a living thing by keeping the content under constant review and in the copy I have just read ( Bloodaxe Books, 2000) he has added material that now includes reference to the Great Strike of 1984-5 and the ultimate closure of the coal pits across the country.

The play ranges across the history of the mining industry and the workers trade unions, trying to put what has happened to them in both its political and human context. What this play does magnificently is to insist that decisions taken in Whitehall are not just decisions about an industry but about the lives of real people. And, of course, these  people aren't just miners - they are husbands, wives, brothers, daughters and lovers.

This is a great play to watch on the stage because at its heart is a cracking and clever script that moves along at a tremendous pace – it’s the sort of entertainment that provides a political education at the same time as making you laugh out loud or shed a tear. And because the success of the play is all about the script it is as good to read as it is to watch.

Of course, this is a play that is not politically neutral – it is unashamedly history seen through the eyes of those whose first sympathy is with the workers. However, I wouldn't say it was partisan towards a one political party – despite the historical links between the labour movement and the Labour Party, this isn’t about blind loyalty  and even the Labour governments get a spanking when they deserve it. It is however Socialist in the best sense of the word and celebrates communities that share a common destiny and are prepared, come what may, to support each other. Mining communities live in close proximity with tragedy, death and disaster all of the time and this made them very special people - genuine working class heroes - and something unique and important has been lost with the closing of the mines.

The famous left-wing historian E.P.Thompson and the cultural critic and novelist Raymond Williams called the historical bonds that bind working class communities together  ‘structures of feeling’ and if you want to understand what this concept really means you  can do no better than to read this play.

Terry Potter

June 2016