Workers’ Educational Association Present:

PLAY TO PREMIERE ON WEA HOME SOIL FOR CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

The word of the North East Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is set to reach Broadway this autumn thanks to Lee Hall’s smash hit, award-winning play, The Pitmen Painters. Now, the WEA brings its Northern heritage right back on home soil, as it celebrates its centenary with the opening of a brand new play by acclaimed writer, Tom Kelly, set to premiere at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley on Monday 18th October at 8pm.

‘Hungry Hearts and Heads’ has been commissioned by the WEA North East to tell the story of its 100 years in adult education, dating right back to its foundations in Stanley, County Durham. Whilst The Pitmen Painters, which premiered at Live Theatre in 2007, celebrates the famous Ashington Group, whose WEA classes inspired their internationally-renowned paintings, Hungry Hearts and Heads will take the audience right back to the beginning of the story, where two passionate individuals campaigned for educational reform.

The play follows the fascinating story of Jack and Hilda Travena; a pitman and a farmer’s daughter who meet in Stanley, fall passionately in love, and embark on a turbulent and eventful journey to empower the working classes.

Separated when Jack leaves town to study and lay the foundations for an exciting new career, the lovers find themselves dearly missing one another. Supported by the WEA, Jack fervently campaigns to unite himself with Hilda and the workers with education. He realises both these dreams on returning home to marry his sweetheart and take up the post of District Secretary for the WEA in the North.

But, as war breaks out, the couple’s passionate beliefs threaten to drive them apart once more and, when Jack finds himself imprisoned, a loyal Hilda takes the reigns for the WEA.

Writer, Tom Kelly, said: “I am delighted the play is opening in Stanley. Hilda taught there, Jack was a hewer in South Moor Colliery and the play opens and ends there. The Lamplight is a lovely, intimate venue, and I am really looking forward to the opening night.”

This powerful play celebrating the remarkable lives of two WEA pioneers comes fresh from the pen of Jarrow-born playwright, Tom Kelly, whose last play, Nothing Like the Wooden Horse, received critical acclaim at the Customs House in South Shields. The production is directed by and starring Jackie Fielding and Iain Cunningham.

To book tickets for the world premiere at the Lamplight Arts Centre on Monday 18th October, 8pm, call 01207 218899 or book online at www.leisureworksonline.co.uk. Tickets cost £10 full, £8 concs.

Hungry Hearts and Heads will continue to spread the word of the WEA as it tours other regional venues from 19th – 29th October. For full details, please visit www.wea.org.uk or call Cheryl or Nigel on 0191 212 6100.

http://www.leisureworksonline.co.uk/lamplightarts.cfm

The Lamplight is the first date on a short regional tour which includes Blaydon, Durham, The Customs House South Shields, Darlington and Newcastle.