Harry Wilson (stage age 35-45) Geordie accent required
Harry Wilson was gassed during World War I and, because of the damage to his lungs, was judged unfit to become a miner. He trained as dental technician. His skills at moulding false teeth later would help his art as he created sculptures blending his art and technical skills.

Robert Lyon (stage age 40-50)
Robert Lyon was the Master of Painting at Armstrong College (then affiliated with Durham University) when he went to Ashington to teach the Workers’ Education Association (WEA) art-appreciation class in 1934. The miners didn’t connect with the religious and mythological subject matter he initially chose for his lectures, so he quickly switched his approach to art appreciation through application.

Ben Nicholson (stage age 40-50)
Ben Nicholson was born in Denham, the son of artists William Nicholson and Mabel Pryde. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He experimented with figurative and abstract works as well as Post-Impressionism, Cubism, and Constructivist principles applied to art.

Young Lad (stage age 18-25) Geordie accent required
Young Lad is identified as George Brown’s nephew. He is a composite of characters of various young artists in the Ashington Group. He reflects the tight-knit community in which fathers, sons, uncles and cousins all could work in the pit.

Helen Sutherland (stage age 50-60)
Helen Sutherland was the heiress of the P&O ocean liners through her father; she also inherited a fortune from her mother. She was a devoted patron of the arts. She would become a supporter of the group, buying 19 paintings, inviting them to her home at Rock Hall, and introducing them to artists such as Ben Nicholson.

Susan Parks (stage age 18-25) Geordie accent required
Small but important role.