As part of its 15th anniversary year, Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) presents ‘PITMAN: The Exhibition’, a new photographic exhibition celebrating 10 years of ‘PITMAN’ and the enduring legacy of the Ashington Group, also known as the Pitmen Painters.
Taking place across Alnwick Playhouse, Dance City and Woodhorn Museum from Monday 26th October to Friday 13th November, the exhibition gives audiences across the North East the opportunity to experience the work in three different settings.
Photographed by John Lyons, the exhibition brings together a collection of new works inspired by the paintings and illustrations that have shaped Eliot Smith’s contemporary dance production since its premiere in Northumberland in 2016. The photographs explore the relationship between the original artworks, the people and places behind them, and their contemporary interpretation through dance.
The exhibition forms part of a wider programme celebrating 15 years of Eliot Smith Dance throughout 2026. Led by founding Creative Director Eliot Smith, the company has spent the past 15 years creating contemporary dance experiences inspired by history, place, people and contemporary life. From its North East roots, ESD has presented work nationally and internationally, frequently combining dance with music, film, visual art and storytelling.
‘PITMAN’ has been central to that journey. First premiered in 2016, the production has continued to evolve through touring, community performances and new iterations, allowing its themes of creativity, resilience, community and working-class life to reach new audiences.
Smith described the anniversary as “a chance to look back at what we have achieved, but also to think about where we want to go next”.
He has also described ‘PITMAN’ as “a particularly important part of that story”, connecting the company’s relationship with Northumberland and the North East with his fascination with history and place, alongside ESD’s belief in the power of contemporary dance to tell stories and connect people.
Alongside the exhibition, ‘PITMAN’ returns to Alnwick Playhouse on Wednesday 11th November in a new iteration created to mark its 10th anniversary.
Inspired by ten paintings created by the Ashington Group, ‘PITMAN’ explores creativity, resilience, community and working-class life through contemporary dance, theatrical design and a rich musical score spanning folk, jazz, swing, classical and traditional brass band music.
The exhibition is free to visit, with an official opening at Dance City on Monday 26th October from 6–7pm. ‘PITMAN’ at Alnwick Playhouse takes place at 1.30pm and 7.30pm, with a running time of approximately 80 minutes, including a 20-minute post-show talk.
For further information, head to eliotsmithdance.com.
