"Wonderland" by Beth Steel
Nottingham Playhouse.

Adam Penford's directorial debut as Artistic Director of the Nottingham Playhouse has turned out to be a massive success.

This is one of several reasons why I wanted to see this play. I also wanted to see it because it was a localised play, written by a local writer, Beth Steel.

The story is inspired by Beth's father who worked down the pit for nigh on 40 years, so she had plenty of anecdotes and factual information to go on.

Another reason is because I am a son of a retired miner who went through the same things as this play is written about. I can remember as a child going round the streets picking up coal for our fire. I remember my dad's long friendship with a neighbour suffering because of the choices they both made. I was too young at the time to understand the pit politics.

This play has given me a massive insight as to what really happened and has given me pieces of a jigsaw puzzle of my childhood I previously didn't have.

Everything that you've heard about this play is absolutely true. The passion of the striking miners is admirable as is the decision of the miners who worked, and went back to work through the strike because of their personal situations.

It's the embarrassment and the sheer desperation of the miners who had to beg for food and money just to live and to feed their families that struck a chord with me. I also understand the reasons for the strikes and the need to stand up for their rights.

There's a particular scene in the play that drives home the desperation of the miner when he admits to killing his dog because he couldn't afford to feed it anymore, He'd had the dog since it was a pup. That scene and speech really made me well up.

These are all shown in this wonderful play.

What it also shows is the great camaraderie, the humour, the coarseness of the miner's language and how each man depends on the next for his life in the dangerous working area of the pit face. The claustrophobic atmosphere and the fear of the newbie on his first day.

Every actor is a joy to watch and the closeness of the mining team seems to reflect the close working friendship the actors have. You really believe the chemistry in the play.

When the front curtain is raised to reveal the set, you can'y help but be impressed by this set. Just wonderful.

Being set in the Welbeck area of Mansfield, the accent has to be right and the vocal coach Kay Welch has worked magic, as we all know that this area of the country isn't an easy accent to do and get right.

There are songs and choreography but this is no musical, The singing captain, Jack Quarton and the dance captain Jamie Beamish also play Fanny and David Hart respectively in the show.

Chris Ashby, Tony Bell, Robin Bowerman, Matthew Cottle, Joshua Glenister, Harry Hepple, Nicholas Khan and Deka Walmsley complete the cast..

You can see why this show has been getting rave reviews and standing ovations because of the passion and emotion that the play and the actors give out.

"Wonderland" comes to an end on Saturday 24 February 2018, but it would be great to see this back at the Playhouse later in the season.