THE voices of our coal miners will be heard once more in a touring theatre production, Beneath the Banner.

Up the Road, a Kent-based company, will be touring their new production much of the country this month, thanks to grants from the Arts Council and the National Coal Mining Museum.

Beneath the Banner tells the story of Gail, a young woman looking to unearth the truth about her grandad’s life as a coal miner.

To help her, she tracks down her grandad’s former colleague Aubrey, but Aubrey is reluctant to talk. As their story unravels, we meet a host of other characters from the coalfields, including a pit nurse, Coal Queen, pit head baths attendant and a mine rescue worker.

The play has been inspired by extensive research, including interviews with former miners and their families. Some of this verbatim material features in the play.

Beneath the Banner can be seen at Alston Town Hall on March 16; the Ewanrigg Community Centre in Maryport on March 17; The Gather in Ennerdale on March 18; Santon Bridge Village Hall on March 19; St Joseph's School, Workington, on March 28 and the Carnegie Theatre in Workington on March 30.