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{{In use|time=08:39, 5 January 2025 (UTC)}}{{Infobox event {{Infobox event
| date = {{start and end dates|1993|05|12|1993|05|14}} | date = {{start and end dates|1993|05|12|1993|05|14}}
| organizers = North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group | organizers = North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group
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The '''occupation of Trentham Colliery''' was a protest against the closure of the coal mine in Staffordshire, England, held from 12 May to 15 May 1993.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=17 March 2009 |title=Coal Mining – North Staffs Miners' Wives |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/02/12/north_staffs_miners_wives_action_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire}}</ref> After setting up camp outside the mine for months, three members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group entered the Number Two pitshaft.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Copper |first=Liz |date=13 March 2024 |title=Striking miners' wives recall their struggle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cndjwd4py1po |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The women, Brenda Proctor, Bridget Bell, and Gina Earl, occupied the pit for 80 hours, while a fourth woman outside managed communications on their behalf.<ref name=":0" /> When the women finally left the mine, they were greeted by Arthur Scarsgill, president of the National Union of Mineworkers.<ref name=":0" /> The '''occupation of Trentham Colliery''' was a protest against the closure of the coal mine in ], held from 12 May to 15 May 1993.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=17 March 2009 |title=Coal Mining – North Staffs Miners' Wives |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/02/12/north_staffs_miners_wives_action_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire}}</ref> After setting up camp outside the mine for months, three members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group entered the Number Two pitshaft.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Copper |first=Liz |date=13 March 2024 |title=Striking miners' wives recall their struggle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cndjwd4py1po |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The women, Brenda Proctor, Bridget Bell, and Gina Earl, occupied the pit for 80 hours, while a fourth woman outside managed communications on their behalf.<ref name=":0" /> When the women finally left the mine, they were greeted by ], president of the ].<ref name=":0" />


The event became the basis of a documentary musical called '''''Nice Girls''''' which was staged at the New Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and later went on tour in Paris.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 1993 |title=Vic stages an epic protest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel-vic-stages-an-epic-prot/162233877/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=Evening Sentinel |via=]}}</ref> The event became the basis of a documentary musical called '''''Nice Girls''''', created by ], which was staged at the New Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and later went on tour in Paris.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 1993 |title=Vic stages an epic protest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel-vic-stages-an-epic-prot/162233877/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=Evening Sentinel |via=]}}</ref>


== Protest == == Protest ==


=== Camp outside pit === === Camp outside pit ===
As of 30 January 1993, members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives group had camped outside the Trentham pit to protest its closure.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ezard |first=John |date=30 January 1993 |title=Happy hour for protest women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-happy-hour-for-protest-wome/162250963/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=The Guardian |via=]}}</ref> Once classified as a "superpit", the Trentham Colliery had been threatened with closure by British Coal, despite having an estimated 110 million tonnes of coal in reserve.<ref name=":1" /> It was the first of eight round-the-clock camps that were set up outside collieries.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=20 May 1993 |title=Women pledge to fight on |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-women-pledge-to-fight-on/162310233/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=The Guardian |via=]}}</ref> As of 30 January 1993, members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives group had camped outside the Trentham pit to protest its closure.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ezard |first=John |date=30 January 1993 |title=Happy hour for protest women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-happy-hour-for-protest-wome/162250963/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=The Guardian |via=]}}</ref> Once classified as a "superpit", the Trentham Colliery had been threatened with permanent closure by ], despite having an estimated 110 million tonnes of coal in reserve.<ref name=":1" /> It was the first of eight round-the-clock camps that were set up outside collieries.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=20 May 1993 |title=Women pledge to fight on |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-women-pledge-to-fight-on/162310233/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=The Guardian |via=]}}</ref>


On 21 April 1993, George Stevenson, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, stated in the House of Commons that the "cruel" closure of Trentham Colliery was expected to result in the loss of 4,400 jobs, and the losses of £84 million in the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Commons, Wednesday 21 April 1993 – Oral Answers to Questions – TRADE AND INDUSTRY |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1993-04-21/Orals-2.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.parliament.uk}}</ref> On 21 April 1993, ], Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, stated in the House of Commons that the "cruel" closure of Trentham Colliery was expected to result in the loss of 4,400 jobs, and the losses of £84 million in the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Commons, Wednesday 21 April 1993 – Oral Answers to Questions – TRADE AND INDUSTRY |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1993-04-21/Orals-2.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.parliament.uk}}</ref>


=== Entry into pit === === Entry into pit ===
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== ''Nice Girls'' == == ''Nice Girls'' ==
⚫ The 1993 musical was written by Peter Cheeseman as the eleventh in a series of documentary productions he created on "stories of the community".<ref>{{Cite book |last= |title=The Cambridge Companion to British Theatre since 1945. |date=2024 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |editor-last=Harvie |editor-first=Jen |pages=207–263 |chapter=Part IV - Theatre and State |doi=10.1017/9781108377850.015 |editor-last2=Rebellato |editor-first2=Dan}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Woodruff |first=Graham |date=15 January 2009 |title=‘Nice Girls’: the Vic Gives a Voice to Women of the Working Class |journal=New Theatre Quarterly |volume=11 |issue=42 |pages=109–127 |doi=10.1017/S0266464X00001135}}</ref> The script was developed from taped interviews with Proctor, Bell, and Earl.<ref name=":5" /> The story focused on their meticulous planning of the occupation, how they managed to breach security to enter the mine, and the hours of anguish they faced once they were inside.<ref name=":5" /> Three songs from the musical included "Promised Land", "And It Goes On", and "The Trentham Occupation", written by Dave Rogers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Dave |title=Singing the Changes |date=2005 |publisher=Bread Books |isbn=9780954211226 |location=Coventry |pages=92–97}}</ref>
{{Infobox musical
| name = Nice Girls
| image =
| image_size =
| music = Dave Rogers
| premiere_location = New Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
| book = Peter Cheeseman
| premiere_date = 20 October 1993
}}
⚫ The 1993 musical was written by Peter Cheeseman as part of a series of documentary productions he created on "stories of the community".<ref>{{Cite book |last= |title=The Cambridge Companion to British Theatre since 1945. |date=2024 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |editor-last=Harvie |editor-first=Jen |pages=207–263 |chapter=Part IV - Theatre and State |doi=10.1017/9781108377850.015 |editor-last2=Rebellato |editor-first2=Dan}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The script was developed from taped interviews with Proctor, Bell, and Earl.<ref name=":5" /> The story focused on their meticulous planning of the occupation, how they managed to breah security to enter the mine, and the hours of anguish they faced once they were inside.<ref name=":5" /> Three songs from the musical included "Promised Land", "And It Goes On", and "The Trentham Occupation", written by Dave Rogers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Dave |title=Singing the Changes |date=2005 |publisher=Bread Books |isbn=9780954211226 |location=Coventry |pages=92–97}}</ref>


The show premiered on 20 October 1993 at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verbatim theatre and local subject plays |url=https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/vic_theatre/verbatim |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Victoria Theatre - Jubilee Year Celebration |publisher=University of Staffordshire Libraries}}</ref> Arthur Scarsgill, president of NUM, attended the opening and said, "The acting was superb, it was highly emotional and it reached the audience in a way which is bound to make it a success."<ref name=":5" /> Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent city councillor Barry Milford, a Conservative Party member, criticised the production, calling it "fringe theatre" that had been staged at the expense of more "traditional" family entertainment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ladyman |first=Ian |date=27 November 1993 |title=Not very nice to the girls..! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel-not-very-nice-to-the-gi/162310592/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=Evening Sentinel |via=]}}</ref> The show premiered on 20 October 1993 at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verbatim theatre and local subject plays |url=https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/vic_theatre/verbatim |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Victoria Theatre - Jubilee Year Celebration |publisher=University of Staffordshire Libraries}}</ref> Arthur Scarsgill, president of NUM, attended the opening and said, "The acting was superb, it was highly emotional and it reached the audience in a way which is bound to make it a success."<ref name=":5" /> Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent city councillor Barry Milford, a Conservative Party member, criticised the production, calling it "fringe theatre" that had been staged at the expense of more "traditional" family entertainment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ladyman |first=Ian |date=27 November 1993 |title=Not very nice to the girls..! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel-not-very-nice-to-the-gi/162310592/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=Evening Sentinel |via=]}}</ref>
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Revision as of 05:15, 7 January 2025

Occupation of Trentham Colliery
DateMay 12–14, 1993 (1993-05-12 – 1993-05-14)
Organized byNorth Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group
ParticipantsBrenda Proctor, Bridget Bell, Gina Earl

The occupation of Trentham Colliery was a protest against the closure of the coal mine in Staffordshire, England, held from 12 May to 15 May 1993. After setting up camp outside the mine for months, three members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives Action Group entered the Number Two pitshaft. The women, Brenda Proctor, Bridget Bell, and Gina Earl, occupied the pit for 80 hours, while a fourth woman outside managed communications on their behalf. When the women finally left the mine, they were greeted by Arthur Scarsgill, president of the National Union of Mineworkers.

The event became the basis of a documentary musical called Nice Girls, created by Peter Cheeseman, which was staged at the New Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and later went on tour in Paris.

Protest

Camp outside pit

As of 30 January 1993, members of the North Staffordshire Miners' Wives group had camped outside the Trentham pit to protest its closure. Once classified as a "superpit", the Trentham Colliery had been threatened with permanent closure by British Coal, despite having an estimated 110 million tonnes of coal in reserve. It was the first of eight round-the-clock camps that were set up outside collieries.

On 21 April 1993, George Stevenson, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, stated in the House of Commons that the "cruel" closure of Trentham Colliery was expected to result in the loss of 4,400 jobs, and the losses of £84 million in the local economy.

Entry into pit

The women involved in the occupation of Trentham pit planned their moved at the Darlaston Inn near Stone in Staffordshire.

At 2:30 am on 12 May 1993, the three women entered the mine and chained themselves to a 50-ft high walkway using motorcycle chains. The women were denied access to water or telephones or other facilities by management.

During the protest, other groups such as the Coalmines Support Group of Burton and Derbyshire, traveled to Trentham pit to signal their support for the action.

Aftermath

The women were recognised by a motion tabled in Parliament on 19 May 1993, which was signed by 43 members.

Proctor, Bell and Earl vowed to continue fighting, and take "any action necessary to keep Trentham open". On 22 May 1993, the three women led an NUM march, along with Arthur Scarsgill and Tony Benn, MP, protesting the pit closure.

Nice Girls

The 1993 musical was written by Peter Cheeseman as the eleventh in a series of documentary productions he created on "stories of the community". The script was developed from taped interviews with Proctor, Bell, and Earl. The story focused on their meticulous planning of the occupation, how they managed to breach security to enter the mine, and the hours of anguish they faced once they were inside. Three songs from the musical included "Promised Land", "And It Goes On", and "The Trentham Occupation", written by Dave Rogers.

The show premiered on 20 October 1993 at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent. Arthur Scarsgill, president of NUM, attended the opening and said, "The acting was superb, it was highly emotional and it reached the audience in a way which is bound to make it a success." Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent city councillor Barry Milford, a Conservative Party member, criticised the production, calling it "fringe theatre" that had been staged at the expense of more "traditional" family entertainment.

In 1995, the production returned for a limited run at the New Vic Theatre before being staged four times in a theatre at Cergy-Pontoise. Cheeseman reported that the cast were shocked when they were called back on stage for a rousing standing ovation.

References

  1. ^ "Coal Mining – North Staffs Miners' Wives". BBC Stoke & Staffordshire. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  2. Copper, Liz (13 March 2024). "Striking miners' wives recall their struggle". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  3. "Vic stages an epic protest". Evening Sentinel. 20 October 1993. Retrieved 4 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ezard, John (30 January 1993). "Happy hour for protest women". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Women pledge to fight on". The Guardian. 20 May 1993. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "House of Commons, Wednesday 21 April 1993 – Oral Answers to Questions – TRADE AND INDUSTRY". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Return visit for pit wives". The Advertiser. 20 April 1995. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "WOMEN'S PROTEST, TRENTHAM COLLIERY, STOKE-ON-TRENT". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  9. ^ Stringer, Greg (21 October 1993). "Anguish and humour in drama recreating women's pit protest". Evening Sentinel. Retrieved 4 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Pit chain protest for miner wives". The Birmingham Post. 13 May 1993. Retrieved 4 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Support for women". Burton Mail. 14 May 1993. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Scargill leads march against pit closure". Evening Sentinel. 22 May 1993. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Harvie, Jen; Rebellato, Dan, eds. (2024). "Part IV - Theatre and State". The Cambridge Companion to British Theatre since 1945. Cambridge University Press. pp. 207–263. doi:10.1017/9781108377850.015.
  14. Woodruff, Graham (15 January 2009). "'Nice Girls': the Vic Gives a Voice to Women of the Working Class". New Theatre Quarterly. 11 (42): 109–127. doi:10.1017/S0266464X00001135.
  15. Rogers, Dave (2005). Singing the Changes. Coventry: Bread Books. pp. 92–97. ISBN 9780954211226.
  16. "Verbatim theatre and local subject plays". Victoria Theatre - Jubilee Year Celebration. University of Staffordshire Libraries. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  17. Ladyman, Ian (27 November 1993). "Not very nice to the girls..!". Evening Sentinel. Retrieved 5 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Fanfares for French Vic". Evening Sentinel. 25 May 1995. Retrieved 4 January 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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