At one time Nottinghamshire, with 42 collieries and 40,000 miners, was one of the most successful coalfields in Europe.

Mining memories will be brought back by a show, The Pitman Poets, at Mansfield Palace Theatre.

It celebrates the triumphs, tragedy, humour and hard times of North-East England’s coal mining tradition, through an evening of music, song and spoken word.

From Billy Elliot to Close the Coalhouse Door; When the Boat Comes in to The Pitmen Painters, hear the songs and stories of the Pitmen Poets live.

The show features four of North East England’s leading champions of its musical heritage – ex-Lindisfarne singer Billy Mitchell, renowned singer and instrumentalist Bob Fox, leading exponent of Tyneside song Benny Graham, and much-covered Durham songwriter Jez Lowe. There is also archive footage and photographs.

The Pitmen Poets is at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Sunday, 12th February. Tickets are priced at £18.96 full / £17.94 concs (including 2.5% booking fee. Contact the Box Office to book tickets on 01623 633133 or book online at mansfieldpalace.co.uk