Jeremy Deller: The Battle of Orgreave
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Wednesday 18th June - Sunday 3rd November 2024
To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Miners’ Strike—which had, and still has, a profound impact on Sunderland and the North East of England—NGCA Collection Space is screening ‘The Battle of Orgreave’ Mike Figgis’ film of Jeremy Deller’s re-enactment.
The violent confrontation between police and miners outside the coking plant at Orgreave in South Yorkshire was one of the crucial episodes in the 1984 Miners’ Strike. Made 17 years later in the same village, ‘The Battle of Orgreave’ centres on a re-enactment of the brutal confrontation made with the participation of former miners, their relatives and re-enactment specialists. Mike Figgis’ film combines footage of the day’s event with interviews with several key protagonists. Mac McLoughlin, a former miner and serving policeman on the field in 1984, reveals details about the build-up within the police force prior to the stand-off; David Douglass (National Union of Mineworkers, Branch Secretary for Hatfield Main Colliery and Mining Historian) talks about the meaning of the confrontation in relation to the trade union movement; Stephanie Gregory (Womens’ Support Group and Former chair-person of the Rotherham Miners Support Group) reminisces about the effects on family life; and Tony Benn (MP for Chesterfield between 1984-2001) talks about the media’s role in covering up the truth about the strike in 1984.
On display alongside ‘The Battle of Orgreave’ is a selection of photographs taken during the 1984 North East miners’ strike including photos of pickets at Monkwearmouth and Easington collieries, marches and demonstrations in Sunderland and everyday family life.
‘The Battle of Orgreave’ is part of The Artangel Collection, an initiative to bring outstanding film and video works, commissioned and produced by Artangel, to galleries and museums across the UK. The Artangel Collection has been developed in partnership with Tate, is generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The Foyle Foundation and uses public funding from Arts Council England.
North East miner strike photographs courtesy of Sunderland Echo (Sunderlandecho.com)
Photos: Colin Davison