The Battle of Orgreave

A Special Screening of Mike Figgis' new film of Jeremy Deller's project The Battle of Orgreave The Battle of Orgreave was a large scale art event that took place last year, in which the artist Jeremy Deller initiated a re-enactment of a violent battle that took place in the North of England between 5,000 policemen and striking coal miners during the 1984 miners strike. Mounted police broke the miners' picket lines, and chased them into the town of Orgreave, dealing a critical blow from which the miner's union would never recover. Nearly 1,000 people took part in the two-day performance organized by Deller, including many veterans of the strike as well as individuals from historical re-enactment societies who spend their spare time recreating battles from the Roman era to the Second World War. Directed by MIke Figgis, the film shows preparations for the staged battle and the event itself. It also includes interviews with participants in the original confrontation.