About Pit Pony

Pit Pony is an immersive drama TV series that premiered in the year 1999. The show is based on the book by the same name written by Joyce Barkhouse. Set in late 19th-century and early 20th-century Nova Scotia, the story revolves around a boy named Willie MacLean and his pony, who work in the coal mines.

Making / Production

Primarily shot in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and produced by Cochran Entertainment, this series beautifully captures the historical time-period while portraying hard-hitting realities faced by mining town residents.

Actors

• Denny Doherty as Seamus: Known for his role as Seamus, a miner, his performance brilliantly depicted struggling daily life of a coal miner.
• Ellen Page as Maggie MacLean: In her breakthrough role as Willie's ambitious younger sister, Page brought out the character's courage and determination.
• Alex Wrathell as Willie MacLean: Wrathell played the main character Willie and his poignant performance outlined the struggles and challenges of a young miner.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Pit Pony was initially a 1997 CBC television movie before it was turned into a series.
• In addition to the TV series, a novel named "Pit Pony: The Picture Book" also came out, based on the series.
• Ellen Page, who eventually became an international star, was part of the cast of Pit Pony.

Awards

Pit Pony was acknowledged for its impressive storytelling and dynamic performances. It snagged several awards, including the Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series, and Young Actor's Award for Alex Wrathell's performance.

Quotes

• "Coal is not mined, it's clawed out." – Seamus
• "The mine is no place for a boy. It's no place for anyone." – Willie MacLean

Music, Soundtrack

• The memorable theme song was composed by Amin Bhatia and Ari Posner.
• Individual episodes featured poignant music scores setting the tone of the scenes, making the series even more impactful.