Members from the Thoresby Colliery Band recently performed as part of a brand new folk opera premiered at the Southwell Folk Festival.

Pauper's Path

The work called ‘The Pauper’s Path’, written by renowned folk artist Mick Ryan, explores the lives and hardships faced by paupers who lived in the workhouses of the Victorian era.

Appearing alongside Mick, the cast of seven paupers included folk legend Paul Downes who played a magical folk guitar throughout the 30 musical numbers that make up the opera.

Massive success

Paul arranged the brass accompaniment for the band ensemble and told 4BR: "I've not worked with a brass band before and folk music seems to be an entirely different culture, but the experiment has proved to be a massive success.

The band has worked very hard and the experience has been an enjoyable one. The cast all love the extra depth that the brass has added to the music and I hope we get the opportunity to work together in the future."

Being part of this innovative project has been a real treat. Hearing the songs and being able perform at the Workhouse itself has proved to be a privilegeSimon Willis

Folk instruments

The small brass group played alongside traditional folk music instruments such as guitar, flute, accordion and Irish bodhran and the combination proved hugely popular amongst the sell out audiences on both nights.

The opera was premiered in Southwell Minster on Thursday night and was repeated to a packed audience on Saturday on the site of the actual Southwell Workhouse.

Innovative project

Principal Euphonium Simon Willis added: "Being part of this innovative project has been a real treat. Hearing the songs and being able perform at the Workhouse itself has proved to be a privilege whilst the opera showed that the band is versatile and open to new challenges."

The workhouse in Southwell is owned by the National Trust and is open for visitors between March and October.