A touring company that will be staging the latest production of the iconic ‘Brassed Off’ play is facing a very peculiar problem.

The story of a mining band facing possible extinction is having trouble actually finding one to play the part of Grimley Colliery Band.

30th anniversary

The Touring Consortium Theatre Company Ltd is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike with a co-production with the Theatre Royal in York, and following a two week run starting on February 14th it will play 10 theatres on a national tour, before finishing in mid June in Bolton.

However, despite requests and enquiries to a number of bands, nobody as yet wants to tread the boards in Nottingham or Blackpool.

Aware

Associate Producer Neale Birch told 4BR: "We are aware that the Nottingham run is due to take place a week before the Midlands Regional contest — so that may make it difficult, although the Blackpool production isn’t until April.

We are desperate to involve either a single band or a group of individual players for Nottingham in particular, and we hope that there is a community band out there who would like to take part in the Blackpool production too."

Great audiences

He added: "We have asked and enquired, but at present we have come up with a blank. It’s a brilliant production, guarantees great audiences and offers a real chance to gain a high profile for a band in their local area.

All we want is for someone to play the part!"

I don’t really have to tell you what the story is all about, but I can tell you that if anyone wants to play a part they will be made most welcome and they will certainly enjoy the experienceNeale Birch

Thespian tendencies

So if you are a player with a little bit of time on their side, the ability to knock out a decent standard of playing (‘William Tell’ is a given) and have a thespian inclination, then Neale is waiting your call.

"I don’t really have to tell you what the story is all about, but I can tell you that if anyone wants to play a part they will be made most welcome and they will certainly enjoy the experience."

Contact

If you or your band are interested then please contact Neale Birch of the Touring Consortium Theatre Company Ltd on 07931 770080.