A brand new performance partnership between poetry, music and art will be premiered at the 2015 Durham International Festival of Brass

The well known poet and ‘Bard of Barnsley’, Ian McMillan, renowned cartoonist Tony Husband and an ensemble from Tredegar Band will present ‘The Last Train to New Elvet’ in performances at the famous festival next July.

Special score

The inventive project, with a score specially written by composer Luke Carver-Goss, will tell the entertaining story of one of the very last trains to make the trip to Durham Elvet from Pittingdon in County Durham in 1953, before the line and station was closed for good.

One of the very last journeys saw a travelling circus on board — complete with strong man, acrobats, jugglers, clowns and all sorts of circus exotica, on its way to meet up with the rest of its troupe who were to perform on a Durham meadow looped by the River Wear.

Circus train

This circus train forms the basis of the piece, to be performed by the Tredegar ensemble alongside narrator and poet Ian McMillan, with former Cartoonist of the Year, Tony Husband drawing his projected cartoon images to illuminate the story as it unfolds.

It isn’t the first time Luke Carver-Goss has written a work such as this — having composed 'Pure Gold’ for Black Dyke and the Manchester Chorale, ,narrated by Ian McMillan as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad commissions.

No wonder them that he told 4BR that he was delighted to be working with the brass band medium once again.

“It’s wonderful to be able to link up with Ian, Tony and a brass band again — especially as I get to play the accordion alongside them. It’s a fantastic true story, which I’m sure will provide wonderful entertainment for people of all ages.

Ian’s way with words, Tony’s brilliant cartoons and the sound of Tredegar Band will bring the story to life.”

It’s a fantastic true story, which I’m sure will provide wonderful entertainment for people of all agesComposer, Luke Carver-Goss.

Ideal mix

Tredegar MD Ian Porthouse added: “It’s great to be involved in such an inventive project and our thanks go to Luke, Ian, Tony and Bob Childs for managing to put it together with us.

We are really looking forward to being part of it; Brass bands and circuses seem an ideal mix! Luke has so many fantastic ideas, and Ian and Tony are brilliant exponents of their crafts, so it should be great fun.”

Performances

4BR has been informed that there will be two performances on the 18th July at Durham’s Elvet Methodist Chapel, with another chance to see it performed again at the National Railway Museum in York on Sunday 9th August.