*
banner

Innovative musical partnership to bring Childs Play to life

A ground breaking musical collaboration is set to bring the importance of educational play in children's lives to a worldwide audience — starting in Shirebrook.

Childs Play
 

A ground breaking multi-partnership musical collaboration that will celebrate the history as well as the modern day importance of 'Childs Play' will be premiered in October in North Derbyshire.

Musical catalyst

Led by Bolsover District Council and Shirebrook Town Council and based in the Shirebrook area, the innovative project has brought together arts bodies, town and district councils, education providers, film makers, private home developers, composers, broadcasters and brass bands.

The various bodies and people have been brought together to provide a musical catalyst to inform ideas behind the development of a state of the art play area within the local community.

Soundtrack

The 10 month long project, made possible through funding by Arts Council England through 'Grants for Arts', Bolsover District Council, Shirebrook Town Council and First Art, has seen composer Paul Lovatt-Cooper work with pupils from the Shirebrook Academy on the brass band and choral soundtrack for the 14 minute film, which will be recorded by Black Dyke Band and performed under the direction of Prof Nicholas Childs.

It will also feature narration by Frank Renton, presenter of BBC Radio 2 'Listen to the Band' programme, and will explore a family friendly time-line history of many well known as well as very local nursery rhymes and games from the Victorian era to the present time — all underlined by the importance they provide in a child's enjoyment of educational play.

World premiere

The project will culminate in a live world premiere held in Shirebrook on October 15th and will include a live internet broadcast of the event, where Black Dyke, led by Prof Childs, will bring together additional the musical strands provided by Shirebrook Miners Welfare Band and a host of primary school choirs to join Frank Renton for a performance that will provide the local community with a musical celebration of the innovative partnership — and its lasting legacy.

it will explore a family friendly time-line history of many well known as well as very local nursery rhymes and games from the Victorian era to the present time — narrated by Frank Renton4BR

Legacy

Not only will the children of the area enjoy the benefit of a brilliant new 'Childs Play' area for many years to come, but it is hoped that the composition itself can be further developed to inspire other communities as well as being used as a bespoke brass band composition.

See the trailer

A great taster trailer has already been produced to showcase the project, its music and family friendly approach

Go to: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5W9WVusQ8rw

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Swoss Open

Result: 2026 Besson Swiss Open

September 21 • Brass Band Treize Etoile regains possession of the Swiss Open title in Lucerne.


York

Result: 2026 Third Section National Championship of Great Britain

September 20 • Let it snow... Allerton claims the Third Section honours in York.


York

Result: 2026 Fourth Section National Championship of Great Britain

September 20 • Wardle Community are the ultimate Heroes of the North as they claim the National title in York.


York Barbican

Result: 2026 First Section National Championship of Great Britain

September 19 • Marsden discover the source of a thunderous success in York.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band -

Sunday 27 September • Dobcross Band and Social Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross. Saddleworth Oldham OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Irish Guards

Thursday 1 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Eagle Brass

Thursday 1 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Consort Brass Quintet

Friday 2 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

September 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Monday (28th) and we welcome players of all abilities to join us.. Our rehearsals are friendly and relaxed with players from many local bands joining together to make music.. Tea and cake involved and it’s all free


St John's Band (Mossley)

September 20 • We are looking for a BBb BASS player to join our friendly 4th section band based in Mossley, Tameside.. . We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and have a varied calendar of concerts, contests and ten-piece engagements.


Kibworth Band

September 18 • Kibworth Band (First Section from Jan - South Leicestershire) invites percussion players to join our friendly, ambitious team. We rehearse Monday and Thursday evenings in our purpose built band room under MD Brendan Caddy.


Stuart Black

BA (Hons) Music
Conductor, Teacher, Flugel soloist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd