Brassed Off

Featuring The Haydock Band

Liverpool Playhouse
6th May 2003

This new production, currently running at the Liverpool Playhouse is a stage adaptation of the much-acclaimed film of the same name. Originally released in 1996 it later opened in cinemas across the USA on May 23rd 1997 so the penultimate performance at the Playhouse with Wire Brass on stage will celebrate a true 7th Anniversary of this work.

The play is a co-production between Liverpool Everyman and the Playhouse and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. After its run in Liverpool, the show will transfer to Birmingham from Thursday 29th May and will have featured the talents of six bands by the time it reaches its conclusion in the Midlands on the 21st June 2003: -

Liverpool - The Haydock Band (2-10 May)
Port Sunlight Lyceum Brass (13-17 May)
Wire Brass (20-24 May)

Birmingham - Stourport-on-Severn (29 May – 7 Jun)
City of Birmingham (10 – 14 Jun)
Jackfield Elcock Reisen (17 – 21 Jun)

Synopsis

The play takes place in Grimley, a South Yorkshire mining town in 1994.

As a series of pit closures sweeps through the North of England with devastating effect, the fate of Grimley, a small mining community hangs in the balance.

Set against this tense social backdrop, ‘BRASSED OFF' follows the fortunes of the colliery band as its members struggle both for personal and musical survival.

Grimley Colliery Band is a mainstay of the local community and one that its leader Danny cares passionately about. For Danny (Bernard Kay) it is the music that embodies the spirit of that community and it represents the very lifeblood of its people.

Unfortunately the spectre of unemployment looms large and not all the band members can share his passion, however their attitude soon changes with the entrance of Gloria (Lois Naylor) granddaughter of a former conductor and childhood sweetheart of band member Andy (Toby Sawyer).

Returning to her hometown the band members are impressed by her talent and overwhelmed by her beauty. A new wave of enthusiasm sweeps through the band as they embark on the competition circuit, however, this admiration is soon dulled and her relationship with Andy threatened, by the stunning news that she is a management employee of the British Coal Board.

Despite the surfacing conflicts, the Grimley Band return triumphant from the National Semi-Finals. Their euphoria is short-lived, however, as they return to find their worst fears realized, the pit has been closed and the defeated community recoils in shock.

Phil (Ken Bradshaw), Danny's son has now lost everything - his family, his home, his job and almost the will to live and for Danny himself there is also a grave price to pay for a life's service to the mines.

The band witnesses his dramatic collapse from pneumoconiosis and a defiant fighting spirit is reawakened. Aided by an unexpected benefactor, the miners unite to realize Danny's dream and take their rightful place at the National Championships in London.

The Play

The set design for the production, by Hayden Griffith, is simple and most successful including a kitchen scene, pit locker room and a most effective recreation of the colliery winding gear all moved around by stage hands wearing pit clothes and mining lamps. The staging of the Whit Friday contests is very well conceived and portrayed. Overall this stage adaptation cleverly captures the spirit of the original screenplay.
Credit to the members of the Haydock Band who were most professional and didn't appear uncomfortable or out of place in any of the scenes in which they featured.

The Music

Against a backdrop of the winding gear and wire fencing the band entered to the familiar strains of the march synonymous with film ‘Death or Glory'.

The band really get to showcase early in the play with a performance of ‘Floral Dance' and Haydock were, on this night, in top form.

An arrangement of the Rodrigo Guitar Concerto was really well delivered on flugel, with not bad tone it has to be acknowledged, by actress Lois Naylor in what is a crucial and important solo.

The band feature further with the playing of ‘Cross of Honour','Slaidburn', ‘Londonderry Air', ‘William Tell' and ‘Land of Hope and Glory' so lots of opportunity for the band to shine which, on this night, they undoubtedly did.

The whole play is pervaded by the sound of brass as recorded sounds also feature most importantly throughout not just in providing important links.

The Band and Cast

Credit to actors Ken Bradshaw (Phil) – Trombone, Bill Fellows (Jim) – Euphonium, James Hornsby (Harry) – Bass for not looking at anytime that they didn't know one end of the instrument from the other and ‘busked' with exceptional skill!

Lois Naylor (Gloria) worked well with the band and didn't seem at all out of place in a band uniform – mind neither did the rest of the cast – but she does deserve a special mention. Lois has played trumpet for 18 years with various concert, jazz and brass ensembles but this production was her first experience of playing with a brass band. She certainly seems at home in this newfound brass experience.

The remainder of the cast (without instruments) and the Haydock Band, whose playing binds the whole together, truly enhance the story bringing some nice touches to their characters.

After the Show

Knowing the band, as well as I do, it was handshakes all round in the circle bar after the performance and deservedly so but then a welcome opportunity to meet with director Neale Birch.

In an informal chat we discussed in particular the brass band threads that lie behind this production. Having been involved in a previous touring production of ‘Brassed Off' he came to this directorial role with some previous insight but he was quick to praise both the Haydock and Stourport-on-Severn Bands with whom he had the most direct contact at this time for their energy, commitment and enthusiasm. He was particularly struck with the willingness of the bands to try different performance techniques, a trait he had found common with any brass band he had worked with. High praise indeed.

Whilst professing to be a little less talented than the bandsmen that surround him, "I know my way around a keyboard a bit", he said, he was quick to applaud the playing which features so importantly.

We certainly got the impression that, in Neale, we now have a convert to our musical genre. 4barsrest.com is no stranger to his computer, he added, regularly visiting the site to keep abreast of the current developments in the movement and a few CD's purchased along the way.

Unable to find opportunity to take in a true Whit Friday Contest, due to work commitments, he is hoping that he can savour the atmosphere when his work schedule presents him with the opportunity to visit the likes of Diggle and Delph in actuality.

He described the enjoyment that he had gained from the ‘Brassed Off' parade an event that took place in Williamson Square on Bank Holiday Monday last (5th May) and was glowing in his words about the music and the camaraderie of the bandsmen and women taking part.

Working with the Haydock Band on Saturday evening following their success in the Senior Trophy earlier that same day he commented on the tremendous level of focus the band had been able to display despite being tired, given the pressure and concentrated nature of the day.

We were joined by Bernard Kay (Danny) and he also voiced his admiration for the professionalism of the band and was particular in his praise of percussion.
Asked about his approach to his role and the importance of appearing in total control of the band he told us that he relied heavily upon the percussion when first approaching the part to lead his conducting with both tempo and introductions. The Rodrigo had proved to be the most challenging work in that it has a number of phrase marks, pauses and important band entries all marked on the score.

During rehearsal and as the production continued he felt he was gaining more confidence and he is now finding that he was actually conducting, as opposed to following the band, as his familiarity with the music is developing.

The 4BR Verdict:

Director Neale Birch has a cracking company of actors and good bands to work with so this production is well worth taking time out to see and hear.

To show that we're not being biased Philip Key of the Liverpool Daily Post wrote in his review of the performance, "The brass band music not only adds interest to the story but, on its own, impressive Haydock are truly delightful.
Jane Gallagher of the Liverpool Echo was equally taken, "there were highly satisfied members of the audience who tapped and clapped their way through the Haydock Band's highly polished performance, perfect for the acoustics of this intimate theatre," and made reference to the "majestic musical performances of the band" later in her review of the play.

The programme is wonderful value for money containing most noteworthy sections on brass bands in general (together with full-page features on the partaking bands), the mining industry as well comprehensive notes on the cast and production staff.

There are some events lined up for the future before the production ends in Liverpool:-

After Words – A free post performance discussion after the play - Tuesday 13th May.

Brassed Off Theatre Day – See how the production goes from page to screen – Thursday 15th May at 11.30am (4BR hope to report on this event).

Brassed Off Music Session – join the Director and Wire Brass to learn more about the instruments and production and watch a band rehearsal – Tuesday 20th May at 4.30pm.

For details of these events please call 0151-709-4776

4BR would like to thank Francesca Eyles (Press and Media Officer) of the Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited and Haydock Band for her invaluable help in preparing this piece.

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