British Open champion Tredegar has been enjoying rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest stars of British cinema, after members of the band were invited to London to watch the ‘cast & crew’ premiere of the critically acclaimed film ‘Pride’, which is due for UK release in September.
Bittersweet
Set at the height of the 1984 Miners’ Strike, the bittersweet comedy recalls the true tale of the incredible support a small west Wales mining community received from a London based Lesbian & Gay Support Group — told in true British ‘Ealing’ comedy fashion with the characters overcoming initial prejudice and misunderstanding to eventually come together in support and friendship.
Tredegar is both seen and heard in the film — marching the striking miners back to work as well as providing much of the score which was written by award winning composer Chris Nightingale, alongside top professional musicians from the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Amazing
Chris Nightingale told 4BR that the sound of a brass band had been a revelation: "Tredegar was amazing. I wanted the score to have a real emotional impact, and the band produced that and more in spades.
There were people in tears in Cannes and in London when they performed the music to the biggest scenes in the film. They produced such a wonderful, heartfelt sound — it sent shivers down the spine."
Red carpet
Tredegar MD, Ian Porthouse certainly enjoyed the touch of red carpet treatment in the heart of Mayfair.
"It was quite surreal really. We made the trip up, got to the cinema and thoroughly enjoyed the film — and then for the next couple of hours we were chatting and having our pictures taken with the stars!
Now we've been invited to perform at the official UK premiere in September."
Stars
The film features actors such as Bill Nighy, Andrew Scott (pictured above with band members), Paddy Considine, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West, and is directed by Matthew Warchus, who will take over the artistic direction of The Old Vic theatre in London from American superstar actor Kevin Spacey later this year.
Perfect sound
Speaking to 4BR Matthew said: "The band was amazing — I can’t thank them enough. The sound they produced was perfect — and to do it all day on set, even when it was pouring with rain, hour after hour kept all our spirits up.
Hearing them on screen playing Chris’s wonderful score was just perfect."
There were people in tears in Cannes and in London when they performed the music to the biggest scenes in the film. They produced such a wonderful, heartfelt sound — it sent shivers down the spineComposer Chris Nightingale
Bread and Roses
That seemed to be the general consensus at the ‘in house’ premiere at the famous Curzon Street cinema in the heart of Mayfair as actress Imelda Staunton told 4BR: "As soon as we heard the band playing with the miner’s song ‘Bread and Roses’ the tears just welled up in our eyes."
5 star reviews
‘Pride’ recently closed the highly influential Director’s Fortnight at the famous Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 16 minute standing ovation, and has already gained outstanding reviews from influential film critics, with ‘5 Star’ reviews in The Times and Guardian newspapers.
