The acclaimed stage production of Ivor Novello Award winning composer Martin Green's 'KELI' is set to tour Scotland this year with a new cast backed by ensembles from Whitburn Band and Kingdom Brass.

Based on personal stories from the critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series 'Love, Spit and Valve Oil', the National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Production will preview in Stirling before opening in Edinburgh and going on to tour to Dundee, Perth and Glasgow in May and June.

Visceral

Gritty, passionate and visceral in its emotion, 'KELI' has won over critics and audiences alike, with this new production directed by Bryony Shanahan, and featuring actor Liberty Black in the title role.

In addition to a small on-stage brass ensemble, the performances will also feature playing from Whitburn and Kingdom Brass.

Perfect

Speaking about the new production, Martin Green said: "To be making KELI with National Theatre of Scotland and Bryony Shanahan forty years on from the Miners' Strike, feels absolutely right; an incredible team of visionary people. Perfect."

Director Bryony Shanahan added: "My introduction to this project was that it was about a 17-year-old called Keli — foul-mouthed, hilarious and a virtuoso flugelhorn player — who finds herself in a disused coal mine with a 150-year-old Marxist miner after the strangest night of her life.

Oh, and that it features a live brass band. I was in!"

World and heart

She added: "I'm so thrilled to be working with National Theatre of Scotland, Lepus and Martin Green to bring KELI to life. It's a story about community, legacy and above all, music and I can't wait to invite audiences into Keli's remarkable world and heart."

Performances

Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (preview Sat 10th May)
Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh — Thurs 15th to Sat 17th May
Dundee Rep — Thurs 22nd to Sat 24th May
Perth Theatre — Wed 4th to Sat 7th June
Tramway, Glasgow — Wed 11th to Sat 14th June