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KELI cast call for Whitburn and Kingdom

Players from Whitburn and Kingdom Brass will take to a very different performance stage in the coming weeks.

Keli
  Members of both bands will take part in the production

Players from the ranks of Whitburn and Kingdom Brass will be taking to a different type of performance stage over the next few weeks to appear in 'KELI', the critically acclaimed stage production from National Theatre of Scotland.

KELI

Written and composed by Martin Green, 'KELI' tells the story of a fiery, sharp-witted teenager in a former mining town. Coal means little to her, but the mines left music in the blood of this place.

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

It has won critical and audience acclaim 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 backing the main tenor horn lead, the performances will also feature playing from Whitburn and Kingdom Brass.

The solo horn lead for all the performances will be given by Andrew McMillan of Whitburn Band.

Perfect

In speaking to 4BR about the new production, Martin Green said: "To be making KELI with National Theatre of Scotland and Director Bryony Shanahan 40 years on from the Miners' Strike, feels absolutely right; an incredible team of visionary people. Perfect."

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

Community reach

The show will reach audiences across the country, many of whom who belong to communities that were hugely affected by the miners' strike of 1984-85.

It previews at the Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, before opening at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, and touring to Dundee Rep Theatre, Perth Theatre and Tramway, Glasgow, from May to June.

The show will reach audiences across the country, many of whom who belong to communities that were hugely affected by the miners' strike of 1984-854BR

Performances

The opening performance at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, is on Thursday 15th May through to Saturday May 17th.

It will then showcase at Dundee Rep Theatre from Thursday 22nd May to Saturday 24th May, followed by Perth Theatre from Wednesday 4th June through to Saturday 7th June. It ends at Tramway, Glasgow from Wednesday 11th June through to Saturday 14th June.

Full details:

For full details on how to book, visit the National Theatre of Scotland website.

https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/keli

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Darren R. Hawken

PGdip, BMus(hons) PGCE, dipABRSM, LRSM
Conductor, Arranger, Teacher, Adjudicator, Band Trainer


               

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