The much-loved film has been brought to the stage of Leeds Playhouse for the first time, 32 years after the events it portrays.
I’m sure most readers will be familiar with the plot of Brassed Off, which revolves around a colliery brass band as the pit is shut in the fictional Yorkshire village of Grimley. It is often described as a comedy-drama, I would say it’s a drama with comic moments. It accurately reflects the mining communities I’ve known over the decades – there’s always humour, even in the darkest times, but this is a drama about the destruction of communities.
Director Amy Leach has added a prologue and an epilogue and in her programme notes says:
“To understand the division and dissatisfaction we see today, we need to look at how we got here.”
The play opens with an audio montage of British Prime Ministers promising jobs and prosperity for “hard working families”. Starmer, Sunak, Johnson, May, Cameron, Blair and Major all spout the same words and it underlines how communities like Grimley have been let down by successive governments. Meanwhile a ‘youth’ in a black hoodie rides a bike around the town brandishing a flag of St George.
We then return to 1994 and discussions in the pithead baths about the threatened closure of the pit. How can the band carry on if there’s no pit?
Spoiler alert: the band does carry on, at least to win the national title at the Royal Albert Hall.
And of course, the music is central to the plot. Here we are treated to a live brass band made up of members of Horbury Victoria and Wakefield Metropolitan Brass Bands who play magnificently as well as executing their acting duties.
Credit is due to designer Katie Scott for creating a versatile set that includes the pithead gear, but also the baths, the concert room, Phil and Sandra’s house, the pub, hospital and of course the Royal Albert Hall. As she says:
“Coal itself influenced the aesthetic, with charcoal textures and a sense of dust everywhere.”
The play is carried along by a strong ensemble cast. David Birrell is particularly good as Danny, the band leader, a retired miner with Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung). Andy Cryer and Ewen Cummins are also very good as the double act of Jim and Harry.
Danny delivers the memorable speech after the band triumph at the national championships:
“I used to think that music mattered, but does it b****cks. Not compared to how people matter …”
Without spoiling the epilogue, the play shows without being saccharine, that there can be hope today. And pride and joy – it’s about people and community. And part of that is coming together to make music. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times creating music, or any art, can instil as sense of pride in the community.
The play whizzes past belying its 2 hrs 50 mins running time and the full house gave it a rapturous ovation. Highly recommended.
Brassed Off runs at Leeds Playhouse until 11 July. More details and tickets at: www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/brassed-off
All photos: Kirsten McTernan
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