Blowing Up A Storm!
This was a wonderful evening of laughter and tears - theatre at its best skilfully directed by Sue Hickson.
The trials of the close knit mining community, troubled with the pending closure of the pit, was starkly portrayed. This, coupled with their loyalty to the Grimley Colliery Brass Band showed the comradeship and earthy humour of these miners and their families.
The scene opened on a bleak stage dominated by a most realistic pit head with the sound of a cage coming up the shaft. Pictures projected onto a back screen told the story throughout the performance - local scenes - miners' strike 1984-85 - marching bands - hardships underground in the mines - wives supporting their men.
Those in power refused to accept that the communities were flesh and blood, and not just viable statistics: the result was a sell-out by the management.
This was a slice of our recent history and we saw the passing of a way of life, some of it good some of it not so good.
We also saw the community's dedication to the Colliery Band and we were swept along with their ambition to reach the National Finals in the Albert Hall.
The band members seemed so comfortable with their instruments that even although they "froze" during the many musical numbers the audience was convinced they were actually playing.
All of this came over with remarkable authenticity and the audience felt as one with the players - laughing with them and crying with them and for them.
It is impossible to pick out stars of this show - each member of the cast gave 100% of themselves and lived the parts they were portraying - even a twenty something convincingly playing an 8 year-old boy!
All in all a tour de force and one of the best evening's theatre I have enjoyed in a long time.
The Stars:- Tom Barber, Peter Buller, Keith Burton, Steve Rouse, Iain Johnson, Ben Derrick, Linda Harvey, Ruth Dodsworth, Joyce Liggins, Heather Appleton, Debbie Forsyth, Jerry Harvey, Alan Stewart, Justin Enthoven, Jenny Bellamy, Stan Appleton, David Donnelly, Tony Attwood.
Review by Stewart Johnson
[This review appeared in the Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald]
Photos by Chris Iredale
Feedback for Brassed Off
Excellent! - Funny and moving performances in a superb setting
A brilliant production - thanks so much
An Excellent performance which I thoroughly enjoyed - it brought tears to my eyes
A remarkable achievement
It was not only a visit to the Theatre - it was an experience, and a privilege to be there
We congratulate you all for presenting such a difficult production in such a professional manner
I doubt if there was a dry eye in the house
Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!
- such a brilliant production
Congratulations to Director Sue Hickson for the concept, the interpretation and all the hard work in bringing to such a small stage such a wonderful multi-media production
And congratulations to your cast and stage crew for interpreting your vision so professionally and creating such a wonderful entertainment
A stunning production
We were absolutely bowled over by it on so many levels
A cracking cast - and every single one of them did you proud
The sense of team ethic was palpable: such a large ensemble peice needs that underlying cameraderie and it really came across
The Director's skills were everywhere - high production values and great attention to detail
The use of the backdrop stills and film in tandem with the music was superb - so poignant
A technically complex production - you pulled it off brilliantly
Thanks for a terrific night - it was an absolute triumph
We've been coming to see productions at The Playhouse for 10 years and this was without doubt the best production we've seen
A very high professional standard
The acting, timing, use of set, music, photographs etc. - all excellent
Moving, funny and passionate, not to mention timely with the Chilean miners in the headlines
Such talent and effort deserves a much wider audience
Brilliant! - Imaginative, funny, sad, thought-provoking, emotional - not a dry eye in the house - Brassed Off had it all
Our Theatre Group members were queuing up to say how much they had enjoyed your production