The cast of Brassed Off features a number of local people, some of whom have never acted on stage before
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This home-grown cast is Brassed Off with its show
July 22, 2010
Bracknell becomes a coal mining town for a new play at South Hill Park. Caroline Cook heads to the coalface to find out why
Turning an iconic British film into a play is a brave idea, but throw in speedy costume changes, an episodic plot and a live brass band and you’ve got a challenge on your hands.
Luckily for audiences going along to Brassed Off, South Hill Park’s latest spectacular, the cast and crew have risen to the challenge and are tuning their instruments ready for the opening night on Friday.
Audiences are being invited aboard an emotional rollercoaster set to the soundtrack of a booming brass band as a group of coal miners struggle to keep their colliery open.
Bracknell actor Simon McCarton takes on the role that Stephen Tompkinson made famous in the 1996 film, as down-on-his-luck Phil who is struggling with debt and marriage problems.
“I think it’s a superb film,” says Simon. “Usually you get a play turned into a film, but this is the other way around. The only difficulty is that it’s very episodic so there are very quick costume changes. One minute I’m in a miner’s outfit the next I’m in clown’s outfit. It certainly keeps you on your toes.”
“It’s a thoroughly entertaining evening with some fantastic brass music as well. It’s darkly comic and it’s for all the family. I think the kids will love it.”
While struggling with redundancy the coal miners are also trying to keep their musical dreams alive by entering the national brass band competition – while the play’s cast have been going back to school to learn how to play the instruments to give the show authenticity.
Simon adds: “I used to play the trombone up to the age of about 12. I’m re-learning certain positions so hopefully it will look like I’m playing right.”
Luke Burton, who stars in the play as young tenor horn player Andy, also had to get back to his musical roots for the show.
The 26-year-old says: “Since I was about 10 I have played the trumpet, cornet and Flugel horn. I was given a tenor horn a few weeks ago and I have had to learn to play it so I can play in the band.
“I’m playing Andy, the part Ewan McGregor had in the film. He’s the youngest. He’s a bit naïve and a bit of a ladies man.
“I cannot wait for the show, from the very start it’s been really good fun. It’s such an amazing show with a great story. It’s actually one of my favourite films,
I absolutely love it, and as soon as it came up I thought I have got to audition for that.”
The play is a community production, mixing regular actors with amateurs, some of whom have never even been on stage before.
The show’s director, Adrian McDougall, thinks that it’s a good play for them to cut their acting teeth with.
“I’ve wanted to see Brassed Off performed at South Hill Park for a number of years,” he says.
“It’s a fantastic mix of comedy, drama and, of course, that great brass band music.
“More than anything else though, it allows South Hill Park to produce a high quality show which is a community production in every sense is; involving local artists from different community groups, of different ages and experience and with different skills to produce a large scale show.”
Adrian adds that the set, which has been designed by South Hill Park’s in-house team, will be very impressive.
“I can’t wait to get the show into the Wilde Theatre,” he adds.
The 17-member cast will be joined on stage by the brilliant Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band who will provide the music for the play, performing brass band classics including Jerusalem, Danny Boy and Concierto de Aranjuez – or Concierto de Orange Juice as it’s jokingly referred to in the play.
Luke adds: “The audience can expect to have a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
“They will be laughing one minute and crying the next, it’s quite a juxtaposition with comedy and quite edgy drama. It’s quite a good mixture of that. There’s something in there for absolutely everybody.”
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- Brassed Off will be at South Hill Park on Friday and Saturday and then from Wednesday, July 28, to Saturday, July 31. Performances start at 7.45pm and there will be a matinee on Saturday, July 31, at 3pm.
Tickets cost £14 for adults, £13 for concessions and £12 for members except for the matinee performance which costs £12 for adults, £11 for concessions.
To book, call (01344) 484123 or visit www.southhillpark.org.uk.
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