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Brassed Off

Author: Hazel Hole

Information

Date
26th November 2021
Society
Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society
Venue
The Westcliff Theatre Clacton On Sea
Type of Production
Play
Director
Brenda White-Robinson
Musical Director Tendring Brass Band
Antony Sanders
Assistant Musical Director Tendring Brass Band
David Rowland

I was warmly welcomed on arrival by the Director, a long standing member of the society, who was making her debut in this role.

The action takes place some ten years after the national miners' strike and as Grimley Colliery is set to close with the loss not only of many jobs but also the Grimley Colliery Brass Band.

The set, designed by Terry White, was simple but very effective. A pithead wheel provided the focal point with rapid changes of props and chairs denoting scene changes. This required impeccable timing by Stage Manager, Tracy Lias and the backstage support.

The well known Tendring Brass Band were an integral part of the action, both performing on stage where demanded by the script and also when marching (and playing) through the audience. Indeed, it was a quite remarkable feat of collaboration and direction to so closely integrate the actions of the band with the cast. It was a pleasure to see and listen to them.

Paul Welham as Danny, an ex-miner and veteran conductor of Grimley Brass Band, played a strong and sometime emotional role. There was an excellent pairing of Drew Welham, his son in real life, as Paul's son Phil, a miner and Jo Thorne, as Sandra, Phil's wife. In debt and facing poverty, Sandra is demanding and complaining, trying to make ends meet and caring for their children. Excellent acting from both. Oliver Toms, aged 14, played their son, Shane, with enthusiasm and ability.

Humour in droves was provided by VickyTearle (Jim's wife) and Rosemary Sturgess ( Harry's wife) .Their husbands, David Thompson, playing Jim an older miner and John Thompson, playing Harry, were inseparable from pit days.

The two remaining characters were played by Charlotte Root, as Gloria and Charlie Vaughan, as Andy,a miner. Gloria had returned to Grimley as a marketing executive having spent her childhood in Grimley where she had known Andy. Inevitably, they fell in love although Andy was angry that Gloria appeared to be plotting against the miners. However all was redeemed when Gloria arranged for the Grimley Brass Band to play in concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Charlotte was sparkly and determined in this role and earned great respect from the miners. Her 'playing' of the flugel horn was expert !

All the actors showed tremendous enthusiasm and ability so well done to everyone.

Props, (Barbara Tyrrel) and costumes ( Teresa Dale) were effective and very relevant. Lighting ( Keith Harris) and sound ( Vickiey Found ) were very appropriate and I particularly liked the use of spot lights on one part of the stage whilst prop changes were taking place elsewhere on stage.

This was a sparkling and fast moving production with a talented cast and strong support from the off stage crew.

Many congratulations to the Director, Brenda White-Robinson for having the ambition and ability to undertake this challenging production as a first time Director.

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