Brassed Off

Brassed Off – a comedy drama, stage by Southport Dramatic Club at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport on Thursday 15th May, 2025.  

Having been a police officer during the time of the ‘Miner’s Strikes’, having travelled the country to provide back-up to many local police forces and having witnessed so much of this first hand … ‘Brassed Off’ always rekindles so many memories!  Paul Allen adapted Mark Herman’s screenplay of the same name for the stage, the production premiering at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield on the 17th March 1998 with the music being provided by the internationally acclaimed Grimethorpe Colliery Band.  This truly is a passionate story, with great humour and raw emotion throughout providing a true reflection of the political climate and the dogged community spirit in the face of adversity at that time! You can sense and feel the strong links formed between the miners and the close-knit brass band… it’s so very obvious that one could not survive without the other! 

The Production Team ... entrusted to bring this emotional roller-coaster of a play to stage  was ‘directing debutante’ Emma Wells-Hall and what an amazing job she made of it all!  In her programme notes, Emma tells us about her ‘persistent pestering’ of the SDC Selection Committee to allow her to direct a play that she loves and which she performed with SDC back in 2007, the only other time that SDC have staged it. Emma also tells us that sadly not all the cast from the 2007 production are still with us today, including Emma’s ‘best friend’ Georgie Gillen, who ‘passed’ far too early! Georgie played ‘Rita’ ... and Emma has carried Georgie’s memory throughout the entire process of staging this play!  Be proud of what you achieved Emma... there was a real balance and togetherness shown by the entire cast throughout this play which emanated from the stage in waves, enlarged and enriched by the beautiful rich brass tones provided by ‘Skem Brass Band’ ... great job, I think Georgie would have been oh so proud of you!   

The Cast ... we had a cast of ten, plus two young ladies from the So Talented Academy of Theatre Arts ... and if I may I’d like to identify them all and then ‘stick my neck out’, yet again and select a couple of MY favourite characters and performances! 
So, the cast was as follow.... 
Ben Musa took on the role of ‘Andy’; Miner and Tenor Horn Player with band 
Stacey Nagington played ‘Gloria’; local girl who returns to Grimley to look at the viability of the pit on behalf of British Coal, or so she thought; Flugelhorn player with band 
Alan Casserley played ‘Harry’; Miner, Euphonium player with band; husband to ‘Rita’ played by 
Adrienne Ledson ... wife and activist ... anthem ‘Miners United, We’ll Never Be Defeated’  
Brendan Gillow played ‘Jim’; .... Miner, Tuba player with band and husband to ‘Vera’ played by  
Kathy Harrison ... activist in trying to keep ‘pit open’.... the seriousness of the plight of these two couples was interspersed with some lovely comical moments. 
The ‘Ormondroyd Family’ ....   Giles Davidson played ‘Danny’ ... Miner and passionate Band Conductor... father to ‘Phil’ played by Peter MacGregor-Forshaw, Miner and Trombone player with band. ‘Phil’ is husband to ‘Sandra’ played by Janine Burrows and they are Dad and Mum to... ‘Shane’, ‘Melody’ and ‘Kylie’ played by Alfie Christian, Grace Hudson and Niamh Tolson respectively. (Nathaniel Grills played the part  of ‘Shane’ on alternative nights to Alfie).
I had to think long and hard about this, because when everyone in a cast brings their ‘A’ game, creating outstanding characters and a wonderful piece of theatre, it’s sometimes difficult to start suggesting that someone was better than someone else without doing an injustice to someone ... BUT, there’s no way I could not bring to the fore, the performance of Peter MacGregor-Fletcher, our trombone playing miner ... ‘Phil’.  Peter just took us on this emotional rollercoaster of a journey, creating believable, heart wrenching moments at every turn.  He made this role his own and made performing it look far easier than it undoubtedly was!  His stage presence was off the charts, his characterisation never waned ... a truly wonderful performance that I’ll remember for a long time... be very proud Peter! I also have to highlight the performance of Skelmersdale Brass Band ... who were just sensational.  Their first entrance, the ‘Floral Dance’ set the tone for the entire evening, bettered only for me, by their rendition of ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ (‘Orange Juice’).  Every ‘tune’ played, brought this FULL HOUSE down...  just amazing!  When you have a fourteen-year-old, playing in an adult production, it takes something special to ‘stand out’, but Alfie Christian did just that!  Alfie played ‘Shane’, son to Phil and Sandra ...  a ‘narrator’ of sorts! For someone so young his confidence was amazing, his diction, flawless, a pre requisite for any ‘narrator’ ... be very proud young man. To everyone who took to that stage in this production... old and young, be ever so proud, this was something ‘special’!  

Staging/Set/Tech.... as is the norm here at Southport Little Theatre, the staging was excellent. Access and redress points were situated on both sides of the stage which allowed the production to flow. Loved the entire construction: stage right ... set at stage level the front door to the Ormondroyd residence; to the side, a flight of steps leading to a second front door, the residency of Gloria, both doors used frequently. Across the back, advertising and pit related signage was displayed and above the signage, a screen where projected images of relevant places or situation were shown which worked ever so well and enhanced the production. Set Design was by Emma Wells-Hall, Bob Jessamine (Scenic Artist), set constructed by the SDC Construction Team. In charge of all things stage wise was Ged Whittle (Stage Manager). Andrea Shacksmyth-Claire (Lighting Design) with Scott Crawford/Neil Yates (Lighting Operators). Sound – SDC Sound Dept. 

Wardrobe ... the entire wardrobe was relevant and of the period; looked right and again enhanced the play... looked after by Lisa Carlin and the SDC Wardrobe Team.
Props... authentic, used well, overseen by Hannah Knowles, Helene Griffiths, Fi Billington and Phil Povey. 

Quotes... this play is littered with so many superb quotes... personal favourites included....  
Jim (response to their wives discussing ‘band activities’) …  “You can’t get into too much trouble with your hands full of Tuba”  
Andy to Gloria… ‘Fancy having a drink before we go to bed’ … oops!  
Gloria and Andy conversation: Gloria: Do you want to come up for a coffee? Andy: I don’t drink Coffee! Gloria: I haven’t got any!  
Shane to Mum ... I don’t like seein Dad sad, Mam, but I’d sooner see him sad than not see him at all!  
Shane, again to his Mum… How can you die happy? 

I think I’m right in suggesting there were three performances sold-out, the remaining, almost full and, on the evening, I attended, which was a full house, if the applause throughout and the standing ovation that greeted the final bows was anything to go by, I’m suggesting this was a play enjoyed by all present!  Thanks for the invitation and your warm welcome, Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were totally entertained! 

Stay safe, keep well… 
‘Stronger Together’ 

Jim Briscoe 
NODA NW 
District 6 Rep

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