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The National
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
KELI review: A rousing brass-band odyssey of grief, grit, and ghosts
I was reminded of this insightful quote while watching KELI, writer and composer Martin Green's fine new play for the National Theatre of Scotland and his own cross-artform company Lepus. There is, you might think, a considerable cultural distance between Harlem, New York City and West Lothian. However, like the Black jazz musician alluded to by Malcolm X, Keli Wade – the 17-year-old, working-class protagonist of Green's drama – derives her greatest spiritual fulfilment from playing the tenor horn in a brass band. The play is set in the former Scottish coal mining town of Anston (a mildly fictionalised Whitburn). The last coal mine in the area may have closed 39 years ago following the Great Miners' Strike of 1984-85, but the mining community's brass band is still going strong. We meet Keli, who is juggling the demands of shop work at the local Scotmid, a college course and her mother's severe mental distress as she and her fellow members of the Snaresbrook brass band are preparing to travel to London. There the West Lothian musicians will take part in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships in the Albert Hall. Green – who made the brass band documentary Banding: Love, Spit And Valve Oil for BBC Radio 4 – has long immersed himself in the culture of colliery community brass bands. In KELI – which is set in the present day – we hear resonating echoes of the community's past. The band lives by its traditions, and there is great pride in the legendary miner, trade unionist and band leader Willie Knox, who, in the years immediately after the Second World War, led the Snaresbrook band to its famous trio of national titles. There is pride – and considerable anguish – in the memories of the strike of the mid-1980s. During that bitter dispute, current band leader Brian Farren was badly beaten and fitted up (to the point of serving jail time) by the police. From this mix of intriguing and combustible material, Green and director Bryony Shanahan have concocted an engrossing and, ultimately, deeply moving theatre work. Keli's journey – both literal and emotional – is like a modern reworking of the classical tale of Orpheus's adventures in the underworld. It is not giving too much away to say that our tenor horn-playing hero's travels and travails are conducted within the frame of her encounters with the ghost of the great Willie Knox (who is played with tremendous dignity and humour by the excellent Billy Mack). His interactions with 'comrade sister' Keli combine powerfully with the angry memories of Farren (Phil McKee on convincingly gruff-yet-decent form). Throughout the piece – from West Lothian to London and back again – the play is blessed with beautiful live playing of Green's marvellous brass score (which segues between lovely music and intelligent, atmospheric sound). The scene in which brass playing combines with hardcore electronic pop music in a London club is remarkably inventive, both theatrically and musically. The cast is universally impressive. Led by Liberty Black (who is gloriously driven-yet-vulnerable in the role of Keli), it includes deeply affecting performances by Karen Fishwick (as Keli's mother, Jane) and the Whitburn Band. If the production has a flaw, it is in designer Alisa Kalyanova's maximalist coal mine set, which is too literal and lacking in versatility. Nonetheless, this piece is a captivating triumph. As the Lepus company says: 'If the mines are dead, the music and the people most definitely are not.' Tickets can be found here. Touring until June 14.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Brass band music in the spotlight for new Scottish play
'There was always music in the house, and it was something I picked up from a young age. It has always been a nice bond to have with my parents.' Music, and specifically brass band music, is at the heart of Fishwick's latest theatrical role. Karen Fishwick (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) The acclaimed Dennistoun-based actor, whose recent credits include National Theatre of Scotland's hit musical Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet, is returning to NTS for KELI, the story of a fiery, foul-mouthed teenager in a former mining town, for whom coal means very little, but music is everything. Woven into this tale are elements of fantasy and magic, of humour, history and politics. (It marks 40 years since the miners' strike, a defining moment in the history of the British coal industry which pitted thousands of workers against then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher amid her government's plans to shut dozens of coal mines.) Martin Green of folk band Lau (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) This is a joint production between NTS and Lepus Productions, the company formed by Ivor Novello winner and virtuoso accordionist Martin Green, of folk trio Lau. Green has written the script and the live brass score for KELI, following his two-year 'odyssey' deep into the world of brass bands. It began by chance near his home in Midlothian. Spotting a poster advertising an event called Brass in the Park, he discovered a self-sustaining world of music-making that – like the folk tradition – had retained its social function and was part of the warp and weft of the communities who performed it. Liberty Black as Keli in the new NTS production (Image: NTS) KELI has grown out of interviews Green did for critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series Love, Spit and Valve Oil, and it began life as a radio drama. Now, it comes to the stage, and will tour Scottish venues throughout May and June. 'To be making KELI with National Theatre of Scotland and director Bryony Shanahan 40 years on from the miners' strike, feels absolutely right,' says Green. 'An incredible team of visionary people. Perfect." The cast of KELI in rehearsal (Image: NTS/Julie Howden) KELI will feature brass band music from Green's acclaimed album Split the Air, and performances from leading Scottish brass bands, including Whitburn and Kingdom Brass. A small ensemble, including Fishwick, will play live on stage. It is 'the perfect fusion' says Fishwick, who plays Keli's mother Jayne. 'I'm often on stage, looking down at the pit and thinking - I want to be in there,' she says, adding with a laugh: 'And then, finally, I get there and I look up at the actors and think, I want to be up there.' She adds: 'This role is a really good balance of both. Martin has written a beautiful score. I'm absolutely chuffed to be part of it.' Karen Fishwick in rehearsal (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Fishwick first picked up a cornet at the age of eight, inspired by her music instructor father and primary school teacher mother, who met through a shared love of trombone-playing. Her main instrument is the trumpet, but there are no trumpets in brass bands, she points out, helpfully. 'At my audition, Martin asked me - how would you feel about playing the euphonium?' she says, smiling. 'And I love it. More air, bigger mouthpiece, but there are a lot of transferable skills between trumpet and euphonium. I just needed to adapt to the difference.' Karen Fishwick (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Jayne is a 'very complex' character, explains Fishwick. 'She has a beautiful, close, visceral relationship with her daughter, there is as much fierce love as there is angst,' she says. 'She has some challenges. The world we live in can be a battle for her, and Keli doesn't know quite what to expect from her mum.' READ NEXT: Scottish 80s girl band reunites for one-off Glasgow gig READ NEXT: 'I was obsessed with this interior design TV show and now I am on it' Fishwick has recently become a mother, and she is thoughtful when asked if that has had an impact on how she approached the role. 'In some ways it's freeing, in others it leaves you with a raw sensitivity,' she says, after a pause. 'That is interesting to tap into, but also, it throws up walls in a different way. I feel like I have a new duty to protect myself, whereas before, I might have been happy to draw on personal reflections.' Having a one-year-old while managing rehearsal and performance schedules means 'the juggle is never-ending,' says Fishwick, fervently. 'It's a small miracle I'm actually managing to do this at all,' she says, with a sigh. 'How do you do it? How does anyone do a job when they have a baby? Where do you put them?' She adds: 'NTS and Lepus have been really supportive, and we have a community of helpful friends and grandparents assisting too. 'And actually, there is a lot of flexibility in this job that most people who do a nine to five won't have. There is some support now, from organisations like PiPa [Parents and carers in the performing arts] and that's great, because it is stressful.' Liberty Black and Olivia Hemmati in rehearsal (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Fishwick grew up in Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, and studied acting at Motherwell College, now part of New College Lanarkshire. Alongside her roles in theatre, she has appeared on TV in the likes of Outlander and Call the Midwife. 'Television and theatre are very different beasts," she says. "Theatre and music seem more natural settings for me, though I loved having a go at the screen stuff. It would be nice to do more.' Bringing KELI to the stage, alongside Phil McKee, Olivia Hemmati, Billy Mack and Liberty Black, a final-year student at Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire of Scotland making her professional debut in the title role, has been 'a dream', says Fishwick. 'I'm really excited to see how people react to hearing brass music on the main stage,' she explains. 'It's not something that comes along every day. 'I hope the power of it catches people by surprise.' Keli previews at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling on May 10 and then tours to the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (May 13 to 17); Dundee (May 22 to 24); Perth Theatre (June 4 to 7) and Tramway in Glasgow (June 11 to 14).
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Outlander and Call the Midwife actor on 'dream' Glasgow role
'There would be a big line of instrument cases up our hall, some tiny, some absolutely huge,' says the Dennistoun-based actor. 'My dad worked as music instructor, and his engineer brain meant he loved bringing home his pupils' tubas and trumpets to fix. 'There was always music in the house, so it was something I picked up from a young age. It is a nice bond to have with my parents.' Karen Fishwick (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Music, and specifically brass band music, is at the heart of Karen's latest theatrical role. The acclaimed actor, whose recent credits include National Theatre of Scotland's hit musical Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is returning to NTS for KELI, the story of a fiery, foul-mouthed teenager in a former mining town, for whom coal means very little, but music is everything. Liberty Black as Keli in the new NTS production (Image: NTS/Julie Howden) Woven into this tale are elements of fantasy and magic, of humour, history and politics. (It marks 40 years since the miners' strikes, a defining moment in the history of the industry which pitted thousands of workers against then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher amid her government's plans to shut dozens of coal mines.) This is a joint production between NTS and Lepus Productions, the company formed by Ivor Novello winner and virtuoso accordionist Martin Green, of folk trio Lau. Martin Green of folk band Lau (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Martin has written the script and the live brass score for KELI, following his two-year 'odyssey' deep into the world of brass bands. It began by chance near his home in Midlothian. Spotting a poster advertising an event called Brass in the Park, he discovered a self-sustaining world of music-making that – like the folk tradition – had retained its social function and was part of the warp and weft of the communities who performed it. READ NEXT: The story of why this famous North Glasgow area had a different name for decades READ NEXT: Burning baffles and drinking pubs dry: How Glasgow celebrated VE Day KELI has grown out of interviews Martin did for critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series Love, Spit and Valve Oil, and it began life as a radio drama. Now, it comes to the stage, and will tour Scottish venues throughout May and June. It will feature brass band music from Martin's acclaimed album Split the Air, and performances from leading Scottish brass bands. It will also have a small ensemble, including Karen, playing live on stage. Karen Fishwick in rehearsal (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) It is 'the perfect fusion' says Karen, who plays Keli's mother Jayne. 'I'm often on stage, looking down at the pit and thinking - I want to be in there,' she says, adding with a laugh: 'And then, finally, I get there and I look up at the actors thinking, I want to be up there.' She adds: 'This role is a really good balance of both. It's a dream and I'm absolutely chuffed to be part of it.' Jayne is a 'very complex' character, explains Karen. Liberty Black and Olivia Hemmati in rehearsal (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) 'She has a beautiful, close, visceral relationship with her daughter, there is as much fierce love as there is angst,' she says. 'She has some challenges. The world we live in can be a battle for her and Keli doesn't know quite what to expect from her mum.' Karen has recently become a mother, and she is thoughtful when asked if it had an impact on how she approached this role. Karen Fishwick (Image: NTS/Julie Howden) 'In some ways it's freeing, in others it leaves you with a raw sensitivity,' she says, after a pause. 'That is interesting to tap in to, but also, it throws up walls in a different way. I feel like I have a new duty to protect myself, whereas before, I might have been happy to draw on personal reflections.' Karen grew up in Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, and studied acting at Motherwell College, now part of New College Lanarkshire. Alongside her roles in theatre, she has appeared on TV in the likes of Outlander and Call the Midwife. 'Television and theatre are very different beasts," she nods. "Theatre and music seem more natural settings for me, though I loved having a go at the screen stuff. It would be nice to do more.' Bringing Keli to the stage, alongside Phil McKee, Olivia Hemmati, Billy Mack and Liberty Black, a final-year student at Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire of Scotland making her professional debut in the title role, has been 'a dream', she says. 'I'm really excited to see how people react to hearing brass music on the main stage,' she says. 'It's not something that comes along every day. 'I hope the power of it catches people by surprise.' Keli previews in Stirling on May 10 and then tours Scotland until arriving at Tramway in Glasgow from June 11 to 14.
