Latest news with #industrialheritage
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Keli review – a brass band player's search for solidarity
Towards the end of Martin Green's brass-infused play for the National Theatre of Scotland, there is a resonant metaphor. It makes the connection between directing the breath to play a wind instrument and dealing with life's stresses. 'The skill is in controlling that pressure,' says Keli, a 17-year-old tenor horn player who knows all about pressure. On her plate is a thankless job in a supermarket, a mentally ill mother and a solo spot in a national brass band competition. Making an impressive professional debut, Liberty Black is vigorous and tough in the lead role, a young woman so used to having her defences up, she cannot see when she is being helped – not least by band leader Brian (an avuncular Phil McKee). All she knows is that music gives her order. Keli is a young woman rooted in the landscape. Hers is a village shaped by its industrial heritage, traumatised by the miners' strike and muddling on by in a resolutely modern world. Although Alisa Kalyanova's set cannot decide whether to be literal or impressionistic, its cavernous black walls never let us forget this is a community built on coal. Community is behind another of Green's metaphors, one that resonates less than it should. Falling into a collapsed coalmine, Keli meets the long-dead Willie Knox (a sonorous Billy Mack), famed not only for his prize-winning tenor horn playing, but also for heroically surviving a mining accident. An old-school socialist, he is thinking of both music and industry when he eulogises the 'combined efforts of determined souls'. It is a powerful sentiment, but in focusing so tightly on one woman's story, the play is less about the communal than the individual. Only when, magnificently, the Whitburn Band (alternating with Kingdom Brass) takes to the stage at the end of Bryony Shanahan's production do we get a sense of collective endeavour. At the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, until 17 May. Then touring until 14 June
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Eisteddfod: Port Talbot steel used to make Urdd crown and chair
Steel from Port Talbot steelworks were used in the designs of the two prizes for the Urdd Eisteddfod. The chair and crown, deemed two of the prestigious prizes of the festival, paid tribute to the local industrial heritage of this year's Urdd. Traditional steelmaking ended in south Wales in September 2024, after Tata Steel removed the last usable liquid iron, and has has submitted plans for a proposed electric arc furnace at the women from the area were behind the creations, which will be awarded to the winners over the week of the festival. Eisteddfod yr Urdd takes place at Margam Park, Port Talbot at the end of the month. Angharad Pearce, from Brynaman designed the chair and said it was a "dream come true".She has worked with steel for over 30 years."Creating this year's chair has been a wonderful privilege and a dream come true."It's something that's been on my wish list for many years."The chair features a combination of Welsh steel and flat steel produced in Port Pearce was given a guided tour of the Tata Steel site and saw parts that were not visible from the main road, such as countless pipes, and they parts can be seen on the chair."I'm lucky that I had the last piece of Welsh iron ore from Tata's works for the chair," the award winning artist said."I was determined to create a chair that felt light and positive, a celebration rather than a sad symbol of the past."My intention was to create a contemporary and appealing chair for the young person who will hopefully win it. I want them to be able to enjoy the chair forever." The crown was created by Nicola Palterman, from Palterman has worked in the jewellery industry for over 30 years and has recently set up a business in the said when discussing the design with the local committee it was agreed that the culture and history of the area needed to be reflected in the design."I wanted the design to be based on the steel and sea theme. The waves of the coastal landscape in the Aberavon area can be seen."The design also recognises the importance of the steel industry, which has been the lifeblood of people over the years," she said. Ms Palterman also used material from the steelworks to make the crown."The material is a striking combination of the 'young', shiny silver, tin coated with a layer of local steel from Tata's works and blue velvet that represents the maritime element on the cap."I've also added small blue diamonds to introduce an element of luxury that has been a hallmark of my work over the years.I think it's the first time ever that Eisteddfod yr Urdd crown contains diamonds."The chairing ceremony will be held on the Thursday of the Eisteddfod, with the crowning ceremony taking place on the Friday.
