Derby Theatre‘s home-grown production for the autumn will be Paul Allen’s adaptation of Brassed Off.
Based on a true story and the 1996 film which featured Pete Postlethwaite and Stephen Tompkinson, the stage adaptation features live music including "Jerusalem", "Danny Boy" and "Land of Hope and Glory".
The story is set in 1992 when miners are striking as the local colliery faces closure. Danny Ormondroyd’s dreams of leading the pit's brass band to victory at a national competition at the Royal Albert Hall seem remote because the men are having to choose between picket lines and redundancy packages.
But when flugelhorn-playing Gloria returns to her home town, the band gets its oompah back and romance is rekindled with her childhood sweetheart Andy. However, when the real reason for Gloria's return is disclosed and the pressures of the strike get too much for the band members, things start to go out of tune.
Derby Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Brigham who will direct Brassed Off said, “I'm delighted to be bringing another heart-warming drama with true grit and integrity to our stage. It’s a fantastic story that speaks to our community and our history and I hope audiences will enjoy seeing this well-known film on stage with all the glory of a live brass band.”
Brassed Off will run at Derby Theatre from Friday 18 September until Saturday 10 October.