Lochgelly Band transports Brassed Off! from Yorkshire to Fife

Lochgelly Band is to take to the stage in Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe in a production of Brassed Off! which is a unique transformation of the setting from Yorkshire to Fife.

The band will work with Edinburgh-based community theatre group Leitheatre on the production of the famous 1996 film featuring Grimethorpe Band and actor Pete Postlethwaite.

Just weeks after its appearance at the Fringe, Lochgelly will replicate the storyline of Brassed Off! when it competes in the UK National Brass Band Championships final at the Barbican, York.

Band secretary Lynsey Mcilwraith said: “Brassed Off! is every brass band’s favourite film. I know it word for word and I think you'd be hard pushed to find a brass band member who hasn't seen it.

“When we were asked to join with Leitheatre for this production we were excited, but words can’t describe how we felt when we found out it was to be set in Fife. Obviously the film is set in Yorkshire and a lot of the biggest bands in the world are from there, but sometimes people forget how big and how important mining was to Fife.”

She said the Fife mining community had originally boasted more than 20 bands, although only six are still in existence today.

She explained: “Lochgelly used to have two or three itself. To have Fife recognised as being important for the mining history of the UK is really good and we were so chuffed to be asked.”

Ten members of the band will perform alongside actors in the play, who have been coached in holding their instruments by the band.

“It’s going to be quite a noise on stage,” said Lynsey.

Leitheatre show director Susan Duffy grew up in a Fife mining community.

“When we decided to put on Brassed Off! in our 43rd year at the Fringe, I was determined that we would highlight the relevance of the original film to Fife,” she said.

“Like Yorkshire, the closure of mines had a devastating effect on communities. But setting it in Fife without a Fife brass band wouldn’t have felt right, so we were delighted when Lochgelly Band agreed to work with us.

“It has been a labour of love for me. I was born and brought up in Kelty, the granddaughter of a miner, so being able to bring the spirit of Brassed Off!, and the traditions of community and solidarity of Fife to the Fringe is a dream come true.”

Brassed Off! will be performed at Inverleith St Serf’s Church Centre from 8 to 22 August. To purchase tickets visit the Edinburgh Fringe website.