KELI
Written and composed by Martin Green, and directed by Bryony Shanahan, KELI tells the story of a fiery, sharp-witted seventeen year-old in a former mining town.
'magnificent'
★★★★★
The Scotsman
'The skill, the craft, is in controlling the pressure'
Coal means little to Keli, but the mines left music in the blood of this place.
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As the best player her brass band has ever had, music is easy. Everything else is a fight. Feeling trapped in small-town life, pressure mounts.
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When the chance to change everything arises, can Keli keep a lid on it all?
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Marking 40 years since the miners' strikes and featuring a sharp, hilarious script and live brass score by Ivor Novello winner Martin Green, KELI is a gripping show about community, creativity, and music.​
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KELI will be touring Scotland in May and June.
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Delve depper into Keli's world here​​​
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★★★★★ - The Scotsman
“Director Bryony Shanahan orchestrates all these elements to perfection”
“Liberty Black heartbreakingly raw, angry and quick-witted as Keli”
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★★★★★ - Broadway Baby
"Unmissable"
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★★★★★ - ArtsReviewsEdinburgh
“Martin Green has created a very special work here.”
“its story has the potential to resonate with many people at many different levels”​
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★★★★ - ScotsGayArts
“As KELI heads out on tour it truly delivers a refreshingly adult story that puts music and its power at its heart.
“Green’s compositions set this show apart... a beguiling element that makes the show soar”
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“Black’s energetic performance does justice to a complex personality.”
"...spine-tingling.”
The Times
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"an impressive professional debut, Liberty Black is vigorous and tough in the lead role"
The Guardian​
Martin Green: Writer & Composer
Bryony Shanahan: Director
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Performers
Louis Abbott: Performing MD
Liberty Black: Keli
Karen Fishwick: Jane/Lady S/Musician
Phil McKee: Brian
Billy Mack: Willie Knox
Olivia Hemmati: Amy/Saskia
Hanna Mbuya: Musician
Andrew McMillan: Musician
Whitburn Band
Kingdom Band
The legends that made KELI happen are:
Hana Allan:Lighting Supervisor, Josh Brown: Relighter, Robbie Butler: Lighting Designer, Glenda Carson: Captioner, Neal Clark: Production Sound, Isla Cowan: Associate Director, Adi Currie: Lighting Technician, Anna Dawson CDG: Casting Director, George Dennis: Sound Designer, Fi Fraser: Production Manager, Karen Forbes: BSL Interpreter, Adam Gibson: Sound Supervisor, Maddy Grant: Deputy Stage Manager, Fergus Hall: Orchestrator, Kyle Jessiman: Stage Supervisor, Chinyanta Kabaso: Choreographer, Alisa Kalyanova: Set & Costume Designer, Fi Kennedy: Company Manager, Christopher McKiddie: Audio Describer, Stephanie Mitchell: Brass Consultant, Lauren Murison: Assistant Stage Manage, Claire Sharp: Costume Technician, Aileen Sherry: Costume Supervisor, Malcolm Stephen: Technical Manager, Yvonne Strain: BSL Interpreter, Dexter Stokes-Mellor: Sound Technician, Holly Wright: Stage Manager
Produced by Martin Atkinson for National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Productions
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KELI was developed with National Theatre of Scotland, The National Theatre, London’s Generate programme, Freedom Festival Hull and was originally commissioned as an audio drama by The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
KELI was developed with the support of Creative Scotland and The Space. The music for KELI, Split the Air, was originally commissioned by PRS Foundation for the New Music Biennial at The Southbank Centre, and UK City of Culture.
How lockdown inspired Martin to create some of his most experimental, and unique work to date.
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"Make the thing we know we can make"​
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Producer Martin Atkinson talks through the challenges of making new work during a lockdown.
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