Keli: A story told through sound
The fictional story of a young horn player and her tempestuous existence composed by Martin Green, co-created and directed by Wils Wilson, and starring James Cosmo and Anna Russell Martin.
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Photograph: Sandy Butler
Keli is a new audio drama written and composed by Martin Green and co-created and directed by Wils Wilson, starring James Cosmo and Anna Russell Martin. It has been commissioned by The Lyceum and will be released on The Lyceum’s Sound Stage on 26 April.
This fictional story of a talented but troubled young horn player stars Anna Russell-Martin, with a sonorous score recorded by a bespoke band including principal players from Black Dyke, Grimethorpe, Fairey and Brighouse, and featuring BBC Young Musician of the Year, Sheona White as “the voice of Keli” on tenor horn.
Martin Green has spent the last year immersing himself in brass banding, surrounded by the communities, the competition and the legacy of coal. Inspired by the resilient, creative individuals he has met, he’s produced a three-part BBC documentary, Love, Spit and Valve Oil, a new piece of music Split The Air and this Audio Drama,Keli, commissioned by The Lyceum and created with Lyceum associate artist Wils Wilson with whom Martin made last year's acclaimed audio drama The Portal.
CAST
Willie James Cosmo
MG Martin Green
Storyteller Edie Green
Klara Sandra Kassman
Bus Driver Jamie Kenna
Lady Snaresgrove Liz Kettle
Amy Laura Lovemore
Brian Billy Mack
Policeman/Compere Ross Mann
Jayne Carmen Pieraccini
Keli Anna Russell Martin
Saskia Gemma Stroyan
ORCHESTRA
Mark Harrison Soprano Cornet, Tom Smith Principal Cornet, Thomas Fountain Solo Cornet, Ian Culcross Solo Cornet, Stephen Murphy Solo Cornet, Kirsty Abbotts Repiano Cornet, Alicia Davis 2nd Cornet, Laura Conway 2nd Cornet, Niall Mulvoy 3rd Cornet, Hayley Moore 3rd Cornet, Dave Moore Flugal, Sheona White Solo Tenor Horn, Siobhan Bates 1st Tenor Horn, Emma Conway 2nd Tenor Horn, Gary Curtin Solo Euphonium, Dave Thornton 2nd Euphonium, Amy Ewen Solo Baritone, Ben Smith 2nd Baritone, Tom Berry Solo Trombone
Ellena Newton 2nd Trombone, Alex Kelly Bass Trombone, Harry Cunningham Solo E-flat Bass, Andy Mallon E-flat Bass, Stuart Beard Solo B-flat Bass, Matt Wade B-flat Bass
Written and created by Martin Green
Directed and co-created by Wils Wilson
Music composed by Martin Green
Score orchestrated by Benjamin Woodgates
Conducted by Mark Heron
Sound effects by Eloise Whitmore
Music recorded by and audio drama mixed by Calum and Cameron Malcolm
Final mix by Garry Boyle
Producer Martin Atkinson
Assistant Producer Mikaela Atkins Blake
Production Manager Louis Blatherwick
Script Editor Kate Leys
Executive Producer for Lepus Productions Martin Atkinson
Created by Lepus Productions
With thanks to Sandy Butler, Jon Calvert, Bilge Nur Yilmaz, Becca Gaskell
Funded by PRS Foundation, Creative Scotland, The Marchus Trust and The Space. KELI has been commissioned by The Lyceum and Shetland Arts. KELI contains elements of The Servant by Hermynia Zur Mühlen and translated by Jack Zipes.
Photography and filming by Sandy Butler
How lockdown inspired Martin to create some of his most experimental, and unique work to date.
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