Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tickets and more information: http://uniontheatre.biz/brass.html
Booking until: 24th November 2018
Production Photos by: Mark Senior

Commemorating the centenary of Armistice Day, the Union Theatre is playing host to the professional premiere of Benjamin Till’s musical Brass. Initially commissioned as a piece for the National Youth Music Theatre, Brass follows a group of boys called The Leeds Pals, an amateur brass band who enlist to fight in WW1. In the meantime, back home in Leeds, the lads’ sisters, wives and girlfriends plan to form a brass band of their own.

It’s clear from the get go that the cast have great chemistry together. They gel well as an ensemble, so much so, it’s hard to individually pick out any stand outs. Although the time the show takes place in was a very bleak and depressing time, Benjamin Till’s book adds enough humour to run alongside the historical context that it makes the friendship between the characters radiate so well, it felt as if we knew these characters for years. The score, also written by Benjamin Till, is rich and luxurious and highlights the incredible voices of the cast well.

Although I do feel the show could easily be a bit more fast paced, the excellent storytelling from the cast and wonderful score from Benjamin Till are definitely reasons to check out this beautiful show.

Until next time,