Brassed Off

Ta-da! We definitely need a fanfare to accompany this announcement.

Our Spring show for 2026 will be Brassed Off, directed by Kim Freeman. The play, written by Paul Allen and Mark Herman is a heart-warming story about community spirit and triumph in the face of adversity.

Brassed Off is equally funny and poignant and we are delighted that the show will feature live music played by local favourites, the Hook Norton Brass Band. This is a new adventure for Lynden Players- we have of course worked with some brilliant musicians over the past 50 years but never a real life brass band.

To give you a taster, there will be a read through on Wednesday 7 January at 8.00pm Middleton Cheney Village Hall. All are welcome to come along and find out more about the play, the characters and how the band will be integrated into the show. Auditions will be held Monday 12 January, and audition pieces will be available after the presentation. There are 7M and 5F characters plus a supporting chorus. Full coaching will be given to the characters ‘playing’ band members. Rehearsals begin 14 January and show dates are 7-9 May 2026.

Synopsis

1994. Yorkshire, England. Returning to her hometown up north, Gloria discovers a community in crisis. The local Pit is on the brink of closure, money is scarce and morale is at an all-time low. Only the Colliery Brass Band is keeping spirits up, sights set firmly on reaching the national brass band championships at the Royal Albert Hall, but as conversations turn to talk of picket lines and redundancy packages, the miners are falling out of tune… Flugelhorn-playing Gloria brings hope to the band and the town.

But is she all she seems? And how will the miners react when they find out who she works for?

The award-winning film with Pete Postlethwaite and Ewan McGregor tugged the heartstrings of the nation when it was released in 1996 and this version of the story is sure to do the same.