KELI tells the story of a fiery, sharp witted seventeen year-old in a former mining town. Coal means little to Keli, but the mines left music in the blood of this place.
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.
'The skill, the craft, is in controlling the pressure'
When the chance to change everything arises, can Keli keep a lid on it all?
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.
KELI will be toured all over Scotland in May and June 2025.
'magnificent'
★★★★★
The Scotsman
KELI by Martin Green
Keli
Liberty Black
Jayne
Karen Fishwick
Writer/Composer
Martin Green
Director
Bryony Shanahan
Set & Costume Design
Alisa Kalyanova
Lighting Designer
Robbie Butler
Sound Designer
George Dennis
Casting Director
Anna Dawson
KELI and the music
★★★★★ - The Scotsman
“Director Bryony Shanahan orchestrates all these elements to perfection”
“Liberty Black heartbreakingly raw, angry and quick-witted as Keli”
★★★★★ - Broadway Baby
"Unmissable"
★★★★★ - ArtsReviewsEdinburgh
“Martin Green has created a very special work here.”
“its story has the potential to resonate with many people at many different levels”
★★★★ - ScotsGayArts
“KELI 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”
“Black’s energetic performance does justice to a complex personality.”
"...spine-tingling.”
The Times
"an impressive professional debut, Liberty Black is vigorous and tough in the lead role
"The Guardian
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.
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.
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At Lepus Arts, we work with different communities across the country to create new and inspiring work. Giving the next generation of young musicians a chance to perform at a professional standard with established musicians, we create a vibrant network for artists as we continue to tell stories.
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