About KELI

"The skill, the craft, is in controlling the pressure"

KELI tells the story of a fiery, sharp-witted teenager in a former mining town. Coal means little to Keli, but the mines left music in the blood of the town.

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.

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.

"Riveting" - The Guardian (on KELI Audio Drama)


Written and composed by Martin Green. Diected by Bryony Shanahan.

Produced by National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Productions.

KELI was developed with National Theatre of Scotland and The National Theatre, London's Generate programme and was originally commissioned as an audio drama by The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.

Dates & Times