Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

Free Tickets for Victoria Wood Premiere in Manchester

Victoria Wood Concert Tickets

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain is preparing to unveil a very special world première at its Easter Concerts 2026, as part of this year’s inspiring theme, New Horizons.

Currently in residence in Harrogate, The NYBBGB brings together ninety of the UK’s most talented young brass and percussion players who have been working intensively under the direction of Professor Nicholas Childs to prepare a dynamic concert programme for performances on:

Saturday 11 April – The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn, DL8 5SG.
Saturday 18 April – Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, M13 9RD.

A highlight of both concerts will be the world première of Victoria Wood: A Laugh Less Ordinary, a major new commission by acclaimed composer Andrea Price, generously funded by the Victoria Wood Foundation.

The work marks almost exactly ten years since the passing of the legendary Bury comedian, writer, musician and performer, and stands as a powerful musical tribute to her extraordinary legacy.

One of the central challenges lay in translating Victoria’s work into an instrumental form. Many of her most celebrated songs rely heavily on lyrics for their storytelling and humour.

Rather than creating a straightforward medley of well-known tunes, Andrea set out to build something deeper and more cohesive.

This idea of connection is reflected throughout the work, particularly in the musical dialogue between instruments. The cornet and euphonium act as two distinct voices, representing Victoria and her long-time collaborator Julie Walters, whose friendship becomes a central thread running through the piece.

The work opens with a vibrant and theatrical reimagining of the iconic Dinnerladies theme, transformed into a dazzling fanfare.

In contrast, the music soon shifts into a more intimate and introspective space. A virtuosic solo cornet cadenza portrays Victoria’s well-known stage fright and self-doubt.

A particularly inventive moment sees this musical line echoed by muted trombone, creating the effect of an internal dialogue—“a reflection in the mirror,” as Andrea describes it.

One of the most inventive sections of the piece draws on Victoria’s song Reincarnation, reimagined through a sequence of contrasting brass band styles.

“Without lyrics, repeating verses doesn’t work in the same way,” Andrea explains. “So I used the idea of reincarnation itself—music returning in different forms—to explore different styles.”

The result is a vibrant musical journey, moving through operatic writing, New Orleans-inspired jazz and a high-energy march—showcasing both Victoria’s versatility and the exceptional range of The NYBBGB musicians.

At the emotional core of the work lies a profound exploration of friendship and loss, culminating in one of its most striking musical moments: the inclusion of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fugue in C minor.

“That fugue is famously used in Acorn Antiques: The Musical! to signal the arrival of Mrs Overall—Julie Walters’ wonderfully eccentric character,” Andrea explains. “So it immediately brings Julie into the narrative in a recognisable way.”

But its significance runs deeper.

“A fugue is made up of independent musical lines weaving around each other—sometimes separating, sometimes coming back together. For me, that perfectly mirrored Victoria and Julie’s lives and careers.”

As the music develops, this intricate texture builds toward a moment of stark emotional clarity, reflecting the loss of Victoria at the age of 62.

“It’s almost exactly halfway through the piece,” Andrea says. “Everything changes. There’s a real sense of what might have been.”

From this point, the music moves into a deeply moving reimagining of Love Song, offering a moment of reflection, remembrance and quiet emotional power.

The final section of the work draws inspiration from Victoria’s own connection to brass banding, including her much-loved Brassed Up sketch, an homage to the film Brassed Off.

“It was such a joy to discover that sketch,” Andrea says. “You can see how much she loved brass band music—and she’s genuinely playing the cornet.”

The piece builds to a triumphant, hymn-like conclusion—celebrating not only Victoria’s life and work, but the enduring impact of her artistry.

“I wanted it to feel uplifting,” Andrea reflects. “To look forward as well as back. Her work continues to inspire people, and it will for generations to come.”

For Andrea, writing for The NYBBGB adds an additional layer of meaning—particularly at a time when access to music education is under increasing pressure.

“Opportunities like this are absolutely vital,” she says. “They don’t just develop musicians—they build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging.”

She also hopes the piece will introduce a new generation to Victoria’s work.

“For many of these young players, this might be their first real encounter with her,” Andrea explains. “If this piece sparks their curiosity—if it encourages them to explore her music and her writing—then that’s something really special.”