These productions are still in their infancy but we feel we made a great start with:
"Black and White but Sometimes Grey"

This was performed at Stavanger Konserthus in November 2006.

It was an ambitious start but thanks to the musicians of Stavanger
Brass band the end result was at least, very impressive. It was a game of chess with the band being divided into two opposing teams , dressed in black and white and the whole story was acted out on a Chess board.

The idea, story and production was by Allan Withington and the music was composed/arranged by Jostein Stalheim.

The actual performance is available on this web site.
A brief synopses of the story is as follows;

The Plot

Black queen involved in illicit affair with White king.
Monteverdi- Deus

Black queen attempts to show allegiance to Black king.
Stalheim - Contemporary 1

Manipulative behaviour by Black queen prompts both kings to engage in a show of power.
Vivaldi - Double Trumpet Concerto.

White king proves to be the strongest . White queen now suspects illicit affair and sends out a warning to black counterpart. She too can manipulate.
Weis/Douglas - What a Wonderful World.

Rumours have now filtered back to Black king. He  decides that two can play at this game. However his innocent  flirt  gets quickly out of hand.
Crew/Gordio - Can`t take my eyes off you.

This noble game has  been dirtied by intrigue and jealousy. Both sides must now return to normality.
J.S.Bach -  Jesu joy of mans` Desiring.

Normality is just a facade. The Black queen refuses to relinquish her White prize but to get to him she must set out on a merciless mission of destruction.
Stalheim - Contemporary 2 ( The wicked queen).

The Black king now gambles. By securing a true and honourable victory he hopes to win back his own Queen.
R.Fisher vs M. Tal - Leipzig 1960.( actual chess game).

Handel - La Rejouissance  1
Minuett. 
La Rejouissance  2

Morale is low. Both sides become increasingly disillusioned by the abuse of power.
Stalheim - Contemporary 3

Victory , by either king, must be denied. The game can only end in stalemate!

Click here to watch the video

After the success of the orchestral concert series and Black and White for brass band, Allan now concentrates on developing  further concert ideas for brass band.

Edvard meets Edward at an Exhibition

Together with Norwegian composer Jostein Stalheim he worked with an idea concerning a fictitious meeting between Edvard Grieg and Edward Elgar. ` As far as we know Edvard Grieg never met Edward Elgar. Would they have become friends? Would Grieg have had the honour of having his initials written at the head of one of Elgar`s compositions? Would they have become more than just friends or would this relationship have taken a more sinister turn? Anyway! What would Queen Victoria have made of all this?

`Edvard meets Edward at an Exhibition` was first performed by Grimethorpe Colliery band in Lucerne, Switzerland in 2007,then at the Sage in Newcastle by Stavanger Brass Band in 2008.

The music is both from Grieg and Elgar and arranged for band by Jostein Stalheim. Original music is by Jostein Stalheim.

The Story of Maria von Trapp.

This highly successful show has been performed by both the Bergen and Oslo Philharmonic orchestras`.  It easily translates to brass band and has been performed by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and students from Hemsworth Arts and Community College at the Sage in Newcastle, Bridgewater hall in Manchester and Symphony hall, Birmingham.

Jabulani

This was a project between Stavanger Brass Band and Robin Dewhurst. It traces the development of modern dance music from its` African roots to the present day.

Performed at the Sage in Newcastle and Stavanger Concert Hall, Nov. 2008

Carnival

Again, first performed by Stavanger Brass Band in Stavanger Concert Hall, Nov. 2009. This was an idea developed by Robin and Allan based loosely around the carnival in Venice. On closer study it seemed that ardent concert goers and member s of the general public alike, were in constant movement between one event and the next, during the carnival period. Could a full band conjure up this image? Well, the audience seemed to think so as Stavanger BB travelled through a potted history of Italian popular music with various twists and, as usual, many surprises. This was also the programme used  by Grimethorpe and Allan in the 2010 `Brass in Concert` competition where the band won first prize.

Mr. Warhol, are you Real?

This was ordered by a new music festival ('Blow Your Mind') started in Leeuwarden, northern Holland, in 2010. Allan wrote the manuscript and the show included the first performance of a new piece of music, written by Allan, 'Hymm Before Supper,' for brass band and dancers. The piece used Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of the 'Last Supper' for inspiration and with the help of a contemporary dance company, compared the original painting to Warhol's version. The tuba player from the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Perry Hoogendijk, did an amazing Sid Vicious impersonation, and Pop Art from Warhol's world was pitted against Pop Art from the brass band world.

Since 2010 CMWZ has been heavily involved in promoting and producing new and innovation concert ideas for brass band. Notable successes include first places at both the 2012 and 2013 `Siddis Brass ` competition in Norway and an extraordinary way of looking at the development of the hymn and chorale performed by Fodens band at the 2013 Brass in Concert competition
in Newcastle.