NATIONAL Youth Music Theatre’s summer season culminates with this week's premiere of Brass, a specially commissioned new musical by Yorkshireman Benjamin Till to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.

Brass is based on the real-life Leeds Pals, a battalion of friends who enlisted to fight in the First World War and suffered unimaginable losses on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Aptly, the premiere is taking place at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall on the very stage where many of the real life Leeds Pals signed up.

Till, a former York student, also tells the story of the Pals’ sweethearts and sisters, all of whom work in a large munitions factory called Barnbow, in Crossgates, Leeds, in his musical. The Barnbow Lassies were strong-willed and extremely brave women renowned for their hell-raising behaviour. Working with TNT and packing shells caused their skin to turn bright yellow to the extent that they became known as "the canaries".

In Brass, The Pals are all members of a brass band that is disbanded when the men leave for France. In their absence, their women folk reform the band and learn to play the Pals’ instruments, so that they can welcome their menfolk when they return triumphantly from the front.

The show's creative team comprises Benjamin Till, music and lyrics; Sara Kestelman, director; Benjamin Holder, musical director; Matt Flint, choreographer; Erik Rehl, designer; David Plater, lighting designer, and Andy Graham, sound designer. The cast includes Ben Jones, 18, as Alf and Laura Barnard, 18, as Ella.

Performances start at 7.30pm tonight and 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Box office: 0113 243 0808 or at cityvarieties.co.uk