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NWIMF - Gresford: Up From Underground

Thu, 12 Sept

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St Asaph Cathedral

Robert and NEW Sinfonia return to the North Wales International Music Festival to perform the world premiere of Jon Guy's new community opera 'Gresford: Up From Underground'.

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NWIMF - Gresford: Up From Underground
NWIMF - Gresford: Up From Underground

Time & Location

12 Sept 2024, 17:30 – 21:00

St Asaph Cathedral , 25 High St, St Asaph, LL17 0RD, UK

About the event

Join NEW Sinfonia for what will be their most ambitious project yet – a brand new community opera with music by Jon Guy and libretto by Grahame Davies, based on the story of the Gresford Mining Disaster highlighting Wrexham’s strong sense of community both past and present.

On Sunday 22nd September 2024, 90 years will have passed since the fateful disaster at the Gresford Colliery, one of the worst mining disasters in British history. The disaster holds a resonance and significance to this day, not just for the people of Wrexham, but for former mining communities across Wales and throughout the UK. However, in its 90th anniversary year, living memory of the disaster will soon be committed to history.

The themes of loss, social injustice, and powerlessness, as well as those of triumph over adversity and celebration of cultural identity are all central to the Gresford story. We’re bringing this emotional story to life, in a way which stimulates conversation, brings people together, and helps audiences (from all corners of our community) connect the Gresford story with their own contemporary experiences.

The libretto by Grahame Davies from Coedpoeth has been set to music by Wrexham born composer Jon Guy and will be sung and performed by a cast of professional opera singers, community opera chorus NEW Voices, and chamber orchestra NEW Sinfonia conducted by Robert Guy.

The Gresford opera will form part of a city-wide festival of remembrance with organisations and artists across Wrexham to mark 90 years since the Gresford mining disaster. 

Cast & Creatives

Alan – Rhys Meilyr

Doreen – Kathy Macaulay

Gwyneth – Khrystyna Makar

John – Sam Snowdon

Margaret – Morgana Warren-Jones

Composer – Jon Guy

Librettist – Graham Davies

Musical Director – Robert Guy

Director – Ruth Evans

Chorus Director – Jenny Pearson

Designer – Bridget Wallbank

Wardrobe Assistant – Greta Baxter

Audio Visual Designer – Ant Dickinson

Répétiteur - Bethan Conway & Ben Attfield

Chorus & Project Coordinator - Kathy Macaulay

Tech/Sound Engineer - Olli Bentley

Stage Manager - Sioned Foulkes

Stagehand - Millie Whittle

Two performances at 17:30 - 18:30 and 20:00 - 21:00

Tickets on sale from Friday 19th July

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