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Gresford: Up From Underground

Sun, Sep 22

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St Giles' Church, Wrexham

The premier of a new community opera - Gresford: Up From Underground - marking the 90th anniversary of the Gresford Mining Disaster

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Gresford: Up From Underground
Gresford: Up From Underground

Time & Location

Sep 22, 2024, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

St Giles' Church, Wrexham, Church St, Wrexham LL13 8LS, UK

About the Event

Join us for what will be NEW Sinfonia’s 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, our community opera chorus NEW Voices, and our chamber orchestra NEW Sinfonia conducted by Robert Guy. The performance will also feature a brand new spoken word piece by poet and activist Evrah Rose. 

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. More activity will appear in due course on our events page.

Cast & Creatives

Jac – Rhys Meilyr

Doreen – Kathy Macaulay

Gwyneth – Khrystyna Makar

John – Samuel Snowden

Catrin – Morgana Warren-Jones

Robert - James Holt

Composer – Jon Guy

Librettist – Grahame 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

Hynt Cardholders

We offer disabled patrons a free ticket for a companion, carer or personal assistant as outlined by the Hynt scheme. Please contact us here and we will send you the information for purchasing a free ticket for your companion, carer or personal assistant. Information about Hynt and how to become a member can be found here.

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