Gresford: Up From Underground | School's Performance

We're inviting school children to come and see our brand-new Community Opera - Gresford: Up From Underground. Providing youngsters with the chance to engage with the story of Gresford and to ensure the contuniation of its legacy. If you're school would like to attend, please send us a message here on our contact form and we will get back to you asap.

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 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 – Sam 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

This is a closed event. For tickets to our Gresford opera please see our Events page.