Today is Halloween which means we are on the cusp of November!

Brrrrrrrrr it’s getting a little chilly, but our theatre is lovely, welcoming and warm!

We had such an incredible October here at Theatr B! As we look back and reflect we are filled with gratitude to our audience and community. We welcomed audiences into the building to see a variety of shows – from music, to comedy, to thought provoking dramas, there really was something for everyone.

We also raised £133 for Macmillan as the Theatr B! team baked cakes and welcomed the public into out building for a cancer awareness coffee morning. We truly are incredibly lucky to be such a vital part of the community with such a fantastic theatre open to all.

On Saturday night we had the amazing Skids! right here, on our stage, we are all still buzzing from such an outstanding gig, the atmosphere was electric… check out a few of the photos from our team as they were part of the audience. There is nothing more fantastic than being an audience member in such an awesome venue for a show that you were a part of. And of course we can’t forget the Eazee Aliens who supported them, we loved the way you had the room moving! The feedback has been just spectacular thank you everyone who came to the event, keep a look out for more gigs happening in the future!

Today is Halloween which means we are on the cusp of November! November is a wonderful time, even if it rains! The leaves have fallen and there is now a frost in the air as we wrap up for our winter strolls along the canal… hot drink in hand from our theatre cafe of course. With Christmas in the not so distant future we are starting to plan our festive period, we are definitely not ready to play Christmas carols but the thought of a mince pie and hot mulled wine is filling us with joy! We would love to see you all, please pop in say hi, pick up a brochure if you haven’t already done so, and check out what’s on in November.

If you have been to see a show with us recently, it would be wonderful if you could complete the post-show survey. The survey is emailed to the person who bought the tickets. Your feedback and views are really important to us and help us to make sure we are being the best we can be.

Spotlight on: PUSS IN BOOTS

Last week we celebrated #worldoperaday which got us really excited about Mid Wales Opera’s Puss in Boots this month. Opera comes in all shapes and sizes, Puss In Boots is a lovely show that is also child friendly! The second half will includes pieces from the Wizard of Oz, this really is the perfect introduction to opera for a younger audience but will also delight classical music fans with the pleasure of listening to some Montsalvatge’s music.

Meet the cast-

Trevor Eliot Bowes, is new to Mid Wales Opera, and to rural Wales having grown up in British Colombia – he told us “My Canadian grandfather was stationed in Tenby after World War Two so my father spent his early childhood there. Wales has always therefore played a major part in the lore of my family.”

Philip Smith, is an MWO regular but for him too Montsalvatge’s music is completely new: “I had never heard of this opera until I was offered the role. It is exciting to get to grips with a new score and build a fresh new character. The king is a pompous figure whose best has passed both with his body and his reign. He provides a comic foil, along with the Ogre, for the more serious Princess, Miller and Cat. His music is generally regal and stately but he also has a couple of moments of tenderness. He wants the best for his daughter, the Princess, but is driven by making a good match to someone who has a lot of money and will help shore up the royal coffers!

Martha Jones, last sang with MWO in our production of The Magic Flute way back in 2017. She is looking forward to returning to some of the places where she previously performed, and exploring some new ones. Martha told us: “The piece is completely new to me. It’s always fun returning to characters and pieces you know really well but the challenge of learning an entirely new character and piece is something I’ve really enjoyed working on. I play Puss who uses his cunning to mastermind wealth and happiness for his master.”

Huw Ynyr, The Miller, is a familiar face to MWO touring as well. Tenor Huw Ynyr grew up near Dolgellau and is looking forward to performing for a home audience: “I’m especially looking forward to performing at the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth. Being a local lad from Rhyd-y-main village, near Dolgellau, it will be great to have a show close to home and will be a chance to invite some friends and family to watch!”

Alys Mererid Roberts, another familiar face from MWO’s previous productions from the Shepherd Boy in Tosca to the wonderfully wilful Polly Peachum in Mrs Peachum’s Guide to Love and Marriage. Alys is delighted to be back in a frock and told us: “It’s so much fun to be delving into the magical world of this fairytale, with a rather dapper talking cat, a fearsome ogre and a besotted princess – all through the medium of Opera. I love how silly it all is, and that to me is the joy of this (let’s face it) ridiculous artform! Montsalvatge’s beautiful music brings the fairytale to life, and my inner five year old is delighted that I can finally live out my secret Disney Princess fantasy!

Find out more about the cast here

About the show- 

Mid Wales Opera’s fifth SmallStages tour kicks off our Fairy Tale season with Catalan composer Montsalvatge’s beautifully crafted one-act version of the familiar tale of ‘Puss in Boots’, El Gato con botas.

Premiered in Barcelona in 1948, and rarely performed, this age-old children’s story tells of the wealth-seeking, match-making cat who, in return for a hat, a sword and a pair of boots, secures for his young master (a lowly miller) a kingdom and a royal marriage to a princess, tricking a slow-witted ogre out of his castle along the way. 

From its opening Montsalvatge’s music is energetic, tuneful and full of catchy rhythms, lush melodies and feline musical effects! This new MWO production is perfect for family audiences, and a great way to introduce youngsters to opera. MWO’s production features 5 singers and 5 musicians, singing in English with a new chamber arrangement by Jonathan Lyness. The second half will feature a cabaret-style collection of popular and entertaining musical items featuring all singers and musicians. 

Sung in English

Sounds purrrrrrrrrfect right?!

Book here!

Read The Guardian review

Watch trailer here