HOUSE OF HISTORY
WORK to reconstruct one of the medieval courts of the Princes of Gwynedd is well underway at St Fagans National History Museum, near Cardiff.
But next year, the people of Anglesey will be invited to participate in a brand new opera inspired by the medieval prince, Llywelyn Fawr.
To hear more about the project, a series of workshops has been organised for locals this November at venues across the island from Tuesday 8 – Friday 12 November.
The large scale community project, organised by The National Museum Wales, aims to encourage local choirs, schools, adult groups and historical societies to join professional soloists, actors, and instrumentalists to perform in this exciting opera which will première near the original Llys Rhosyr site near Newborough on Anglesey.
The opera will tour around Wales in 2017 with a final performance at the reconstructed Llys Llywelyn in St Fagans once the building is complete.
A Welsh and English language opera will be created and there will be a series of events for the local community held over the next year from discussions and heritage workshops to theatre classes, opera taster sessions, costume making workshops, even equestrian activities.
Owain Rhys, Community Engagement and Participation Manager at The National Museum, said, “The aim of this project is to engage with the local community on Anglesey and get them involved in this exciting project.
“With the reconstruction work of Llys Llywelyn taking place at St Fagans, we want to share our exciting new understanding of how life at Llys Rhosyr was lived.
“By performing near the original site in Newborough, those participating will be able to get inside the head of Llywelyn himself; our community opera is a great way of doing this.”
Director and librettist Peter Morgan Barnes who’s leading on the project said, “The free autumn workshops are taster sessions demonstrating how much fun the rehearsal process will be. No previous experience of opera or music is required – we’re encouraging everyone to get involved. It’s going to be fantastic experience - a chance to discover and actively participate in opera!”
The reconstruction of the great hall from Llys Rhosyr, built around 1200 AD, will provide one of the most exciting and challenging archaeological projects attempted in Wales.
With nine-metre high stone walls and a thatched timber roof, the build- ing of the court will provide apprenticeships and trainee placements to work with the Historic Buildings Unit.
Once completed, schools and community groups from across Wales will, for the first time, be able to stay overnight at the site.
Building work continues at St Fagans National History Museum as the site undergoes the biggest redevelopment project in the history of the Museum.
This has been made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Welsh Government and other supporters.
St Fagans was awarded the largest grant ever given by the HLF in Wales in 2012 to help tell the stories of life in Wales over 200,000 years and more.
For more details on the workshops or to book a place, call Ceri Williams at Oriel Ynys Mon on 01248 752189.