An opera telling the story of one of Wales’ deadliest mining disasters is coming to Powys this March.

Gresford – Up From Underground recounts the 1934 tragedy that claimed 266 lives and will be performed at The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, at 7:30pm on Friday, March 6.

The production will tour former mining communities across Wales, and was first performed at St Asaph Cathedral to mark the disaster’s 90th anniversary. It was shortlisted for a prestigious Ivor Novello Award. Audiences were reportedly moved to tears during the premiere, reflecting the deep impact the tragedy still holds.

Among those involved is 72-year-old Gillian Davies, whose father - Ivor Owen Bellis - narrowly avoided death after being kept off work by a hand injury. Gillian said the tour would help ensure the miners’ memory is not forgotten.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful that we can go round Wales with the tour to actually remember what happened, because it’s over 90 years since the disaster,” she said.

“I remember quite a lot of people were crying on the night we performed the opera at St Asaph Cathedral, you could see their hankies coming out, because something like that is a big thing for a community.”

The opera is performed by the NEW Sinfonia orchestra, alongside six professional singers and a cast of emerging professionals, with members of the NEW Voices chorus joining some performances. The music has been composed by Jonathan Guy, with words by poet Grahame Davies, and the production is directed by Ruth Evans.

Ms Evans said the opera tells a universal story of adversity in mining communities, adding: “It demonstrates the resurgence of a community that has been absolutely decimated by grief.”

Tickets for the Ystradgynlais performance are available at: https://thewelfare.co.uk/Shows/new-sinfonia-gresford-up-from-underground/

More information is available at: https://www.newsinfonia.org.uk/events