In Ruggero Leoncavallo’s iconic opera, Pagliacci, we witness the tragic unraveling of a man consumed by jealousy and grief, his theatrical role tragically mirroring the heartbreak of his own life. It’s a story that speaks to the vulnerability of the human condition—a theme that resonates with touring companies today as they face the very real threat of dwindling funding, forcing artists to grapple with whether they can continue their craft. Just as Canio is forced to go on stage despite his personal turmoil, Mid Wales Opera (MWO) has embarked on its Pagliacci SmallStages tour, persevering against the odds, determined to keep bringing this art form to the communities it serves.

There’s something extraordinary about the moment you dive into a chamber reduction of Leoncavallo’s masterpiece, knowing the emotional heights it soars to and the depths it plunges. MWO’s SmallStages tour brings the heat and heartbreak of Leoncavallo’s world into the most intimate of settings – community halls, churches, and small theatres across Wales and the Borders. Re-arranging for a chamber ensemble means making choices that shape the audience’s experience as powerfully as the singers’ performances. There’s something thrilling about stripping an opera down to its raw elements: five singers and five musicians, each note and breath imbued with tension, and the drama becomes even more immediate when performed at close range.

This production features a fabulous cast led by Robyn Lyn Evans as the tormented Canio, with Elin Pritchard as Nedda, Philip Smith as Tonio, Sam Marston as Peppe, and Johnny Herford as Silvio. The music is directed by Jonathan Lyness, with violinist Elenid Owen, cellist Nicola Pearce, clarinetist Peryn Clement-Evans, harpist Elfair Grug, and Lyness himself on piano. The English translation by director and designer Richard Studer brings the story to life for modern audiences, ensuring the visceral impact of the drama is felt in every venue.

The second half constitutes an exotic, fun-filled, and entertaining musical cabaret of unexpected songs and ensembles from the worlds of opera and music theatre, featuring all things “Vaudeville” and “Commedia dell’arte,” with plenty of references to Pierrot and Harlequin, those ubiquitous characters who themselves appear within Pagliacci’s ‘play within a play.’ These familiar figures bring an extra layer of theatricality to the production, adding bursts of humor and charm to contrast the opera’s dark emotional core. 

But this year’s tour has had to face reality itself, grappling with the devastating impact of funding cuts and the uncertainty of whether we’d be able to go ahead. We were faced with a harsh reality: the future of opera in Wales is under threat. With our funding reduced, there were moments where we wondered if we’d even make it to the stage. Yet, like Canio, who is forced to don his costume and perform even as his heart breaks, we found ourselves pushing through the turmoil. Every donation received, was like a lifeline, allowing us to continue sharing this art form with our audiences.

It’s fitting, really, that we’re touring Pagliacci—a story about a traveling troupe of actors—because the road for touring opera is as challenging as the emotions on stage. In Pagliacci, Canio, the leader of a troupe, is forced to perform even as his life unravels around him, with the lines between reality and performance blurring in the most heartbreaking way. His wife Nedda’s betrayal ignites a chain of events that ends in tragedy, and the opera’s famous aria, “Vesti la giubba,” where Canio sings of putting on his clown costume and performing through his grief, encapsulates the core of what it means to be an artist. The show must go on, no matter what turmoil lies beneath.

The SmallStages tour kicks off on October 25th at Ludlow Assembly Rooms and travels to a range of intimate venues across Wales and the Borders, including Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea, Theatr Gwaun in Fishguard, Neuadd Dyfi in Aberdovey, and Theatr Colwyn in Colwyn Bay. Along the way, the tour will make stops at St Andrew’s Church in Presteigne, Criccieth Memorial Hall, Holroyd Community Theatre in Weston Rhyn, the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth, Wyeside Arts Centre in Builth Wells, and the Borough Theatre in Abergavenny, before concluding at Hafren in Newtown on November 22nd.

Each venue offers an intimate experience, giving audiences the chance to be up close and personal with the music, the emotion, and the story. This accessibility is key to MWO’s mission, ensuring opera is not confined to grand houses but made available to people in rural areas, often overlooked by larger companies.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, from local councils to individual donors, so far we’ve managed to raise £36,000 of our £50,000 goal. It’s a huge achievement, but we still need more support to secure the future of this production and keep opera alive in Wales. Every ticket purchased and every donation is a step towards ensuring that audiences in these communities continue to experience the powerful connection that live opera offers.

Like Canio, we put on our costumes and step out, knowing that what we offer—emotion, music, and connection—is more essential than ever. The drama of Pagliacci is timeless, and so is the fight to keep live opera thriving, no matter how many hurdles are placed in our path. As Leoncavallo’s tragic characters grapple with the blurred line between reality and performance, so too do we face the blurring line between art’s survival and the challenges that threaten it. Yet, just as Canio finds the strength to sing through his heartbreak, we too find the resolve to continue bringing opera to the people, keeping the art form alive, vibrant, and essential.

Opening night: Friday 25 October 2024, Ludlow Assembly
Final performance: Friday 22 November 2024, Hafren, Newtown

MWO’s new production features a cast of 5 singers and 5 musicians, with a new English translation by Richard Studer, and a new chamber arrangement by Jonathan Lyness. As previously with SmallStages, the opera forms just the first half of the evening. The second half will feature a newly created cabaret of popular and entertaining musical items featuring all singers and musicians for audiences to revel in and enjoy.

Fri 25 OctLudlow Assembly RoomsTues 29 OctTaliesin Arts Centre, SwanseaWed 30 OctTheatr Gwaun, FishguardFri 1 NovNeuadd Dyfi, AberdoveyTues 5 NovSt Andrew’s Church, Presteigne with Mid Border ArtsThu 7 NovTheatr Colwyn, Colwyn BayFri 8 NovCriccieth Memorial HallTues 12 NovHolroyd Community Theatre, Weston RhynThu 14 NovDragon Theatre, BarmouthFri 15 NovWyeside Arts Centre, Builth WellsThu 21 NovBorough Theatre, AbergavennyFri 22 NovHafren, NewtownShare