FULL WWI: A Village Opera (Sue Howley) Llangwm 2014

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: WWI: A Village Opera  
• Composer: Sue Howley  
• Libretto: Peter George    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: Llangwm, Pembrokeshire, Wales  
• Recorded: 2014
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Sam Lawrence, Luzelle Davies, Marcus Lewis, Ben Asson, Andrew Ross, Will Oliver, Bob Phillips, Nigel Alderman, John Roach, Louise Hales, Dave Moore, Liz Rawlings, Sarah Middleton
• Conductor: Sue Howley  
• Orchestra:
• Chorus: Chorus of Llangwm women  
• Stage Director: Carol Mackintosh  
• Costume Designer: Ann Donmovan, Dean Campbell  
• Lighting Designer: Fin Mackintosh, Carol Mackintosh  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: Llangwm Local History Society  
• Date Published: 2023  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: nosubs  
• Video Recording from: YouTube     FULL VIDEO
•  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

Quote from the Tenby Observer
Research for an exhibition commemorating the start of World War 1 has uncovered details of no fewer than five sets of brothers with connections to one Pembrokeshire village who fought for their country. And in a remarkable example of art imitating life, the existence of these brothers in arms from Llangwm is echoed in a specially-written opera due for its first performance next month.

The libretto of WW1: a Village Opera, penned by Newport-based writer Peter George tells the story of two Llangwm brothers, Tom and Will, who are recruited to ‘serve God, King and country’ and sent to France on the eve of the Battle of the Somme.

The opera and the accompanying exhibition won a £9,900 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Performance dates for the opera are November 12 and 13 at Cleddau Reach VC School, November 15 at Newport Memorial Hall, and November 28 and 29 at the Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest.

The real life story that inspired Peter’s libretto is of the two John brothers, James and Edwin, whose mother came from Llangwm Ferry.

Researcher Liz Rawlings – who says she’s surprised at the number of siblings her efforts uncovered – found that the John family emigrated to Canada before the war.

“James and Edwin joined up in Canada and came back to Britain as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force,” said Liz.

“But during fighting outside Lens in Northern France, Edwin was hit by a sniper bullet and James died as he held his dead brother’s body.”

Peter George said he’d been greatly assisted by the work of the Llangwm Local History Society in writing the libretto.

“Their research yielded much information about the daily lives of people in their community between 1914 and 1918, and that’s enabled me to weave some local colour into the work without, I hope, losing sight of the universal experience of rural communities up and down the country”.

There were four other sets of siblings with connections to Llangwm, including the Palmers from Black Tar Hill, Llangwm

“They had four sons who all fought – and all returned safely,” said Liz.

“Their parents were said to be renowned rabbit catchers, and the eldest boy, William had a far from exemplary war record. He went AWOL at one point and hid from the military for months. And after the war he’s said to have worked illegally as a bookie.”

The other set of siblings were Stanley and Norman Morris from Main Street Llangwm, Henry and William Evans whose father was a clergyman in Llangwm, and William, George and Philip Bevans.