Wrexham Soap Opera Reaches Climax With Flash Mobs

A unique soap opera based in Wrexham was brought to its climax this weekend with a series of live performances in public places.

Wrexham town centre was transformed into a real-life set for the concluding episodes of the Welsh National Opera project, Nine Stories High.

Members of the opera popped up in flash mob style at several locations including Wetherspoons, Tescos and Marks & Spencer to perform the final scenes to the astonishment of shoppers.

Several of our followers tweeted our @wrexham account about the performances including Craig Jones (@craigyjones17) who said: “Just walking around Debenhams in Wxm and the Welsh National Opera spontaneously burst in to a performance. Surprisingly enjoyed it!”

Meanwhile others seemed confused about what was going on, Nick Jones (@nickj83) said: “Opera singers in Tesco??????”

The performance was all part of the Welsh National Opera (WNO) scheme to bring the art form to the people of Wrexham.

Since September last year there have been nine performances, each telling one part of the story around the town as part of a live soap opera.

In October we reported on the first episode which told the story of a warring couple locked in a love triangle.

The group have collected and told the stories of many local people.

At an WNO workshop at Pendine Park care home, resident Christine Jones told how she married a village policeman nearly 50 years ago, only for most of the village to turn out and watch the wedding.

With little money and no prospect of a honeymoon, she recalled a friend of her parents giving them an envelope with £5 “a lot of money in those days” and a key which opened a caravan in Blackpool which they were to use for their honeymoon.

Christine’s story was one of those told on Saturday when performers and musicians from Welsh National Opera re-enacted all nine performances around Wrexham on the one day.

That also meant a return for the down-at-heel Santa who last visited Eagles Meadow on Christmas Eve.

The man in the red suit was distraught that his wife had walked out on him.

However, to roars of approval and cheers of delight from shoppers Santa was saved by an angel from Marks & Spencer.

Rhian Hutchings, the Welsh National Opera’s Director of Educational said she was delighted with the way the public responded to the live performances.

She said: “Nine Stories High is all about live soap opera, inspired by Wrexham stories told by Wrexham people and performed by world class opera singers including members of Welsh National Opera’s chorus.

“I am really pleased with the reaction from people in Wrexham. This is all part of a three year programme of events centred around the town all aimed at making opera more accessible and better understood.

Ruth Evans, Welsh National Opera Production Manager, said: “This is just one part of a three year funded project which is taking opera out into the heart of local communities and showing that opera can, and very often does, depict everyday life.

“We have recruited our own community Wrexham choir to back the performance which has clearly been a big hit with shoppers.

Delyth Pugh, of Johnstown, watched the performance with her son Thomas and daughter Emily.

Delyth, was delighted to see her daughter Emily waving a Welsh National Opera flag and added: “I thought it was brilliant and really different. The performers have incredible voices and I could get used to watching something like that.

“I always enjoy street performances and think we should have more of them, it always adds atmosphere.”