News

Rhondda Rips It Up! again this autumn

2 October 2018
Emcee and Lady Rhondda sing on stage with full chorus, with their hats raised in the air in celebration. They are at the polling station.

Our five-star cabaret-opera Rhondda Rips It Up! heads out on the second part of its tour this month, taking in additional cities in Wales and England. If you didn’t get to see the production in the summer, this is your chance to catch the performance described as ‘bursting with irreverent joy’ by The Times.

Madeleine ShawLesley Garrett and the women of the WNO Chorus revive their roles as suffragettes (and multiple other characters)to tell the story of a pioneering woman, Margaret Haig Thomas (Lady Rhondda), who orchestrated her campaigns from Newport and was instrumental in some women getting the vote and, later on, in women being admitted to the House of Lords.

The Company will be joined, in some venues*, by the women of the WNO Community Chorus who also invite you to Come and Sing with them in the theatre foyers before the performance.

Rhondda Rips It Up! has proved a huge hit with audiences and critics alike, and has already shared the inspiring story of Lady Rhondda with almost 4,000 people. As Director Caroline Clegg explains ‘It tells the story of an incredible and admirable woman and has a very universal message that we can all relate to….. I guarantee you will leave the theatre uplifted and singing the songs!’

Audiences in Bangor will get the chance to ask questions about the production, and about Lady Rhondda herself, as Angela V John (author of Turning The Tide The Life of Lady Rhondda) leads a free post-show discussion. You can also experience Rhondda Rebel, our latest digital project which uses augmented reality to take you back to Lady Rhondda’s trial (also appearing at the John Hansard Gallery in Southampton).

Don’t miss the final opportunities to enjoy this brand new work from WNO. 

*Community Chorus/Come and Sing at Swansea, Bangor, Mold and Winchester.