Titled Fflamau Penyberth, the production tells the story of the 1936 arson attack on an RAF base near Pwllheli and will be staged at Barry’s Memo Arts Centre on November 27 as part of a tour across Wales.
The new Welsh-language opera marks the 90th anniversary of the protest by Plaid Cymru members Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine, and D.J. Williams, who set fire to buildings at the ‘bombing school’, RAF Penrhos, near Pwllheli and later drove to the police station in Pwllheli to give themselves up.
Patrick Young, founder of OPRA Cymru and former opera director at the Royal Opera House, said: “We receive our core funding from the Arts Council of Wales and we are very grateful for that and other funding comes from charities, trusts and the sale of tickets at the box office.
“Fflamau Penyberth will cost around £170,000 to produce and we anticipate a shortfall of around £15,000 which is why we’ve set up this crowdfunding appeal.
“For less than the price of a morning coffee people can help this unique celebration of the three giants whose actions 90 years ago this year helped deliver the first Plaid Cymru government to Wales.”
The opera is composed by Gareth Glyn, with the libretto written by Patrick Young, with help from collaborator Arwel Vittle.
It will premiere at Neuadd Dwyfor in Pwllheli on November 19 and tour venues including Swansea, Brecon, Aberystwyth, and Rhosllannerchrugog.
The crowdfunding appeal has received backing from former Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Wigley and internationally acclaimed harpist Elinor Bennett.
Ms Bennett said: “This is a worthwhile cause.
“It is an event I first heard about from my father who was at Caernarfon to welcome the three men after their release from prison.”
