A £15.000 crowdfunding appeal has been launched for an opera telling the story of a Baptist minister’s role in a protest that changed Welsh history.
Lewis Valentine, from Llanddulas, near Colwyn Bay, was one of three eminent, “God-fearing” Welsh nationalists who carried out the 1936 arson attack on an RAF bombing school near Pwllheli.
Valentine, who was also a politician, author, editor and language activist, began studying theology at Bangor but his studies were curtailed by the First World War.
His wartime experience and his sympathy for the cause of Irish independence brought him to Welsh nationalism.
He joined Saunders Lewis and DJ in setting fire to buildings at RAF Penrhos on the site of the historic and culturally important Penyberth farmhouse.
The trio later drove to the police station in Pwllheli to give themselves up and were sentenced to nine months in prison at London’s famous Old Bailey court.
Now their actions, which became a defining moment in the history of Welsh nationalism, is being brought to the stage by OPRA Cymru in the new Welsh language production composed by Anglesey-based Gareth Glyn.
The libretto has been written by opera company founder Patrick Young, from Llan Ffestiniog, with help from collaborator Arwel Vittle, an author and historian from Caernarfon.
Fflamau Penyberth will receive its world premiere at Neuadd Dwyfor in Pwllheli on November 19 before touring venues across Wales.
It will also be performed in Rhosllannerchrugog, Bangor, Swansea, Barry, Brecon and Aberystwyth before returning to Pwllheli for the final performance of the tour.
Organisers say they need public support to raise the final £15,000 to bring the ambitious production to the stage to mark the 90th anniversary of the landmark protest.
They have already won the backing of two high-profile figures, former Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Wigley and internationally acclaimed harpist Elinor Bennett.
Elinor Bennett, who has an international reputation as a soloist, master instructor, and founded the Harp College of Wales, 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.”
Her husband, who is also a key figure in the history of Welsh nationalism, said he also supports the crowdfunding appeal.
“The arson attack was largely symbolic, they set fire to a hut which caused minimal damage, but it was very significant nonetheless.
“It was disgraceful that no consideration was given to local protests about establishing the RAF base at Penyberth. Three other sites, all in England, had been put forward for the bombing school but they were discounted after objections were put forward.”
OPRA Cymru was founded in 2008 by Patrick Young, a former opera director of the Royal Opera House in London.
He 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.”
Penyberth was a farmhouse which had been the home to generations of patrons of poets, and also a way-station for pilgrims to Bardsey Island, but destroyed in 1936 in order to build the RAF base.
Fflamau Penyberth tells the story in three acts and opens with one of the three men in a prison cell and the story told in a series of flashbacks.
It will be performed at Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli, on November 19; Theatr y Stiwt, Rhosllannerchrugog, on November 20; Pontio, Bangor on November 24; Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea on November 26, Memo Arts Centre, Barry on November 27; Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon on November 28; Theatr y Werin, Aberystwyth on December 3 and Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli on December 5.
To make a contribution go online to www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/fflamau-penyberth-yr-opra and for more details about the tour go to www.opra.cymru while tickets can be obtained from the various theatre box offices
