Wild Cat

Wild Cat is the third opera in WNO's groundbreaking conservation trilogy Land Sea Sky. The Carnegie Prize winning writer Berlie Doherty has written the libretto and Menna Elfyn, one of Wales's best-known poets, has provided the Welsh translations. The composer is Julian Philips, who is currently Composer-in-Residence at Glyndebourne Opear House and the director is Nik Ashton, who has previously directed WNO's Youth Opera (Candide) and is currently the revival director for La Boheme. 

The story of Wild Cat takes place in a small town at the foot of mountains where the young people are running wild and rumours abound of a terrible beast that eats lambs and haunts the backyards of the local population. Megan and her younger sister Catrin are haunted by the tales, so much so that Catrin runs away to find the wild cat's cave.

Megan's boyfriend Mark sets out to rescue Catrin and fight the wild cat, but along the way finds himself making a very different kind of journey, back to his past where he once lived at one with nature, understanding the special balance that must exist between the wild and the civilized. This message is cleverly woven into the story, which uses wonderful images from nature to conjure up a mysterious, poetical world where exotic animals fight back to reclaim land taken from them, poisoning peoples' dreams in revenge.

Primary and Junior Schools in North and West Wales will be performing Wild Cat in various theatres across Wales. WNO works with one or two primary schools in every area of the tour using choruses of local school children to perform alongside WNO singers and musicians for family and community audiences.

WNO's Singing Club will also be performing Wild Cat. They perform as part of the Land Sea Sky Trilogy in The Western Studio, WMC, in May.

WMC/ Western Studio Trilogy dates -
Friday 18th May
10am Redflight Barcud
12pm Dolffin
2pm Wild Cat

Saturday 19th May
2pm Redflight
3.30pm Dolffin
5pm Wild Cat

If you would like any further information regarding Wild Cat or the Land Sea Sky Trilogy please contact:
Paula Scott
Paula.scott@wno.org.uk /