Music.
Theatre.
Wales.
Re-imagining opera
Our mission is to present opera as a contemporary artform, one that changes with the times. We aim to create new operatic work that is relatable to the world around us, finding stories and musical languages that resonate with today’s audiences. We are also committed to developing new ways of presenting opera so that we can reach those who currently feel excluded by the artform and by the image of opera.
As makers of new opera, we believe the way to make these changes is to collaborate with artists who are already amazing storytellers in music, but may have been excluded from opera. To achieve this, we’re offering opportunities for these artists to take ownership of opera, telling the stories they want to tell in their own musical and dramatic language, whilst using the opera tool kit – music, drama, emotionally charged and character-driven singing and theatre. And by “artists” we mean all the people who create work with us – from innovative composers and writers to community participant, young and old. We are inviting all of these creatives to Make their own opera, and make opera their own.
We are asking : What is opera? Who is making it? Who is it for?
Our Team
Michael McCarthy Director
Elayce Ismail Artistic Associate
Kathryn Joyce General Manager
Dylan Jenkins Communications and Marketing Manager
Abena-Mintaah Mensah Creative Producer
Jain Boon Project Facilitator and Workshop Leader
Catrin Slater Fundraiser
Our Values
We are committed to developing opera as an art-form that is representative and accessible for everyone and to achieving greater equality as an organisation and as an employer.
We want to learn and our work will be led by the creativity of the people we work with. We believe the only way to progress is to learn from the experience and knowledge of others.
We respect and nurture the potential of everyone we work with and will support their continued development whenever possible.
We value the arts and believe a healthy society needs the arts to thrive, to give voice to ideas and identities, to help us see and understand the world we live in, and to bring us together.
We are Welsh and proud to support and showcase Welsh talent, and to play our part in the well-being and cultural life of Wales.
Our Story
Founded in 1988 through the merger of Cardiff New Opera Group (co-founded by Michael McCarthy and Michael Rafferty in 1982) and St Donats Music Theatre Ensemble (founded by John Metcalf), Music Theatre Wales has been a pioneering force in new opera across the UK. Throughout our history we have created transformational opportunities for artists and audiences, working with many of the most acclaimed composers of our time, and we have helped shift the idea of what opera is, but we know there is a lot more to do.
Since 2022, the range of our work and the way we are working has evolved, but our core mission remains the same: To present opera as a contemporary artform. And by contemporary we mean NOW – as society is, responding to change. We see this as a creative opportunity as well as an imperative, seeking to share work in ways that is truly relevant and engaging. Everything we do will remain characterised by excellence – in creation and performance, in engagement and inclusion, in organisation and execution, in impact and responsibility.
We have created over 70 stage productions, including 25 world premieres plus 11 newly created digital works. Our programme includes new Street Art Operas, Community co-creations, Young People’s work, larger scale commissions for theatres and concert halls, Schools Storytelling Project, and performance work commissioned for ensemble, film and recorded sound.
We have a long tradition of working in partnership, with new collaborations in place with Sinfonia Cymru (with whom we have a new on-going partnership), FIO theatre company, Grange Pavilion, Loudoun Culture and Media Centre, Musicfest, Hijinx, Arts Active Trust, Wales Millenium Centre and Ty Cerdd and more to be announced. MTW was Associate Company at the Royal Opera House from 2001 – 2019.
We also have a long history of collaboration with international partners including Opera Philadelphia, Magdeburg Opera, Opera Nationale du Rhin, Berlin Festival, TIMF in South Korea, Opera Vest in Norway and more. In the UK, we have co-produced with The London Sinfonietta, Fio, Britten Pears Arts/Aldeburgh Festival, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, The Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera, Cheltenham Festival and Theatr Brycheiniog.
Board Members
Kerry Skidmore (Chair)
Christian Hey
Louis Gray
Elin Jones 
Kieran Jones
Katherine Macauley
Dylan Rees
Mehdi Razi
Phillippa Scammell
Prince Shodipe (Trainee Trustee)
Our Policies
Our policies are driven by our core values – our commitment to developing opera as an art-form that is representative and accessible for everyone and to achieving greater equality as an organisation and as an employer.
At MTW we want to ensure that everyone receives the opportunity to participate in the creation of new opera and we strive to identify and remove barriers, celebrate our differences, and create a space where everyone feels valued and respected. Our policies are devised and regularly reviewed with a commitment to creating and maintaining a safe, supportive and equitable environment for all people working for, or with, MTW.
Click here to see all of our policies.
Awards
MTW is grateful for core funding from:
And for project funding from:
Thanks to regular support from friends…
Chris Ball
David Anderson
Vernon Ellis Foundation
And thank you to our partners who are contributing to the work we are creating:
