MID Wales Opera’s new production of William Walton’s The Bear is coming to Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran on November 10.

MWO’s music director Jonathan Lyness has created a new version of this hilarious 20th Century comedy for just three singers and five musicians.

Experience opera like never before as MWO ‘Small-Stages’ presents its first ever micro-chamber performances with a brand new version of this hilarious one-act comedy classic

Composed in 1967 and based on Anton Chekhov’s play of the same name, The Bear tells the tale of the widow, Mme Popova, unendingly mourning the death of her husband until the arrival of the rough-hewn yet charismatic land agent, Smirnov (the “bear” of the title) demanding payment of debts.

Passions run high and their sparring culminates in a duel during which the two appear to have fallen unexpectedly in love.

With world-class singers and musicians, including Adam Green as Smirnov, Carolyn Dobbin as Popova and Matthew Buswell as Luka, The Bear is full of entertainment, parody and great tunes and is ideal for opera first-timers, and a real treat for those who know this rarely performed piece well.

Jonathan Lyness says: “The Bear is a brilliant introduction for audiences new to opera and a fabulous opportunity for all music lovers to hear Walton’s great comedy classic; in its 50th anniversary year these chamber-scale performances are designed to have the widest possible appeal.”

MWO’s artist director Richard Studer writes: "What is exciting about this project is working with community venues to present professional opera in areas under-represented by the traditional touring model at an accessible price (typically under £10).

“It also gives an opportunity for performers and audience to engage directly with each other in informal settings, celebrating some of the great and sometimes neglected 20th century comic repertoire.”

The 16-venue tour is part of the R17 commemorations across Wales to mark the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution – and the second half of the performance at Rhosygilwen continues MWO’s Russian theme.

Join the cast, musicians and directors of MWO for an informal reimagining of Pushkin’s great party scene from Eugene Onegin and its 'entertainments'. Tatyana's Party Pieces is a mix of music, poetry and prose, some familiar, some less so as a prelude to MWO’s performances of Tchaikovsky's great opera Eugene Onegin, touring in spring 2018.

MWO Small Stages is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation, Foyle Foundation and Arts Council of Wales. Performed by arrangement with Oxford University Press. For more information go to www.midwalesopera.co.uk.

Tickets for The Bear on November 10 (8pm-10.30pm) are available from rhosygilwen.co.uk priced £10 or call 01239 841387.