Ulster Touring Opera partnered with the National Eisteddfod Wales and Six Dance Collective to present a new large-scale music theatre adaptation of the iconic Irish story Nia Ben Aur. Alongside the professional Welsh singers, Irish dancers and international instrumentalists, over 300 community choir members brought the piece to life in Pontypridd this summer.
The production premiered on 3rd August 2024, half a century after the opening night of the original Nia Ben Aur at the Bro Myrddin Eisteddfod in 1974. Cymru Children’s Poet, Nia Morais created a brand-new script for the show, with musical direction from Patrick Rimes and Sam Humphreys. The performance featured choral arrangements by Richard Vaughan performed by the Eisteddfod Choir.
The National Eisteddfod Wales is a celebration of Welsh arts, culture, and language. Six Dance Collective are an Irish dance company dedicated to expanding audiences and deepening understanding of dance. A renowned cast brought Nia Ben Aur’s legendary characters to life: Bethan Mclean as Nia, Victoria Pugh as the storyteller, Gareth Elis as Osian, and Ioan Gwyn as the Boatman. The production was brought to the stage by prominent director Angharad Lee.
This partnership was made possible thanks to support from Culture Ireland.
