Who we are
Cardiff Cotswold Opera is a charity dedicated to improving access to high quality opera performances for new and less traditional audiences. We operate across South Wales and the South West of England, providing opportunities to emerging talent from the area as well as bringing exceptional talent from further afield to perform for audiences here
Bringing magic, mayhem, and mirth to an evening near you
As a performer-led charity dedicated to opening the world of opera to new and less traditional audiences, our main goals are:
Providing accessible, engaging, and enjoyable shows to new audiences in South Wales and the South West of England
Providing opportunities to showcase emerging talent from South Wales and the South West of England, including performers, musicians, and composers
Bringing exceptional talent to perform in South Wales and the South West of England, providing local access to the highest quality opera
Our mission is to engage our local communities in the wonderful world of opera through a variety of different means:
Tried-and-true classic operas, such as La bohème, The Barber of Seville, and Così fan tutte, performed with fresh takes in local venues that allow for rich and intimate audience experiences that appeal to first-time opera-goers as well as life-long fans
Exciting modern operas that present fresh perspectives on well known stories, such as Mansfield Park and Much Ado About Nothing, bringing something new and exciting to even the most avid Glyndebourne patron
Themed evenings and events where operatic favourites are showcased in fun and creative ways, such as murder and mayhem in our audience-favourite Murder at the Opera evening
Our history
Originally founded under the name Cardiff Opera by William Stevens and Thomas Mottershead whilst they were both studying singing and conducting, respectively, at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Starting with no funding or administrative support, they produced a successful debut production of Handel's 'Giulio Cesare in Egitto' at The Cornerstone in Cardiff, and a further ten shows between 2021 and 2024.
In 2023 Megan Strachan came aboard as a new co-creative director for the company and we began to reimagine our future as an expanding company and rebranded as Cardiff Cotswold Opera. We also began specialising in a unique intimate way of staging operas to allow the audience to feel completely immersed in the story. Despite limited resources we have always been an ambitious company determined to bring high quality operas and concerts to new audiences. We are lucky to have cultivated an incredible team of creatives working towards accessible operatic excellence within each of our projects.
Meet our Trustees
Megan Strachan
Founding Director and Trustee
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Founding Director and Trustee
As an opera singer herself Megan decided one day that she just had too much free time on her hands and decided to become a trustee and creative director of an opera company! The whole experience has been a complete rollercoaster and allowed Megan to see all the nuts and bolts that go into creating these gorgeous productions that bring joy to so many. Megan first ventured into this side of things in 2023 when she produced our first production of la Boheme in which she also sang Mimi… and found the singing to be by far the easiest bit. She is looking forward to the future challenges this company will bring.
Will Stevens
Founding Director and Trustee
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Founding Director and Trustee
Juliet Strachan
Trustee & Funding Manager
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Trustee and Funding Manager
As a market research and business professional, Juliet’s aim is to use her research and marketing skills to help more and more people, of all ages and previous experience of opera, to enjoy the fabulous creations that Cardiff Cotswold Opera produce. She says: “it is a real privilege to work with such a wonderfully talented and creative group of amazing young singers and production team.”
Sarah Bayley
Trustee
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Trustee
Christopher Calman
Trustee
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Trustee
Chris likes to think he represents 'the consumer' or, at least, the older consumer, having been enjoying Opera and Operetta now for over seventy years. After forty years in London general practice and medical education, he, and his wife Angela, have retired quietly to the country, only to discover the truth of the old adage 'how did we ever have time to go to work?!' They are very excited to be able to be involved in the development of Cardiff Cotswold Opera. "