The award winning production 'WW1: a Village Opera' is to be re-staged in multi-media form to mark the World War One armistice in November. And it’s now secured sufficient funding to cover all the costs involved.

The opera, written by Llangwm-based composer Samuel Howley and Newport poet Peter George, and sung by local people, was performed over five nights to sell-out audiences in Llangwm , Haverfordwest and Newport in November 2014.

It went on to win its category in the UK-wide Remember WW1 2016 awards, where it was described as ‘truly commendable, and an inspiration.’ The original production was Lottery funded, but when the organisation behind the project, Llangwm Local History Society, decided it needed more resources, the Armed Forces Covenant – set up by the Ministry of Defence to support ties between the forces and the community – stepped in.

They also funded a concert version of the opera sung at the St David’s Cathedral Music Festival in 2016.

And the Armed Forces Covenant have now agreed to fund the new production in its entirety, at the Follies Theatre, Folly Farm on November 10.

Organiser Liz Rawlings says news of the funding was the best Christmas present ever – even if it did come a bit late.

“Ever since the 2014 production we’ve been hoping against hope that we could do it all again in 2018.

“The Covenant were encouraging but under their rules we weren’t allowed to apply until November, which was perilously close to having to make decisions about the new production, even down to booking the theatre.

“I was unsure about the result as we had already received two grants from them - a third might have been one step too far.

“But they obviously liked what we have achieved in the two previous projects.

“Now Peter and Sam have been able to get on with the job of writing to fit the new format”.

This new production draws on visual resources such as wartime film and posters, as well as present day photographs of Llangwm.

Director Carol Mackintosh said: “It’s very exciting to add this new dimension to the project which involves collaborating closely with Peter and Sam."

in what will be an almost endless editing and re-imagining of the story. , who has the job of knitting it all together is under no illusions about the size of the challenge.

“We’re adding film which will be shot around the village of Llangwm with choir members and local children, together with archive footage and still photographs to enhance the story of the two young lovers, Tom and Mary, whose lives were so changed by the war.

“It’s very exciting to add this new dimension to the project which involves collaborating closely with Peter and Sam in what will be an almost endless editing and re-imagining of the story.

“But we’ll be able to use the facilities at Folly Farm and so ensure a new experience of the show for those who saw earlier versions”.