Librettist – Brendan Wheatley

Composer – Lenny Sayers

How do you beat loneliness? How do you learn to laugh again?

Busy young mum Gwen is at her wits end with her dad, Rhys, who’s hitting the whisky having lost his wife and son.

Bereaved and lonely, Rhys reluctantly joins his local Men’s Shed.

Experienced Shedders, Dai, Ioan and Charlie, with difficult stories of their own, show Rhys the ropes…woodworking, garden gnomes, and where the teabags live…

Our acclaimed new chamber opera, Shoulder to Shoulder, explores the issue of loneliness and isolation. Shoulder to Shoulder was developed through our partnership with the charity Men’s Sheds Cymru.

Shoulder To Shoulder is inspired by the moving, uplifting, and laugh out loud stories of members of Men’s Sheds Cymru.  The charity supports isolated men by creating warm and welcoming spaces where Shedders build friendships, enjoy hobbies, and learn new skills. And drink tea.

Swansea City Opera collected ‘Shedders’ stories of life’s ups and downs. Librettist Brendan Wheatley of Swansea City Opera created the story of a group of ‘Shedders’, and Lenny Sayers (BBC National Orchestra of Wales) composed the music.  The result is the chamber opera – Shoulder to Shoulder.

Shoulder to Shoulder is a powerful, uplifting exploration and often funny story of men overcoming isolation through their friendships made in their local Shed.

And a garden gnome becomes part of the story…