Lucy Mellors | Soprano Lucy Mellors

Soprano

“Unbearably truthful, painfully funny and exquisitely beautiful”

Biography

Lucy Mellors wearing a home made astronaut helmet in It Is I, Seagull, 2022

Soprano and comedy writer Lucy Mellors lives by the sea in Hampshire, which she loves. She also loves all things opera (except all-male creative teams) and wants everyone around her to love opera too. She currently has Artist Residencies at MAST Mayflower Studios and Proteus Theatre to develop It is I, Seagull, a show about self-esteem, joy, failure, opera and space travel, supported by Arts Council England.

Lucy graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with a Masters (Distinction) in Opera Performance, where she won the Valetta Iacopi Aria Prize, the Dolan-Evans Memorial Prize, and the David and Philippa Seligman Award for Excellence two years running. In 2021 she was an Emerging Artist at Longborough Festival Opera, playing the roles of Rooster and Jay in The Cunning Little Vixen (d. Olivia Fuchs, c. Justin Long) and covering the role of Despina Cosi fan tutte (d. Sam Brown, c. Lesley-Anne Sammons). In the short time between graduation and the stupid pandemic, Lucy performed roles such as Norina Don Pasquale (Burry Court Opera), Olympia/Antonia Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Grimeborn Festival) and covered Zerlina Don Giovanni for Longborough Festival Opera.

Other roles include Pamina The Magic Flute (d. Martin Constantine, c. Gareth Jones), Clorinda La Cenerentola (d. Martin Constantine, c. David Jones), Nella Gianni Schicchi (concert performance with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conducted by Carlo Rizzi), Rose Maurrant Street Scene (d. Martin Constantine, c. Wyn Davies), Bubikopf Der Kaiser von Atlantis (d. Polly Graham, c. Harry Ogg) and the title role in Semele with Mid Wales Opera (d. Martin Constantine, c. Nicholas Cleobury). Lucy has also worked with LiveArtShow on their new opera Sunshine Living, playing the role of Cherie.

Concert performances include Bach St Matthew Passion, Vivaldi Gloria, Mozart Requiem, Mass in C minor and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Poulenc Gloria, Schubert Mass in G, Brahms Requiem and Mendelssohn Hear My Prayer throughout the UK and Europe. Lucy continues to work with Anne Mason and Michael Pollock.

Lucy has worked as an Assistant Director for Welsh National Opera’s production of Crew!, for RWCMD’s production of Falstaff, for Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals’ joint production of Noye’s Fludde, and for English National Opera’s Opera Squad project. Directing credits include Britten’s The Little Sweep for Pocket Opera, as well as Bute Park Opera’s double bill of Vaughan Williams Riders to the Sea and Berkeley A Dinner Engagement.

Prior to training as a singer, Lucy was an actor in The Pantaloons theatre company, performing in national tours of Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), A Christmas Carol (Belle), Romeo & Juliet (Juliet/Tybalt), The Canterbury Tales (Second Nun/Emily), Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Dortchen) and The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily). She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Drama & English Literature from the University of Kent.

Lucy’s studies were generously supported by the following scholarships and foundations:
Leverhulme Scholarship, Richmond Douglas Charitable Trust, Sir Richard Stapley Trust, Sidney Perry Foundation, Aspinwall Educational Trust, Women’s Careers Foundation, South Square Trust, Yorkshire Ladies’ Council of Education, Mario Lanza Educational Foundation, and the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants.

It is I, Seagull is generously supported by Arts Council England, MAST Mayflower Studios and Proteus Theatre.

“…hilarious one minute and earth-shatteringly real the next.”

Performances

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

2022

31st March 2022 – It is I, Seagull (scratch performance) – Phoenix Theatre, Bordon

30th May 2022 – It is I, Seagull (work-in-progress) – MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

11th June 2022 – It is I, Seagull (work-in-progress) – MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

12th August 2022 – The Sounds of Summer – Stanley Park, Gosport

2nd December 2022 – IS OPERA BORING? – Phoenix Theatre, Bordon

2021

26th November 2021 – IF Opera launch concert – Belcombe Court, Bradford-Upon-Avon

20th November 2021 – It is I, Seagull (scratch performance) – MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

23rd June 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

26th June 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

29th June 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

1st July June 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

3rd July 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

4th July 2021 – Cosi fan tutte – Longborough Festival Opera (cover)

29th July 2021 – The Cunning Little Vixen – Longborough Festival Opera

31st July 2021 – The Cunning Little Vixen – Longborough Festival Opera

1st August – The Cunning Little Vixen – Longborough Festival Opera

3rd August – The Cunning Little Vixen – Longborough Festival Opera

2020

Spring & Summer 2020 – Opera Nightingale – in association with The Point Theatre, Eastleigh

2019

7th December 2019 – Poulenc Gloria – St Mary’s Church, Fairford

23rd October 2019 – Don Pasquale – Burry Port Opera

25th October 2019 – Don Pasquale – Burry Port Opera

26th October 2019 – Don Pasquale – Burry Port Opera

20th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

18th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

16th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

14th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

13th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

11th July 2019 – Don Giovanni – Longborough Festival Opera

19th May 2019 – Dvořák Stabat Mater – Capernwray Hall, Lancashire

11th May 2019 – Mozart Requiem / Schubert Mass in G – St Mary’s Church, Fairford

27th April 2019 – Dvořák Stabat Mater – Richmond, North Yorkshire

2018

5th December 2018 – Christmas Gala, Welsh National Opera – Exchange Hotel, Cardiff Bay

23rd August 2018 – Opera Gala concert – Rhosygilwen, West Wales

12th August 2018 – A Fantastic Bohemian (Tales of Hoffmann) – Arcola Theatre, London (Grimeborn Festival)

11th August 2018 – A Fantastic Bohemian (Tales of Hoffmann) – Arcola Theatre, London (Grimeborn Festival)

5th August 2018 – A Fantastic Bohemian (Tales of Hoffmann) – Arcola Theatre, London (Grimeborn Festival)

4th August 2018 – A Fantastic Bohemian (Tales of Hoffmann) – Arcola Theatre, London (Grimeborn Festival)

4th July 2018 – Ugly to Beautiful – Welsh National Opera La Cenerentola day – Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea

3rd July 2018 – The Magic Flute – Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

30th June 2018 – Midsummer’s Opera Gala – Blake Theatre, Monmouth

13th May 2018 – St Matthew Passion – Capernwray Hall, Lancashire

10th May 2018 – Gala concert – Dinas Powys Music Festival – Dinas Powys Methodist Church

8th May 2018 – Gala concert – Dinas Powys Music Festival – Dinas Powys Methodist Church

4th May 2018 – Gala concert – Friends of Welsh National Opera – St Peter’s Church, Swansea

13th April 2018 – Who Runs The World? – Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff

29th March 2018 – 7pm – La Cenerentola – Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD, Cardiff

28th March 2018 – 7pm – La Cenerentola – Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD, Cardiff

10th March 2018 – Hear My Prayer – Leeds Philharmonic, Leeds Cathedral

14th February 2018 – Les Chemins de L’amour – Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD

31st January 2018 – Lunchtime concert – Beulah URC, Cardiff

2017

16th December 2017 – Der Kaiser von Atlantis – Loud Mouth, Cardiff

6th December 2017 – Charity Christmas concert – St Mary’s Church, Cardiff

25th November 2017 – Gianni Schicchi – Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD

18th November 2017 – Gala concert – Radyr Golf Club

29th October 2017 – Gala concert – Evertshuis Theatre, Bodegraven, The Netherlands

28th October 2017 – Gala concert – Kunstmin Theatre, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

27th October 2017 – Sunshine Living – Weston Gallery, RWCMD

12th August 2017 – Gala concert – Mid Wales Opera – Powys Castle

23rd July 2017 – A Russian Summer – Mid Wales Opera – Gregynog, Newtown

3rd-5th July 2017 – Street Scene – Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

21st May 2017 – Masterclass with Roderick Williams – Ludlow Assembly Rooms

20th May 2017 – Young Composers Showcase – St Lawrence’s Church, Ludlow

18th May 2017 – Opera highlights concert – Marriott Hotel, Cardiff

30th March 2017 – Der Kaiser von Atlantis – Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD

26th February 2017 – Opera highlights concert at The Old Chapels, Glastonbury

25th February 2017 – Opera highlights concert at Ilminster Arts Centre

24th February 2017 – Opera highlights concert at Powderham Castle, Exeter (as part of the New Generation Artist Series)

14th February 2017 – Final of the Janet Price Prize for Opera – RWCMD

11th February 2017 – Semele – RWCMD and Mid Wales Opera – Richard Burton Theatre, Cardiff

9th February 2017 – Semele – RWCMD and Mid Wales Opera – Richard Burton Theatre, Cardiff

2016

2nd December 2016 – Opera Gala – Orchestra of Welsh National Opera – RWCMD

25th November 2016 – Scenes performance – RWCMD

16th November 2016 – Opera highlights concert – Friends of Welsh National Opera, Bristol

12th November 2016 – Opera highlights concert – Radyr Golf Club

10th – 21st October 2016 – Opera Squad – English National Opera

26th, 27th, 28th June 2016 – Falstaff – Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

2015

July – November 2015 – HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, The Gondoliers and Patience – National G&S Opera Company, national tour

May 2015 – The Beggar’s Opera – Opera’r Ddraig, The Gate theatre, Cardiff

February 2015 – The Little Sweep – Pocket Opera, St. Teilo’s Church, Cardiff

2014

December 2014 – Crew! – Welsh National Opera, Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff

July 2014 – Riders to the Sea and A Dinner Engagement – Bute Park Opera, Richard Burton Theatre, Cardiff

June 2014 – Vivaldi Gloria and Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore – San Paolo Dentro le Mura, Rome

June 2014 – Recital – Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall, Cardiff

March 2014 – Die Zauberflöte – Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

2013

December 2013 – Semele – Sforza, St Martin’s Church, Cardiff

August 2013 – Paul Bunyan – Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff

July 2013 – Opera scenes – Museo Pino Pascali, Polignano a Mare, Italy

June 2013 – L’Enfant et les Sortileges – Weston Gallery, RWCMD, Cardiff

May 2013 – Recital – Weston Gallery, RWCMD, Cardiff

February 2013 – Orpheus in the Underworld – Opera’r Ddraig, The Coal Exchange, Cardiff

January 2013 – Lunchtime concert – Weston Gallery, RWCMD, Cardiff

2012

December 2012 – Dido and Aeneas – Sforza Pembroke College, Oxford

November 2012 – Die Zauberflöte (scenes) – RWCMD, Cardiff

April – September 2012 – The Importance of Being Earnest and Grimm Fairy Tales – The Pantaloons, national tour

March 2012 – A Child of Our Time – St Cross Church, Winchester

February – March 2012 – Romeo and Juliet – The Pantaloons, national tour

2011

October – November 2011 – Macbeth– The Pantaloons, national tour

April – September 2011 – The Canterbury Tales – The Pantaloons, national tour

April 2011 – St Matthew Passion – Winchester Cathedral

February – April 2011 – Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth – The Pantaloons, national tour

2010

October 2010 – January 2011 – A Christmas Carol – The Pantaloons, national tour

May – September 2010 – Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth – The Pantaloons, national tour

It is I, Seagull

It is I, Seagull is a show in development, written and performed by Lucy Mellors, generously supported by Arts Council England, MAST Mayflower Studios and Proteus Theatre.

Inspired by Caroline Criado-Perez’s book Invisible Women, and the stories of Valentina Tereshkova (first woman in space) and Valentina Ponomaryova (almost the first woman in space), It is I, Seagull is a hilarious and brutally honest exploration of self-esteem, joy, failure, opera and space travel.

Designer: Claire Harvey

Songwriter: Kate Mellors

Dramaturg: Anna Carr

Playful brain: Kate Hadley

Composer: Laura Reid

Sound Designer: Matt Salvage

Producer: Molly Scarborough