This year marks the 25th anniversary of the contemporary opera group Music Theatre Wales.
To celebrate they are reprising an opera that chronicled King George III's descent into madness long before the hit film about him gripped audiences worldwide.
Written by Peter Maxwell Davies in 1969, Eight Songs For A Mad King stars Kelvin Thomas in a soliloquy that is at times hysterical, harrowing and pathetic and will take viewers on a journey that explores delusion through a stream of consciousness.
Kelvin Thomas in Eight Songs For A Mad King. Photo: Clive Barda
Kelvin has played the role more than 100 times in theatres across the globe, so the mad monarch is a part very close to his heart.
I spoke to him as the company prepares to continue their touring production with dates in Aberystwyth, Mold and Buxton.
He said: "I think over the years I have really come to appreciate the depth of the piece. When I first came upon Eight Songs I thought it was a wonderful expressionist piece but now I see the many layers of it.
"There's such sadness to it, because at times King George is entirely deluded and then there are moments when he suddenly realises what is going on and his real mental state and that is very poignant.
"Over the years I have had many people come up to me after performances to tell me how it has affected them. I think it definitely touches a nerve and is quite harrowing in places."
Peter Maxwell Davies, known affectionately in the industry as Max, really captured the public's imagination with the opera when it was first staged.
And as he played a pivotal role in the genesis of Music Theatre Wales and is now its patron, they felt it a fitting tribute to re-stage the production as part of their birthday celebrations.
It draws on actual historic court records and references stories of the king singing extracts of The Messiah, speaking gibberish very quickly and teaching his pet birds to sing.
For a singer it is a demanding piece as it takes a lot of risks vocally, veering from the extreme high to the extreme low ends of each range and even involves screaming.
Kelvin Thomas as King George III. Photo: Clive Barda
Kelvin added: "I think Max wants people to feel sympathy for the king and that's always been the key for me in playing him. Although it is funny at times, it's not about poking fun at somebody with dementia; it's exploring a condition as it takes hold of him.
"It's not a big set production but more about the inner workings of his mind so it does require a level of intensity as a performer. I do always feel like I have exerted myself afterwards!"
Eight Songs will be performed alongside Vasco Mendonça's compelling new staging of Samuel Beckett's monologue Ping.
Portuguese composer, Vasco Mendonça describes Ping as "a multi-media fantasy for voice, video and performers". The work combines live performance with an electronic score and a video created by film maker Sandro Aguilar.
Eight Songs director Michael McCarthy will give a pre-show talk at all venues an hour before the performance begins.
It is showing at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 17 April and at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold on 18 April, and will show again at the Buxton Opera House as part of their festival in July.
For more information go to the Music Theatre Wales website.
