Arts-producing organisation Mr Wilson’s present visual theatre and song project Opal’s Comet, the canal-based production conceived and written by Sonya ‘Boo’ Moorhead. Opal’s Comet is a journeying song cycle, and has been touring since late August along the UK’s inland waterways and is performed from a canal boat.

This Autumn, Opal’s Comet has been on a performance tour of the North of the UK, having visited Burnley Canal Festival, Littleborough Arts Festival, HOME MCR as part of Manchester Folk Festival, and culminating in an appearance at Light Night Wigan on 18-19 November.

Drawing on creation myths and oral storytelling tradition, Opal’s Comet is a tragic, short story written by Mr Wilson’s Artistic Director Sonya ‘Boo’ Moorhead. In response to recent global and personal events the story was written in 2021 and takes an allegorical form. It questions how we might navigate personal grief, loss and transformation as, globally, we veer towards social collapse and climate crisis.

Sonya ‘Boo’ Moorhead says:
“In 2020 and 2021 our families and communities experienced so much sadness and loss. Mr Wilson’s is known for colourful, musical celebrations but not everyone is ready to jump back into that. This year we have created something exceptionally beautiful and hopeful; Opal’s Comet meets people on their own terms, in their own neighbourhood and offers time and space to reflect.”