TALENTED performers are hoping to hit all the right notes in an opera about the town in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee.

The Janice Thompson Performance Trust is producing Swindon: The Opera, after winning £60,000 in the Jubilee People’s Millions last year.

Tickets went on sale for the opera this week and it will be performed at the Steam Museum in July.

JTP trustee Matt Fox, who is writing the opera, said: “It covers everything that has happened in Swindon; the major events over the past 60 years, such as the football in 1969 when we won the league cup.

“The whole point is that it covers it from the perspective of regular people.”

The action, which starts in 1952, centres around a fictional Swindon family called the Eveleys.

“You’ve got the two parents and their kids. It follows them right through until the present day and you have births, marriages and deaths, as you would expect,” he said.

“It is a realistic story with highs and lows. Not all of Swindon history is bright; it follows darker times too, things like the railway works closing down.

“They are an upbeat family. They have got this survivor thing, which I think Swindon has. The town seems to survive things that other places wouldn’t.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of interest in our project and were delighted to sell tickets instantly.

“The cast, JTP Trust choir and production team are working hard with rehearsals and it's encouraging to know that tickets are in demand.”

The trust was awarded the money after they were voted for by members of the public.

Husband and wife, Alison and James Canning, of Lawns, will be playing the lead roles of Mary and George Eveley.

Alison, who is a Year 1 teacher at Beechcroft Infants School, said: “It will be fun to play the wife of my real husband, and pretty convenient for practising our lines.

“The characters start off about 40 years old, so pretty much like us, and they are both into singing.

“We are really excited.”

Composed by London-based Betty Roe MBE, the production will form part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Rehearsals for the adult community choir start on April 16.

Swindon: The Opera will be at the Steam Museum on July 7 and 8, with two performances on each day.

Tickets, which are £10 for adults or £5 for children under 13, are available from the STEAM Museum by phoning 01793 466637.

For more information visit www.swindontheopera.co.uk or email swindontheopera@ gmail.com. – EMMA DUNN