Holst’s The Planets
Mark’s collaboration with conductor Craig Roberts on Gustav Holst’s The Planets began in 2008, bringing together live brass music, projected imagery and spoken introductions exploring the science and cultural significance of each planet. Performances included the Welsh Brass Arts Festival and the National Museum of Wales, with the project returning in 2025 for the Oriana Festival at St Elvan’s, Aberdare. On 4 October 2025, Mark presented the suite in the magnificent setting of Bath Abbey, performed by the combined City of Bristol and Lewis Merthyr brass bands under Craig Roberts’ direction.
The Red Lady of Paviland
Mark presented The Red Lady of Paviland at its premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on 1 April 2010, providing narration and audiovisual material that connected music with science, history and Welsh mythology. At the heart of the production was Y Dyn Unig (The Lonely Man), a cantata composed by Andrew Powell with a libretto by Menna Elfyn, inspired by the prehistoric burial discovered in Paviland Cave on the Gower Peninsula. Conducted by Craig Roberts, the performance brought together tenor Robyn Lyn, Royal Harpist Claire Jones, Burry Port Town Band, Côr Seingar and local children’s choirs.
The War of the Worlds
On 30 October 2025, Mark joined Anastazia Lowri and Craig Roberts at St Elvan’s, Aberdare, for a live production of Orson Welles’ celebrated 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. The performance brought Wells’ tale of Martian invasion to life through spoken drama. Mark and others took on roles originally performed by Welles, bringing Mark’s longstanding interest in science fiction into a theatrical setting.
