BOLTON'S own opera company, Opera '74, has recruited a youthful team for its May production, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

Musical director is Carl Penlington-Williams, currently in his final year at Royal Northern College of music, and producer is Ryan Ellershaw, a graduate of Manchester University, with a wealth of experience in professional theatre.

Carl is a talented young musician who started his career as a chorister in Wales, later singing with the Welsh National Opera. He was coach for several opera companies in South Wales and while still a student he conducted Il Travatore for Preston and Wilmslow opera companies. Carl is artistic director for North West Opera and although extremely busy says he is looking forward to his first production in Bolton.

Ryan has been an assistant director for the RNCM production, The Marriage of Figaro and for Angels in America at the Library Theatre.

He has also been involved with workshops for young offenders and with Theatre in Education. Ryan is currently working with the Opera '74 chorus to bring energy and vitality to the staging of Eugene Onegin.

The opera itself is the most popular of Tchaikovsky's 10 operas, containing some of his most lyrical and vibrant music. Based on a famous piece of Russian literature by Alexander Pushkin, the story travels from an idyllic country estate to the grandeur of the St Petersburg Ball.

Set in the 1820s the lives of Onegin and Tatiana become entwined, later revealing a realisation of wasted youth and lost love. The action takes place at the end of the Napoleonic wars and this production promises the sumptuous costume of the time, together with elaborate sets and classic music.

Jane Hyde and Claire Ormshaw share the role of Tatiana, Stephen Wells is Onegin, Gary Davis appears as Lenski, and Karina Lucas as Olga.

The production will be performed in English, and is staged from Wednesday to Saturday, May 9 to 12 at the Albert Halls.

Tickets are from the Albert Halls Ticket Office, or by telephoning 592064.