A stage director who lives in Trafford will be directing a new version of a Sir Paul McCartney opera show in a world premiere in America this month.

Former Bury Church pupil Caroline Clegg is an internationally-acclaimed director with more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

Sir Paul and Carl Davis created Liverpool Oratorio in 1991 to celebrate the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society’s 150th anniversary.

And a new version of the show is an uplifting epic inspired by the legendary Beatles star's early life and is a powerful story, full of heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies that are immediately accessible and resonate deeply today.  

The new show will be performed for the first time by Cincinnati Opera when it opens at the Cincinnati Music Hall in America on Thursday, July 18, in a show Caroline will be directing.

She said: “I am delighted to be creating the first staging of this piece. 

"I am very fond of Liverpool, it is a city with warmth and wit and this piece is a passionate love letter to Paul’s home city.

“It asks us all to ponder the ups and downs of life, and to cherish what we have with our family. 

"I am privileged to be working with acclaimed stage designer Leslie Travers, a fellow northerner whose work I have admired for a long time.”

Caroline grew up on Haig Road in Bury and founded Manchester-based company Feelgood Theatre Production in 1994 where she remains as its dedicated CEO and artistic director.  

The theatre has employed 650 creatives through 35 original productions, 15 world premieres, 30 new compositions and 35 education programmes.

Caroline is an advocate for theatre and opera being accessible to all.

“I really hope we can bring this opera back to its hometown of Liverpool so those who it might resonate with the most actually get to experience it for themselves,” she added.

The original oratorio was recorded and performed in Liverpool Cathedral by Kiri Te Kanawa, Sally Burgess, Wilard White and Jerry Hadley with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus.