In a theatrical journey back to the psychedelic heydays of the 1970s, Theatr na nÓg and Aberystwyth Arts Centre are set to embark on a UK tour with their hit musical play, “Operation Julie.” The production explores the captivating and tumultuous tale of Operation Julie, the greatest drugs bust in history, which unfolded over four decades ago in rural West Wales.
In the mid-1970s, West Wales found itself at the epicenter of Operation Julie, a groundbreaking police investigation that led to numerous arrests and the seizure of LSD valued at an astonishing £100 million. The musical play delves into the narrative from both sides of the drugs divide – the law enforcement officers tirelessly working on Operation Julie and the free-spirited hippies who sought an alternative way of life in the idyllic Welsh countryside.
Thrilling audiences once again, the musical play returns with many of the original cast members reprising their roles. Dan Bottomley joins the cast for a limited 8-week run, bringing to life the character of Alston “Smiles” Hughes. The tour is scheduled to visit Swindon this May as one of only two English theatres visited on the tour.
“Operation Julie” is not your typical musical play. Packed with songs, drama, and comedy, it unravels the extraordinary events that transpired in and around West Wales during an era when hippies sought an alternative lifestyle fueled by acid and a different perspective on life.
A chance clue following a car accident sets off a sequence of events that results in the discovery of the largest stash of LSD, impacting up to 60% of the world’s LSD market at that time.
Operation Julie will be playing at the Wyvern Theatre: 9th – 11th May 2024 with tickets available online.
