Scottish Opera brings health project Breath Cycle to the stage

Scotland’s national opera company, Scottish Opera, is set to brings its health and arts initiative to the stage later this month. Breath Cycle, a project exploring the power of breath control and vocal training for those living with lung conditions, will come to The Beacon in Greenock (31 January) and Glasgow’s Tron Theatre (1 February).

The project brings together composer Gareth Williams and writer Martin O'Connor with tenor David Douglas, actor-songwriter Frances Thorburn and percussionist-songwriter Louis Abbott to perform songs created with participants in Breath Cycle workshops over the past three years.

Scottish Opera’s director of outreach and education Jane Davidson MBE said: ‘As we expand the Breath Cycle II programme in 2025, we're excited to bring these remarkable stories to the stage for the first time... These performances not only showcase personal journeys, but also raise awareness about respiratory health challenges facing many Scots. Audiences will even have the opportunity to experience some of our proven breathing exercises and vocal techniques firsthand.’

Originally developed in 2013 by Scottish Opera and Glasgow’s Gartnavel General Hospital West of Scotland Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Breath Cycle was repurposed during the pandemic to support those struggling with the effects of Long Covid.

Since Autumn 2021, nearly 500 people globally have taken part in the Breath Cycle sessions run by Scottish Opera artists, and over 3,000 individuals have accessed the project’s free online resources. Last year, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) joined forces with Scottish Opera to expand the project with online singing classes for people living with language disorder aphasia.