THE 'six degrees of separation' theory contends that everyone in the world is connected by a chain of up to six people.

But the Welsh National Opera's production of Turandot, coming to The Mayflower this week, is connected to an Oscar-winning blockbuster movie franchise a lot more simply.

Peter Owen, who designed the wigs and make-up for the production, won an Oscar and a BAFTA for his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Indeed, fans of the films may notice that the actor who plays Timur in the opera looks remarkably like Gandalf in the films.

And it's not just the Lord of the Rings films that Peter has worked on.

From Tom Hanks' harrowed looks as the man dying of AIDS in Philadelphia to Michelle Pfeiffer's wigs in Up, Close and Personal, his credits read like the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

So we know the make-up for the Welsh National Opera's performances at The Mayflower should be good, but what about the music?

Given that the WNO are one of the premiere opera companies in the world there shouldn't be any disappointments on that score.

The company will be performing a new production of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos with celebrated soprano Janice Watson singing the role of Ariadne for the first time in her career.

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Ann Murray makes her debut in the title role of Iphigenie en Tauride and Italian soprano Francesca Patane makes her British debut in the title role of Puccini's Turandot.

The programme for Southampton also features Chorus!, a specially devised show to give first-time opera-goers a taster evening of some of the world's most popular music from some of the greatest operas ever written.

Tuesday to November 6.

The Mayflower, Southampton. Tickets: from £6. Box office: 023 8071 1833.