NOW THE HERO \ NAWR YR ARWR − IMMERSIVE THEATRE IN SWANSEA Now the Hero\ Nawr yr Arwr, an immersive theatre production staged in Swansea in 2018, involved 228 artists, 137 community performers, over 300 volunteers, 25 delivery partners and attracted 18,000 visitors to its performances and to Now for More, a mini-festival of cultural events that ran alongside the production. The production was part of the UK’s 14-18 NOW programme and was also the opening event of the 2018 Swansea International Festival. Created by Marc Rees, Now the Hero / Nawr yr Arwr was inspired by several sources including the British Empire Panels, a series of paintings by Frank Brangwyn originally created for the House of Lords to honour the dead of the First World War and now displayed in Brangwyn’s Hall in Swansea, as well as the medieval Welsh poem ‘Y Gododdin’. The multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory and multi-venue production explored an epic journey that linked Celtic history, the First World War and 21st century conflicts, and moved from Swansea Bay beach to the Brangwyn Hall. Throughout the production there was a narrative of war and peace. Left and above: Now the Hero \ Nawr yr Arwr, part of 14-18 NOW, Swansea © Warren Orchard
The musical score included a libretto by Owen Sheers and sung by world famous choir Polyphony who performed in Wales and in Welsh for the first time. In addition, artist Owen Griffiths created GRAFT, a new garden and community workshop space at the National Waterfront Museum where the edible plants depicted in the panels were grown and served as a soup to the audience. Find out more: www.nowthehero.wales Quotes from participants: ‘Nawr yr Arwr was an utterly transformative experience for me. … There was a tremendous camaraderie among the diverse group of people involved in Nawr yr Arwr … . All in all, a rather amazing opportunity for an inexperienced 17-year old art student: one which re-ignited my creativity and firmly set me on a career path in collaborative arts.’ George ‘ I’m not one for being sentimental but it has been an honour to be a part of such an amazing performance with such an important message. Thanks for the chance to be a part of it.’ Anon Quotes from audience members: ‘ To have the space and time to meditate on these historical events is very important and that’s something that I certainly did today.’ ‘ Being with my mates and being emotionally affected by the whole experience and being very, very proud that it’s in Swansea.’ ‘Something that’s going to stay with me, I think forever really.’
CYMRU’N COFIO WALES REMEMBERS 1914−1918 |
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