Now the Hero

Nawr Yr Arwr Now the Hero

Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 September 6:30pm

A powerful memorial of conflict, protest, prose & performance.

September 2018

Three soldiers land on a smoke-filled Swansea beach...

Three warriors from different ages: WWl Celtic Contemporary. Together they run towards refuge.

As they sprint over the sand a peace protester bellows from a megaphone the opening lines of an ancient poem. The words resonate still. Tonight they will be sung...

Nawr Yr Arwr Now The Hero is a promenade theatrical experience that will take the audience on an extraordinary journey through three interweaving narratives of war; from the beautiful beach at Swansea Bay, to discovering artistic treasures in the city’s iconic Brangwyn Hall.

Nawr Yr Arwr Now the Hero is a landmark, site-specific project commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. Swansea Valley born interdisciplinary artist Marc Rees (P.A.R.A.D.E., {150}, Raw Material: Llareggub Revisted), working with a stellar creative team, brings to life the epic Celtic poem ‘Y Gododdin’ through an immersive Requiem.

The Requiem has a libretto by Welsh writer Owen Sheers (Mametz, The Passion) and will be sung by the Grammy nominated choir Polyphony. The music is composed by Owen Roberts, realised from an original collaboration, based upon the Brangwyn Hall organ, between Roberts and the late, Oscar nominated Jóhann Jóhannsson (The Theory of Everything, Arrival).

Nawr Yr Arwr Now the Hero is inspired by the British Empire Panels, an astonishing series of paintings by Frank Brangwyn, which are displayed in Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall.

Nawr Yr Arwr Now the Hero brings the stories of war to life with a counterpoint of peace and hope in a landmark Welsh cultural event for the final season of 14-18 now.

Nawr yr Arwr Now the Hero is a promenade performance beginning at Swansea Bay and leading the audience in and around the Brangwyn Hall.

The performance is approximately 2.5 hours long.

As a guide, the performance is recommended for age 12 years old and over.

Audio Description - Friday 28 September

BSL – Saturday 29 September