Our part in the Ancient Connections project.
Ancient Connections was funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales co-operation programme and led by Pembrokeshire County Council, together with partners Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford.
We created two outdoor events, bringing theatre and spectacle to this unique, collaborative project. The project has enabled us to create a giant Saint David puppet and to work in collaboration. The final events took place in May 2022 and 2023 in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.
Artwork of Dewi Sant by Nayfe @ Nought Design
Highlights from the Pilgrim events brought to you by Small World Theatre.
The Pilgrim Fayre was a very special occasion on 29/5/23, with a programme of performance, song, guided walks, a medieval marketplace, traditional skills demos and film screenings. It marked the achievements of the Ancient Connections project in Wales and the launch of Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way, with a celebration of communities past and present and the historic and future links between North Wexford and North Pembrokeshire.
The Pilgrim Fayre day began with St Davids Cathedral and Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way joining forces to lead a guided walk linking Saint Aidan and Saint David. The group started with a musical send off by Côr Pawb and the Pererin Wyf / I am a pilgrim project, continuing along a path to the coast path and visiting St Non’s holy well. There were chances to join micro pilgrimages around St Davids Cathedral throughout the day and register for a guided walk.
Span Arts’ choir Côr Pawb invited all to Y Canu Mawr / The Big Sing, a short programme of pilgrimage-related song performed in St Davids Cathedral. The event was part of the Pererin Wyf / Is Oilithreach Mé / I am a Pilgrim project and culminated in a massed A Capella singing of the hymn ‘Pererin Wyf’ by William Williams, Pantycelyn. The concert was live-streamed by the Cathedral.
Small World Theatre returned with the giant puppet of Saint David and a 6m-long sea monster created for the 2nd event leading a procession of musicians, pupils from Ysgol Penrhyn, dignitaries and visitors from the Cross Square into the grounds of St Davids Cathedral. Saint David visited the giant bee skeps ‘Do the Little Things’ artwork by Bedwyr Williams, on his way to the festivities at the Fayre. Find out more about the skeps here ancient-connections/do-the-little-things and the giant puppet here.
A lively medieval marketplace in St Davids Bishop’s Palace hosted an array of exciting stalls showcasing some of the finest wares. There were mischief makers, meandering minstrels and holy relic sellers and surprise pop-up performances by Small Wolrd Theatre and its youth theatre, IBB.
Traditional crafts and skills used to build the Bishop’s Palace and St Davids Cathedral were demonstrated by The Tywi Centre hosting a Heritage Skills area (stonemasonry, thatching, decorative plasterwork, traditional carpentry, lime work and wood turning). tywicentre.org.uk
Visitors enjoyed the impact of the Ancient Connections project through a programme of films screened in the vaults of the Palace. The films feature artists’ and community commissions from Wales and Ireland. A list of film screenings and film makers coming soon.
PRESS
-
Pilgrim Fayre celebrates the ancient links between Wales and Ireland. 24/5/23
The Pilgrims’ Fayre promises to be a special occasion on 29 May 11am-6pm in St Davids Bishop’s Palace. The event boasts an exciting family-friendly programme of performance, song, guided walks, a medieval marketplace, traditional skills demos, and film screenings. It marks the achievements of the Ancient Connections project as it comes to a close and the launch of the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way, with a celebration of communities past and present and the historic and future links between North Wexford and North Pembrokeshire.
Rowan Matthiessen, Ancient Connections Project Manager said, “The Fayre is going to be an absolute feast for the senses and should be a fantastic bank-holiday day out for all the family. Small World Theatre never fails to disappoint in creating something fun and engaging for all.”
The event centres around a lively medieval marketplace hosting an array of exciting stalls. It will showcase some of the finest wares the area has to offer as well as delicious, award-winning food and drink, made from locally sourced ingredients. There’ll be mischief makers, meandering minstrels and holy relic sellers and surprise pop-up performances too.
-
Small World Theatre is delighted to return with the 3m-tall giant puppet of Saint David and a new 6m-long sea monster in a procession through Wales’ smallest city. Thanks to pupils from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, there will also be colourful costumes in the festival’s Pilgrim Parade leading spectators from the Cross Square into the grounds of St Davids Cathedral. Saint David will visit the giant bee skeps created by artist Bedwyr Williams on his way to join the fun of the Fayre.
Other activities include guided pilgrim walks, led by St Davids Cathedral and the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way; a massed choir performance in the Cathedral led by Span Arts’ choir Côr Pawb; A traditional skills demonstration marquee run by the Tywi Centre; and a programme of artists’ films and documentaries screened in the vaults of the Bishop’s Palace.
-
The day finishes with an open-air concert of ancient music from Wales and the Celtic nations performed by renowned folk musicians Julie Murphy, Ceri Rhys Matthews, and Jess Ward. A perfect end to a magnificent celebration in the impressive, historic setting of the ruined Palace.
Ancient Connections is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales co-operation programme and led by Pembrokeshire County Council, together with partners Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford
-
A Pilgrims Welcome 8/5/22
A giant Saint David created and performed by Small World Theatre, led a Pilgrims Welcome on 8 May 2022 in Pembrokeshire’s smallest city of St Davids.
Crowds joined the procession led by the giant patron saint and welcomed hundreds of spectators into the grounds of St Davids Cathedral. There were choirs singing music with an international flavour arranged by Span Arts. The party greeted the Ancient Connections’ Creative Camino artists as they complete the last leg of their pilgrimage journey.
Ancient Connections commissioned four performing artists to join a 'Creative Camino' pilgrimage. Artists Ailsa Richardson, Suzi McGregor, Bonnie Boux and Kate Powell are making the journey from Ferns to St Davids on foot. They will be trialling the new 130km trans-national pilgrimage route from Ferns, Co. Wexford to St Davids, Pembrokeshire which is being developed by the British Pilgrimage Trust. The artists will respond creatively to the stories, landscapes and people they encounter in short performances in the grounds of St Davids Cathedral.
-
"This project is set to revive and celebrate the ancient links between Ireland and Wales," said Rowan Matthiessen, Ancient Connections project manager, "We are very excited to be working with artists alongside communities in Ireland and Wales to rediscover our shared heritage and find connections in our modern lives".
Ancient Connections also commissioned Small World Theatre (Wales) and Lantern (Ireland) to bring the celebrations to local communities in four exciting events over two years.
"This a great opportunity for Small World Theatre to co-create with new partners in Ireland and Wales," said Ann Shrosbree, director of Small World Theatre. "We've already discovered so much in common, and we can't wait to introduce our beautiful new giant St David puppet to an audience in his hometown St Davids."
-
The artist-pilgrims will set off on their journey on Sunday 1 May with a spectacular community festival in Ferns, Co. Wexford; incorporating a lantern parade, costumes and a world premiere performance of a traditional Celtic music piece (composed especially for the event). They reach their destination on Sunday 8 May where they will be given a glorious Pembrokeshire welcome.
