Y Weledigaeth

Devised, Designed and Performed by Gavin Skerritt

Our journey begins with the devastation of war, out of which a child is born - alone, innocent and curious.
Whilst wandering by the side of a lake the boy witnesses the appearance of a figure rising out of the still water. This vision has a strangeness that captivates him. The two are united and both concede that should the boy strike “three causeless blows” their union would be broken and the figure return to the lake.

Y Weledigaeth is a solo performance based loosely on a Welsh folk tale. Using movement, puppetry, poetry and song, the performance explores folk-ritual theatre and storytelling. It also questions our perception of language and its usage. What came first, the meaning or the sound?

Directed by Irene Hardy
Sound by Patrick Marmora

Y Weledigaeth is suitable for those above the age of 15. Welsh is the language of the production, and the performance concentrates more on rhythm and intensity of sound rather than on the exact meaning of each word. By so doing, it opens up the Welsh-speaking world, their stories and literature to a non Welsh-speaking audience. This language was deliberately chosen to give the performer freedom to rediscover sound, tone and rhythm as a means to communicate ideas and thoughts. Y Weledigaeth has been created for an international audience, to explore an old folk-tale’s symbolism and its relevance to us today. It uses language as pure expression rather than abstract thought, offering a few smiles along the way.