Introducing... Our First Prosiect 40°C Artists

After an open call for artists, we're thrilled to announce the artists who will take part in the Gwreiddioli residency, the first step in Prosiect 40°C – a new long-term project responding to the climate crisis. With support from Natural Resources Wales, the Gwreiddioli residency will take place on 28 – 31 August 2023 at the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth.

The artists are: Leo Drayton, Richard Huw Morgan, Steffan Phillips, clare e. potter and Talulah Thomas. Guided by lead artist Dylan Huw, the 5 multidisciplinary artists will spend 4 days at the Centre for Alternative Technology to listen, challenge, co-imagine and develop creative ideas. This is a transformative opportunity for the group to ambitiously explore the potential of their work, to push the boundaries of theatre and to challenge common preconceptions about the climate crisis.

As part of the Gwreiddioli residency, the 5 artists will take part in sessions led by guest artists and experts from various fields: Eddie Ladd, Marva Jackson Lord and Becca Voelcker. They will also work with Fin Jordão from the Centre for Alternative Technology and enjoy time with Steffan Donnelly, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Artistic Director, and Joe Roberts, Lead Specialist Advisor for Natural Resources Wales.

The Gwreiddioli residency is the start of Prosiect 40°C, a response to the critical moment last year when the Met Office recorded the highest ever temperature in the UK. The aim of this 4-year-long, multilayered project is to discover different and creative means to challenge old ways of responding to natural disasters and to explore how the medium of live theatre can broaden our understanding of the climate crisis as an intrinsic part of life in Wales today.

Lead artist Dylan Huw said:

“I can’t wait to see what kinds of ideas and generative tensions arise from gathering the five artists and activists together in the unique setting of CAT at the end of the month. The artists have very different career backgrounds, artistic perspectives and ways of working, but they all share an open-minded curiosity for the challenge of creating art during a world-wide emergency, from a Welsh and Welsh-language angle. The process of starting to get to know them – through their applications and through conversations leading up to the residency – has already inspired, challenged and educated me, and I’m very excited to see what legacies come from our time together.”       

Steffan Donnelly, Artistic Director for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, is looking forward to gathering these special artists together during the residency. Steffan said:

“We’re so happy to welcome clare, Leo, Richard, Steffan and Talulah as the first Prosiect 40°C artists. As a company, this is the first time that we have launched a project like this that responds to the climate emergency and underpins our commitment to operating greener. This special project has the exciting potential to challenge and change our ways of working, kickstarting ideas and showing how Welsh-language theatre can respond to the ecological disaster. I’m looking forward to joining the group, hearing about their experiences and learning from them.”