It will be a performance, but also the making of a short film. 'NON' was born out of Heledd's year long work as a Future Wales Fellow, a programme funded by the Arts Council of Wales and Natural Resources Wales to look at creative ways to address Climate Justice. Her focus has been the great potential of Hemp for Wales - for oil, fibre, protein and milk.
'NON' is a promenade performance that celebrates Saint David's mother - St Non - the 'mother earth' who taught him to do the little things, to slow down, to reflect, to share a gentle vision. And in how slowing down like Non, we can discover a wealth of wisdom and opportunity on how to care for ourselves and a future Wales.
'NON' invites us as an audience on a 20 minute walk through the gentle greenery of trees, weaving together past and future as she walks through stories she shares with us about hemp - its use and importance from 7 thousand years ago, into the future.
In striking theatrical costume made entirely of hemp, NON offers a symbolic, meditative, and personal performance with striking images and beautiful moments, taking inspiration from Theatre Noh. In slowing down NON also helps us as the audience also find balance – needed in a fast human world powered by oil and crisis. Sparking our curiosity and humour, NON asks us to see surprising and sustainable ways of sowing, growing, harvesting, eating and making - ensuring the wellbeing of the future generations of all living beings on our planet.
Heledd Wyn - Creative director
Heledd Wyn is a passionate and experienced visual artist, director and producer who creates dramatic stories and creative content for film, exhibitions and television. She has worked in the film and television industry and within the world of education, and has gained a reputation for delivering quality projects. 'NON' is part of her work as a Future Wales Fellow, a year long programme 2022/23 in which she has explored the great potential of the Hemp crop for Wales, with support from the Arts Council of Wales and Natural Resources Wales. https://heleddwyn.co.uk
Rhys Slade-Jones: Performer
Rhys Slade-Jones' practice bridges cabaret, performance and craft and deals with ideas about place, history and identity. Rhys is also a Future Wales Fellow. https://www.instagram.com/boparhys