Olion

Name: Frân Wen
Price range: $

A modern myth in three parts

Bringing the legend of Arianrhod from the depths of the Mabinogi to the modern day.

In an innovative feat of storytelling, the OLION trilogy unfolds through a live theatre stage show, open-air theatre across the streets of Bangor, and a short film.

Join us this September as we journey from the depths of the sea to the heights of freedom.

🔗 Buy OLION tickets 🔗

Part I: Arianrhod
Pontio, Bangor
20 - 28 September 2024
All performances include English and Welsh captions

A live theatre show that reimagines the drowning of Caer Arianrhod.

The fortress is alive with hedonism, sex and spirituality as Arianrhod and her tribe of runaways prepare for a solar eclipse that promises to leave the pain of war behind and give way to a new age of light. But in that fateful moment of complete darkness when the moon covers the sun, they endure unspeakable violence and betrayal.

As Arianrhod continues to resist the demands of her ruling family, she triggers a devastating supernatural storm that sinks her fortress to the depths of the ocean.

Thousands of years later and her descendants are still hiding in fear on the ocean’s bed. Will they ever be tempted to leave and experience the forbidden land above for themselves?

Fusing live theatre, dance and music, this is a fierce story of one fateful night that reverberates through generations.

*Sold out*
Part II: The Underworld
Bangor Pier (and other locations)
28 September 2024
English synopsis available to download via QR code on the night

Arianrhod’s descendants emerge from the water but will they be welcomed with open arms? Or will their fears of what humanity is capable of become a reality?

Scenes will unfold across Bangor as dramatic confrontations and a thrilling rescue transforms into a celebration of difference, the acceptance of grief and the triumph of joy.

This is a free event but booking is required through Pontio website.

Part III: The Mother
Online
October 2024

The epilogue.

A short film using real footage from part I and II offers an intimate insight into the life of an ordinary family from Bangor.

But what happens when a psychedelic trip transforms the suburb of Hirael into the fantasy world of Caer Arianrhod?

Tickets

Tickets for Part I are on-sale through Pontio's website. Part II tickets are sold out.

In association with Pontio, Bangor with the support of GISDA and Storiel.

Age Guidance 16+

This production contains some disturbing scenes and is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Pontio for sharing their backstage interns. The internships are funded by the Arfor Fund.

Special thanks also to Ysgol Hirael, Theatr Bara Caws, Adra, Griffiths, Welsh Water and Huws Grey for their support.

Frân Wen receives core funding from Arts Council of Wales to support its programme.

Olion, which is a 15 month programme of activities is also supported by Cyngor Gwynedd. The project has received £252,911 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

News

OLION CAST

Community cast announcement

Who is Arianrhod?

Book Tickets

Book OLION tickets

Content Warning Part 1

Recommended age 16+

Part I contains scenes of strong language, death, traumatic birth, violence and sexual violence.

It also includes loud noises, smoke and flashing lights.

Further details of the content warning can be found here.

Advanced Info Part II

Important information before you see Part II

Capsiynau

All OLION performances (Part I and II) will include Welsh and English captions.

Please note that captions for Part II are for the Deaf / Hard of Hearing and you will need to reserve a portable captioning screen through Pontio. New or non Welsh language speakers will be able to access a translation summary on their phones via a QR code on the night.

BSL

BSL interpreted performances by Cathryn McShane:

PART I
Thursday 26 September (7.30pm
Saturday 28 September (2pm)

PART II
Saturday 28 September (6.30pm)

You will need to select the ACCESSIBLE ticket option when ordering to ensure you get the best view/access to the interpreter.

New Welsh language speakers / Non-Welsh speakers

PART I: Each performance includes Welsh and English captions. Select Accessible tickets to ensure best view of captioning screen.

PART II: English summary to download to your phone (via QR) on the night.

PART III: Subtitles and captions

Creative Team

Writers: Angharad Elen & Sera Moore Williams
Lead Dramaturg: Angharad Elen
Creative Director: Gethin Evans
Co-Director Part I and Choreographer Part II: Anthony Matsena
Visual Dramaturg and Director of Part II: Marc Rees
Set and Costume Designer: Elin Steele
Composer: Alex Comana
Sound System Designer: Sam Jones
Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Community Director: Elis Pari
Community Associate: Rebecca Wilson
Executive Producer: Jacob Gough (Deryncoch Cyf)
Creative Producer: Ceriann Williams
Production Managers: Bethan Davies & Lewis Williams
Stage Management: Gemma Thomas, Lisa Briddon, Amy Wildgoose, Alys Robinson, Ffion Taylor, Becca Moore, Hayley Thomas, Eve Wengel, Lleucu Williams and Llyr Edwards
Technical Manager: Joe Wilcox
Technicians: Carwyn Williams, Jeannette Baxter, Dan Jones, Ryley Finn Redhead, Sion Jones, Harri Hoskier, Simon Wilcox, Huw Evans, Osian Cai Evans
Site Manager: Dyfan Rhys
Intimacy and Wellbeing Cordination: Lisa Jen
Costume Supervisor Fenna de Jonge
Costume Maker: Nikita Verboon
Scenic artists: Kathryn Brown, Roxanne Spence and Vada Baldwin
Community Cast Cordinator: Lynwen Lloyd
BSL: Cathryn McShane-Kouyaté
Captioning: Niamh Moulton
Pontio Technical Director: Gwion Llwyd
Pontio Technicians: Delyth Williams, Dafydd Close-Thomas, Iolo Gwilym, Daniel Jones, Mari Evans, Cailix Lawrie
Photographer: Craig Fuller
Graphic Design: Rough Collie

In collaboration with GISDA, OLION has been developed with Lewis Williams, Eva Smith, Isaac Parsons, Keira Bailey-Hughes, Eleanor Parsons, Cefyn Williams, Mabon Williams, Sky Kiera-Louise Davies, Reece Moss Owen, Anya Davin-Easey Sherlock, Tamzin Amy Jones, Catrin Hughes, Lee Southgate, Christie Hallam-Rudd, Vex Vaughan, Shay & Con

In association with Pontio with support from GISDA and Storiel.

How to watch the trilogy

OLION is a unique trilogy in the form of a live stage theatre show (Part I: Arianrhod), a site-specific outdoor theatre production that starts from Bangor Pier (Part II: The Underworld), and a digital short film (Part III: The Mother) which will be available on-line.