NATIONAL THEATRE WALES
Watch the year two trailer

In Barmouth

For Mountain, Sand & Sea

June 2010

Conceived and curated by
MARC REES

Creative collaborator
BENEDICT ANDERSON

Creative producer
SIÂN THOMAS

Collaborating artists
GARETH CLARK
HOLLY DAVEY
MAREGA PALSER
CAI TOMOS
GUILLERMO WEICKERT

About the production

Marc Rees’ artworks are known for their flamboyant, humorous and often extreme interpretations of history, culture and personal experience. In addition to working with some of Britain’s foremost physical theatre companies (Brith Gof, Earthfall and DV8) his own body of work through his company RIPE (Rees International Projects Enterprise) has been premiered throughout Europe and the UK. He recently won the Wales bid for the Cultural Olympiad project‘Artists Taking the Lead’ for which he will transport the fuselage of a DC9 aeroplane across Wales as a mobile art space.

For Mountain, Sand & Sea followed in the footsteps of the Victorian excursionist that once visited the Welsh cost during the summer months.

Split into two groups, one would explore the mountains while the other went off to the seaside. In 'For Mountain, Sand & Sea' National Theatre Wales invited the audience to become excursionists for the day, and explore the hidden history of Barmouth.

Artists from around the world together with the local community made 'For Mountain, Sand & Sea' a theatrical event not to be missed.

An active online community followed the show, ranging from blogs, to images, discussions and more. Examples can be seen to the right of this page, or to read more please click here

Community

The Guardian

Lyn Gardner responds to the work of National Theatre Wales"With three productions down of its baker'… by Michael Salmon

Barmouth Blog

Last night, a walk across Barmouth railway bridge yiedled this stunning 'red sky at night' view. Ear… by John McGrath

What the critics said

The Daily Telegraph ****
"the show awakens an appetite for deeper discovery... You ache to linger
longer. "
Read the full review here

Blown Magazine
I could have happily watched it all over again, straight away, no messing. That doesn’t often happen too often in the theatre in Wales, so I doff my sailor’s cap to a talented, gifted, crew who showed us wonders in a small seaside town.
Read the full review here

Western Mail
"thought-provoking, informative and the stories are cleverly interwoven. We were rewarded for our efforts."
Read the full review here

Buzz
'National Theatre Wales' latest show is a triumph; a magical realist excursion that transcends time and space.....'
Read the full review here

Video archive

An online archive of video accompanied 'For Mountain, Sand & Sea', including interviews with the performers, the curator Marc Rees, trailers and more. Use the video player here to view more.

Programme

A 16 page newspaper style programme accompanied 'For Mountain, Sand & Sea', with images from the archive, remembrances, and much more. You can read the digital version here

For Mountain, Sand & Sea

Curated by leading Welsh Artist, Marc Rees, ‘For Mountain, Sand & Sea’ takes the stories of a seaside town - the memories, anecdotes and reflections of its inhabitants - and transforms them into an evocative creative experience. Part art installation, and part adventure playground; bring your walking boots and your waterproofs, or let us know if you need to opt for a gentler alternative.

Marc Rees, Curator

‘It all started with an opportunity to explore the Welsh seaside – we went on a tour of the coastline of Wales and chose Barmouth. Apparently Darwin wrote part of the Origin of Species here and John Ruskin and Wordsworth came here, so you have this fantastic arts and literature connection. Along the high street, there are many chapels which are now ‘Pound Shops’ – there’s one with a cash register in the pulpit and you’ve got inflatable crocodiles hanging from the gallery and the church organ – you can almost hear the congregation scream in horror! We’re hoping to find a chapel we can use for this production and we’ll encourage the international performance artists to take people on guided tours of Barmouth.’