The phantom coracle
This October 23rd, 24th, 25th at Cilgerran Castle artists Mark Anderson, Liam Walsh, Ulf Pedersen, Collective Flight Syrcas, local folk musician Mari Mathias, and Small World Theatre will collaborate with Think Creatively and Cadw on this cross-disciplinary project, drawing inspiration from Victorian photography by Tom Mathias and local folklore from Idris Mathias’s ‘Ghostly Tales of Old Cilgerran’. Transforming Cilgerran Castle into an immersive, after-dark, arts experience, blending fire, sound, light, and live performance
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THE STORY SO FAR
Tom’s subjects were wide and varied: Welsh ladies, quarries, farms, homes and buildings, slate quarries, the local gentry, events and everyday people
Photographer Paul Avis joined me in Cilgerran for a residency. The goal was to retrace and map the exact locations where some of Tom’s photographs were taken. To create a contemporary reflection of the Victorian era’s portrait sittings, Paul documented video portraits of present-day villagers, mirroring the duration their predecessors would have posed for the original photographers
Walking in the Shadows of Tom Mathias, video portraits
the bee
The Cortina
The Chair
The Coracle
RHWYFA DY GWCH DY HUN John Moses
Gan hynny’r ffordd i fynd trwy’r byd,
Yw parchu dyn fel dyn,
A chanu’n llon o hyd, o hyd,
Rhwyfa dy gwch dy hun.
-O’r “Frythones,” Medi, 1879.
Andrea Sutcliffe
What an incredible journey it’s been! It all began with a blog created during the research phase, which unexpectedly blossomed into something truly remarkable. Through that blog, Andrea Sutcliffe, Tom Mathias’s great-granddaughter from America, reached out via email. This was the beginning of a dear friendship and collaboration
This connection provided the opportunity to delve even deeper into the incredible stories of the Mathias women. Andrea generously shared their stories and is a writer and documenter of history, ‘Moses was a Welsh Man’
Tales were shared about a Welsh dresser that travelled all the way from Cilgerran to America, and the precious objects it held. As well as a jumper knitted by Tilla
Exploring the lives of four generations of women from the Mathias family, tracing their extraordinary journeys and how they adapted to significant changes throughout their lives
Beginning with Louise’s long, transitional journey from Switzerland to rural Wales. Where she met Tom Mathias in Castle Malgwyn during her work as a Swiss French governess, married him, and lived out her days on the smallholding, never to return to her own roots. While her son James was devoted to the family, her strong-hearted daughter Tilla longed for a family of her own. With a keen sense of adventure, Tilla seized the opportunity to break free from her mother’s influence
Next, we encounter Nesta, Tilla’s daughter, who grappled with guilt during a time of shared grief and immense change brought about by the Second World War. This period opened Nesta’s eyes to new possibilities for a life beyond her Welsh village. She met a GI soldier at a tea dance in the village hall, and in a remarkable twist of serendipity, the sharing “In Light of Tom Mathias” in 2015 actually took place on their wedding anniversary
Sometimes, the most incredible discoveries emerge from unexpected places and through the kindness of new connections. This certainly happened when Angharad had the immense pleasure of being introduced to Idris and Beryl Mathias with Andrea & Ed Sutcliffe. Their warmth and generosity immediately enriched and enlightened her to a hidden treasure: Idris’s remarkable collection of stories and a unique manuscript map he had illustrated of the lower River Teifi and can now be found digitised online (The National Library of Wales)
Idris worked alongside his colleague known as “John Post,” and had a unique vantage point into the heart of the community. Idris told us stories of John Post and that as he delivered the mail, he didn’t just drop letters; he collected whispers, anecdotes, and the rich, oral history of Cilgerran. He was, in essence, a route chronicler, documenting the tales that danced just beneath the surface of daily life. Idris also gathered these tales from people he met while creating the river map
After a series of truly memorable visits, Idris shared his life’s work: his collection of local folklore called “The Ghostly Tales of Old Cilgerran.” Each page was a testament to his dedication, capturing the essence of the local folklore he’d so carefully gathered. As Angharad delved into the spectral narratives, she was struck by their power and authenticity
It was more than just a collection of stories; it was a legacy. And in that moment, a promise was made: one day, Angharad would find a way to bring these ghostly tales to life through performance
Angharad took them away and photocopied each page which at the time took some hours and sent them to Andrea. Andrea edited the stories and published them in book form. That book led Andrea to do the same for two other books for Idris and one for Beryl, which recounted her time as a child evacuee to Wales at the start of WWII
A journey into Cilgerrans past in 2015, as part of the Cilgerran Festive week programme of activities. “In Light of Tom Mathias” revealed the stories behind the people and places in Tom Mathias; early 1900s photographs of village life
The voices of long-lost Cilgerran villagers retold tales of duty to family, the power of blood, community spirit and the effects of love and loss
The journey began from the riverside at the bottom of Rhiw Dolbadau by the River Teifi in Cilgerran, where an Invited audience visited locations along the journeThe local coracles emerged from the banks of the river, while the soundscapes created by John Rea resonated from each location With the final main performance following the lives of the women in Toms family took place at the Village Hall
This sharing took place with a small grant from the Arts Council of Wales helped kick things off, and it was the incredible support from others that truly brought this project to life. Theatre Mwldan, Walk the Plank, Rob Hill (Producer), Jo Munton who volunteered her time, the performers Lynne Hunter, Bethan Morgan and Nikki Hill, and Sarah Moore, Sarah Costello and Clare from the Cilgerran Players. The generosity of the Cilgerran villagers, contributing practical items like gravel and support in kind but, more importantly, donated their time and enthusiasm
Specifically Emyr Phillips and Heather Thomas who shared stories, songs and passion and dedication to preserving local heritage.
This experience was a powerful lesson in the strength of community and connection
Last year, during the festive week in Cilgerran, a wonderful reminder sparked an idea: it’s almost 10 years since “In Light of Tom Mathias”. The question arose – would we consider coming back to do something again next year?
Conversations and historical talks with Heather Thomas, Emyr Phillips and Sarah Moore only deepened this thought, reinforcing the vital importance of preserving our local heritage and stories. This truly planted a seed, and I’m thrilled to say, that seed begun to flourish!
After a few insightful site visits and some unexpected twists and turns, we’ve received fantastic news: we were successful in getting the Create funding from the Arts Council of Wales!
We’re absolutely delighted to have connected with the perfect creative team to bring this new project to Cilgerran
Dr Ffion Reynolds, Cadw Senior Heritage Events & Arts Manager, Cadw.
Artists Mark Anderson and Liam Walsh, sound, light & fire sculpture installations
Ulf Pederson light and projection.
Mari Mathias, Welsh folk musician and Mwsog Musicians, live performance and soundscape
Collective Flight Circus live performance, and community engagement
Small World Theatre creation and manipulation of a moveable puppet.
Design, Production, & Performance Students from University of Wales Trinity St Davids
Sarah Moore, Cilgerran Players, Cilgerran Community Council, Language & Heritage Committee, and volunteers
Get ready, Cilgerran – something special is on its way!
THE STORY
It is with immense pride that we look back on “The Phantom Coracle,” an unforgettable, immersive, after-dark arts experience that brought the magnificent walls of Cilgerran Castle in Pembrokeshire to light.
This project was a journey into the heart of community, local Welsh Folklore and history. Our passion, was to breathe new, creative interpretation into powerful local narratives. Drawing inspiration from evocative sources: the captivating Victorian photography of Tom Mathias and the compelling local folklore chronicled in Idris Mathias’s Ghostly Tales of Old Cilgerran.
This ambitious project was a true collective effort, supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Cadw – Dr Ffion Reynolds.
Our gratitude goes out to the incredible collaborative team of artists, Mark Anderson, Liam Walsh, and Ulf Pedersen, alongside folk musician Mari Mathias and musicians Grant Jones and Marcell Davies, Collective Flight Syrcas – Hannah Darby, Emma Stevens, and Jess Dickinson and Small World Theatre – Ann Shorsbree, Bill Hamblett, Jo Munton and wider team – Sam Vicary, Mair Bell.
The event was a cross-disciplinary blend of installation and live performance, transforming the castle grounds into a vast, illuminated canvas. The experience was a sensory mix of fire and light, set to intricate soundscapes created by Mari Mathias. These soundscapes masterfully blended with the voices of local villagers with recordings of Idris’s original stories, rooting the art deeply in the local community.
The night commenced with the spectacular arrival of the Golden Salmon of Knowledge, a magnificent, luminous creation by Small World Theatre, as it leaped across the Castle bridge. The Salmon was followed by six traditional coracles, carried in procession by members of the local fishing community, and a train of torchbearers. As the audience was invited to follow this illuminated spectacle through the castle gates, they were instantly transported into what felt like another realm: the mythical Welsh Otherworld, Annwn.
Within the castle walls, guests encountered Mark Anderson’s striking spinning rod installation, poised as if ready to tempt the Golden Salmon. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the Tower Installations, which beautifully symbolised birds and nature, and a moment of quiet contemplation could be found at the Bell Shrine Tower, which housed healing stones tied to one of Idris’s tales.
Mari Mathias’s live performance of music created bespoke to the ghostly tales. Performing live alongside fellow musicians Grant Jones and Marcell Davies, wove mesmerising songs of the salmon, the coracles, and the fishermen, incorporating the story of John the postman delivering letters and tall tales. This performance unfolded amidst a silent chorus of ghostly figures—Welsh ladies, fishermen, and characters drawn from Tom Mathias’s historic images—who moved silently and tended to fires, lending a profound, otherworldly feeling of mystery and presence to the castle grounds.
The performance in the inner castle walls reached its joyous finale with the vibrant energy of a flock of Welsh ladies and Collective Flight Syrcas, who danced to the upbeat sounds of “Rhwyfa Dy Gwch Dy Hun” (“Row Your Own Boat”). This closing song, composed by Mari and inspired by a poem from John Post, served as the final celebratory guide for the departing audience.
Their journey continued into the outer moat area, where they were immersed in stunning light projections by Ulf Pederson, featuring ghostly imagery and shared words. Collective Flight Syrcas offered a breathtaking aerial and movement performance, specially created to honour the Women of Pembrokeshire and inspired by a powerful photographic image by Tom Mathias of a Victorian woman with hair down to her feet being brushed. Mari and Max delivered a folk rendition of The Cilgerran Anthem to formally conclude the show.
A huge thank you to:
Students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the community, Sarah Moore, Max Morris, Leah, Meinir & Gwion Mathias and Claire who were absolutely phenomenal throughout their involvement in their roles as performers, production, fire keepers, and front of house.
Nia Morris and the staff at my favourite shop, Siop Y Pentre providing delicious refreshments on a cold and sometimes wet night.
Local Volunteers and castle guardians Adrian, and Christine who were always on hand with warm support and welcome as well as our Marketing team of volunteers Sarah Beynon, Sarah Moore and my mum Mari Evans.
The support from the community has been overwhelming, with all shows completely sold out and over half the audience walking to the site. Despite the incredible success, we faced the unpredictable power of nature. Audience and performer safety meant we regrettably had to cancel our final performance night, as the high winds forced the closure of the castle. We sincerely apologise to all those who missed out
What the Audience said?
