Capturing the Stories of the Stars: Greek Myths Reimagined for Welsh Theatre Audiences
This spring, Welsh arts audiences are invited to look up.
A spellbinding new theatre experience, Stars and their Consolations, brings classic Greek myths of the constellations to life in an intimate, visually rich production touring Welsh theatre venues across the country — including The Riverfront Newport.
Created by internationally respected storytellers Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton, and produced by Adverse Camber Productions, this unique performance weaves ancient tales of gods, mortals and the night sky with an immersive electro-acoustic score by award-winning Welsh composer Sarah Lianne Lewis.
Part storytelling, part soundscape, part celestial journey, Stars and their Consolations reimagines the myths behind Orion, Pegasus, the Pleiades, Sirius and even the Milky Way itself, inviting audiences into a world where the heavens and human experience are deeply entwined.
Ancient Myths, Contemporary Welsh Theatre
Originally developed in collaboration with Morden, Lupton and Lewis, the production grew out of its early sharing at Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival in west Wales. This new theatre and rural touring version expands that vision into a majestic yet intimate piece of Welsh theatre, combining:
live, masterful storytelling
projected animations of the night sky
and a spine-tingling electro-acoustic soundscape
The result is a hypnotic and accessible way to encounter stories that have been told around fires for thousands of years.
“Stars and their Consolations is a way of restoring the night sky,” says Daniel Morden. “Ever since humanity has existed, we have used stories to understand our experiences. When we listen to these myths we are connecting with our ancestors. It is as if a hand has reached out from the past and taken our own, and we feel less alone.”
Across two richly layered hours, audiences witness the gods at play — merciless, passionate, proud — in stories of lust, transformation and fate, all set against the vast, eternal sweep of the cosmos. The production offers not only wonder, but perspective: a reminder that human troubles sit within something far older and larger.
Stories, Community and Wales’ Dark Skies
While the performance draws on Greek mythology, it resonates powerfully in Wales — home to some of the best protected night skies in the world and a growing interest in Dark Sky watching.
“Stories shared together help to bring people together,” says producer Naomi Wilds of Adverse Camber. “We all live under the same sky, though it can look very different depending on where you are standing. Star-related stories help us remember constellation patterns, mark seasonal changes, and even warn us about risks to our health and ecology from light pollution. Through sharing stories, we’re reminded of the immense value of the night sky and why we need to protect it for future generations.”
Running alongside the tour is Cysur y Sêr (The Comfort of the Stars), a Welsh-led, bilingual project working with ten storytellers across Wales. Supported by partners including Arts Council of Wales and the Prosiect Nos Partnership, the six-month initiative explores Welsh-language storytelling, the environmental impact of light pollution and climate change, and the deep cultural relationship between people and the night sky.
The project will culminate around Dark Skies Week in February 2026, connecting directly with the March–April tour and leaving a lasting storytelling legacy in communities near the venues.
Daniel Morden reflects: “The Welsh landscape used to be populated with stories. So many Welsh place names come from stories, many of which have been forgotten. The same is true of the heavens. If Stars and their Consolations helps make the night sky magical and precious again, perhaps we will do more to protect it.”
Tour Dates Across Wales
Stars and their Consolations tours Welsh theatre venues in Spring 2026:
Ffwrnes Studio, Llanelli – 21 March*
Torch Theatre, Milford Haven – 24 March
The Riverfront, Newport – 25 March
Borough Theatre, Abergavenny – 26 March
Henbant – 28 March
Llangoed Hall – 29 March
Theatr Clwyd, Mold – 30 March*
Aberystwyth Arts Centre – 31 March*
Pontardawe Arts Centre – 1 April
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff – 2 April*
*BSL performances, interpreted by Cathryn McShane.
Blending myth, music and the majesty of the cosmos, Stars and their Consolations is a luminous addition to the Welsh arts calendar — a reminder that under the same sky, stories still help us find our way.
Further details about the production and project can be found at Adverse Camber’s website here. Supported by Theatrau Sir Gâr, Arts Council of Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Colwinston Foundation, The Darkley Trust, Welsh Government, Literature Wales, Prosiect Nos Partnership and People Speak Up.
