Jones The Dance Presents
Y Dewis
Sunday
12 May 2024
Life’s a game of choice.
Experience the cinematic game where you get to choose how the story goes, right in the heart of Cardiff
Language: English, Welsh & British Sign Language
Ages: 9+
Duration: Approx. 2 hours plus optional 20 minute post-show discussion
Experience the cinematic game where you get to choose how the story goes, right in the heart of Cardiff.
Join our hosts, a live MC and onscreen narrator Natura. Together, they'll transport you from the familiar surrounds of the Dance House to the epic clifftops of Anglesey. There, four young souls, each with a tale to tell, meet in the beautiful, desolate ruins of Porth Wen brickworks.
Mack just wants to be himself. Scared by previous experiences of him revealing his true self, he feels confined by society and the people around him.
Ez is confused about how to be a young man in a society that forces him to behave in a particular way. He longs to be liked but finds himself stumbling through interactions with people.
Indy calls herself a bad feminist, but it’s not her that makes her that way. The relentless gaze around her makes her check herself constantly.
Ieua suffers from crippling anxiety and other mental health issues. She can be obsessive and worries this turns people away from her. But she can’t help it.
And with the help of the MC, you get to choose how each of their stories unfolds. The collective choices you make will reveal surprises for each of them. Who knows? Maybe for you too.
This new experience created by Jones the Dance, is inspired by stories of young people across Wales’, exploring what it means to be figuring themselves out in the world today. The film is intimate, whilst being epic and cinematic, weaving together English, Welsh and BSL. With its mix of dance and story, all set against an exquisite natural backdrop that is engulfing an industrial past, it is a celebration of Wales, Welsh dance and the hope of young people.
Learn more about the film here
Short films made by Jones the Dance’s young company
Each performance includes a short film made by young dancers from around Wales, inspired by the film and the concept of who has the right to choose or not.
Languages
English, Welsh & British Sign Language (subtitles, VO and interpretation)
(The film is in three languages, with subtitles, VO and Sign language. The live element will be bilingual in Welsh and English with some performances in BSL and English Interpretation).
Suitable for
All ages but ideal from ages 9 upwards.
What you can expect
The performance is a mix of film and live performance where you, the audience, will be asked to choose what you want to happen next.
The whole evening is hosted by an MC. They will make themselves known to you as you arrive in the space for the performance. They will speak in either English or Welsh or both. For some performances the MC will be Deaf and will use sign language and they will be accompanied by an interpreter.
The film is centred around four characters and one narrator, all in their early twenties. You will be asked to make a series of choices as a group. You do this by raising your hand. You don’t have to if you would prefer not, you can simply sit back and watch the performance.
The narrator will use sign language in the film which will be voiced over in English and subtitled in English and Welsh. The other four characters speak but only as an internal dialogue which you get to hear or read on the screen. They will speak in either Welsh or English which will be subtitled in Welsh and English.
If you wish, a script of all of the text can be provided beforehand. We don’t want to give any secrets away about how we made the show so some things will be redacted or removed. Contact producer Kama via email
Following the performance
There will be a post show talk where you can sit and ask the MC or the makers of the show questions, share your thoughts or listen to what other people in the audience have to say. You don’t have to stay for this if you would prefer not to. It will last about 20 mins.
FREE FEEL IT WORKSHOP
As part of Y Dewis, ticket buyers have the opportunity to learn a bit more about the film, in a fun and easy workshop, just before the show. You will get to try out a little bit of the choreography in the film. The workshops last 30 minutes and start one hour before.
The workshops are ideal for families, suitable for all ages and abilities and won't be too strenuous. They will be led by Dancer Amber Howells/Rehearsal Director Eli Williams/Choreographer Gwyn Emberton
Y Dewis has been inspired by the stories of young people across Wales, and created and directed by Welsh Choreographer and Artistic Director of Jones the Dance, Gwyn Emberton.
No need to book - just turn up.
A Jones the Dance production made with Theatr Clwyd, Pontio, Dawns i Bawb, Deaf Hub Wales
Created, directed and choreographed by Gwyn Emberton, in collaboration with the performers and up and coming Swedish filmmakers Aaron Lindblom, Kenny Ly and Victor Söderlund Lundvall. Featuring a beautiful score by Siôn Trefor, renowned Welsh film, TV, and theatre composer, Sound design by Nick Davies, costume and set design by Lois Prys, and text by Iola Ynyr, Sarah Adedeji and Gwyn Emberton. Y Dewis is produced by Kama Roberts. It is supported by funding from Arts Council of Wales, Kulturrådet, Tŷ Cerdd, Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Trust, Magic Little Grant via Local Giving.
Permission to film at Porth Wen Brickworks was kindly given by its owners. It is an old, fragile, and extremely dangerous site. There is no public access. We kindly ask on behalf of the owners that you do not visit. We think you will enjoy its decaying beauty just as much in the film.
Jones the Dance was formed by choreographer and dancer Gwyn Emberton, who is now the Artistic Director, and Kate Perridge our Executive Producer.
We have been making, sharing, and presenting innovative and transformative contemporary dance shows, projects, workshops and summer schools that are forward looking, inclusive and adventurous since 2014. We aim to challenge who gets to experience dance and who gets to make it.
