Author name: Diana Budge

CAST YOUR VOTE TO DECIDE WHICH LANTERN LEADS THE PARADE  Two large-scale illuminated puppet figures, approximately 3 metres tall, each carried by a hidden puppeteer. One draws on the Welsh Goddesses Cerridwen and Rhiannon, figures of magic and transformation, the other portrays a White Stag, sacred messenger from the Otherworld. Decorated with symbolic imagery and brightly lit by LED lights, the two figures would interact with each other and the crowd throughout the parade. The Cwn Annwn — a spectral hound from Welsh mythology said to escort souls through the winter veil. This puppet stands around 2.5m tall, with white fur, blood-red ears, and floaty fabric trailing from its body. Built from willow, fairy lights, and reclaimed materials, it will be operated by two puppeteers and able to move freely through the crowd. A striking Ladi Wen lantern puppet inspired by Welsh folklore. The 3-metre floating ghost figure, built from willow, fabric, and glowing LED light, will lead the parade through the streets, with a moving arm for interaction and atmosphere. Community-made lanterns, including stars, ghosts, and seed-inspired designs. Two puppets inspired by Calan Gaeaf folklore. The Sun Giant — a very large figure with a glowing lantern head and […]

SPAN Arts has been commissioned to deliver a large-scale lantern parade event in Haverfordwest on Friday 30th of October 2026.   The parade aims to bring the community together in celebration of the town, its people, and Pembrokeshire. The parade and its theme will be shaped by the community, and we are looking for a lead artist/s to join us on this journey. Starting with the open call to artists and community choice of theme, the engagement will continue through a targeted program of lantern-making workshops, and large lantern commissions. All this will culminate in the grand parade itself accompanied by live music and ending with an iconic light-based celebratory performance, putting the town on the map in terms of its commitment to quality and innovation and leaving a legacy of increased civic pride and connection. SPAN is looking for artists to pitch visual concepts for the event, focusing on the design of large-scale lanterns/puppets that will be the centre point of the event. This year’s parade is inspired by the theme: Noson Galan Gaeaf. Long before trick-or-treat and pumpkin carving, Wales had its own ancient tradition on the night of 31st October. Literally meaning ‘Winter’s Eve’, Noson Galan Gaeaf was a night when the veil

New Theatre Show Explores the Realities of Motherhood in Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Writer Ceri Ashe (Bipolar Me, 99er, Farmers Townies & Grocles) and comedy writer-producer Angharad Tudor have been commissioned by SPAN Arts and Unlimited to create a bold new show, Enjoy Every Minute / Joia Bob Munud, offering a heartfelt exploration of the joys, challenges, and chaos of motherhood today. The project emerged from Ceri and Angharad’s own experiences navigating motherhood alongside mental health challenges. In 2025, the pair delivered a series of creative workshops for mothers of children aged four and under in Pembrokeshire, offering 13 free places to mums with no previous creative experience. Weekly sessions were hosted at Milford Haven Library and the Pill Social Centre, welcoming children but prioritising space for mothers to explore creativity and wellbeing. Over eight weeks, participants engaged in: Poetry with Angharad Tudor, using accessible and playful writing exercises Storytelling and journaling with Ceri Ashe, sharing personal experiences of motherhood in Pembrokeshire Singing with Musical Director Sara Benbow, creating a collective song Physical expression with Tessa Ryan Ceri Ashe and Angharad Tudor reflect:“While we valued mother-and-baby groups, we felt something was missing in Pembrokeshire — a space for mums to explore creativity,

Call for Community Choirs: Narberth A Cappella Concert 2026 SPAN Arts is excited to announce a call for Community Choirs to perform at the Narberth A Cappella Concert 2026! This unique event, celebrating a cappella voices, draws crowds from across the UK and offers choristers a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talents. Event Date: The concert will be held on Sunday April 12th 2026   Location: The event will take place at St Andrew’s Church, Church Street NARBERTH SA67 7BH Performance Slot: Each selected choir will have a 20-minute performance slot Submit Application: Email the performance samples, photograph, and video to info@span-arts.org.uk by the deadline. Deadline: Ensure your application is sent by Friday 23rd January 2026. About the Narberth A Cappella Festival and Concert. The Narberth A Cappella Festival, organised by SPAN Arts, is Wales’s only a cappella voice celebration. With over 25 years of history, the biennial festival focuses on community voices. With the full festival returning in 2027, this year we will be holding a Narberth A Cappella Concert for 2026. About SPAN Arts SPAN Arts is a Pembrokeshire-based charity dedicated to using the arts to drive social change in rural West Wales. We collaborate with local artists

Enjoy Every Minute: SINGERS CALL OUT Calling all Mother’s in Pembrokeshire!  Deadline: Friday 9 January Are you a mum, stepmum, god mum, cat mum, retired mum, or first-time mum? Need a fun break and some time just for you? SPAN and Unlimited are commissioning a new show with Ceri Ashe and Angharad Tudor exploring the highs and lows of motherhood in rural West Wales, and we’re looking for a group of mums to form a chorus singing comical alternative nursery rhymes. No need to learn anything by heart — lyrics will be provided. The process is low-pressure, fun and playful. Open and accessible to all. This is a voluntary role. To apply, email info@span-arts.org.uk with a few sentences about why you’d like to take part, plus your age and location. See Key Dates below KEY DATES Rehearsals: Wednesday the 4th March 2026. 7.30pm to 9pm – on Zoom  Saturday the 7th March 2026 3pm to 5pm Span Building, Narberth in person  Show: Saturday the 14th March 10am to 5pm Albany Hall. Haverfordwest. Rehearsal at 10am First show – 12pm Second show – 4pm Find out more here

The Woman on the Hill: A Story Rooted in Community and Climate Action Mercury Theatre Wales has long been known for creating powerful new theatre that reflects the voices and concerns of local communities. With The Woman on the Hill, the company turns its focus to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change — and the ways it affects the people and places closest to home. Inspiration from the Coast For years, the company had wanted to explore climate change on stage, but as Artistic Director Bethan Morgan explains, “It’s such a huge topic that it was difficult to know where to start.”That direction came during their first Research and Development phase, when Mercury Theatre Wales held community discussions around the Welsh coast. “It wasn’t until we began those conversations that the problems of rising sea levels and flooding really stood out as a starting point for the play,” says the team. “People spoke passionately about how climate change was not just an abstract issue, but something already shaping their lives.” Meet Carys – Courage, Loss, and Hope At the heart of the story is Carys, a young woman from a small Welsh seaside village. By

THE WOMAN ON THE HILL Mercury Theatre Wales – ‘The Woman on the Hill – Y Fenyw ar y Bryn’ A brand new production about climate change Mercury Theatre Wales presents The Woman on the Hill, a new theatre production exploring the impact of climate change on Welsh coastal communities. The story follows 25 years in the life of Carys, a woman living by the sea, whose loss of her partner inspires her to educate her village about the challenges of rising tides and environmental change. The production features seven original songs by Bethan Morgan and Dan Lawrence, performed by an ensemble of actor-musicians, blending storytelling, theatre, and music to make the complex issue of climate change accessible and engaging. Performances: Theatr Gwaun, Fishguard – Thursday 30th & Friday 31st October, 7:30pm Join us for this thought-provoking and inspiring show, followed by a short post-show discussion. For more information, contact info@mercurytheatrewales.co.uk There will be a short post-show discussion. Book here

Big Sky Workshops: Creative Journeys for Children in North Pembrokeshire   SPAN Arts are delighted to announce a brand-new series of free creative workshops for children aged 8–13 years in North Pembrokeshire, supported by Children in Need. The Big Sky Workshops are designed to support children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health through creativity, fun, and connection. Living in remote rural and island communities can sometimes feel isolating – these sessions offer a safe and inspiring space for young people to explore their imagination, learn new skills, and make new friends. Workshops take place fortnightly on Thursdays, 5pm – 6.30pm at Newport Boat Club, Parrog, Newport (SA42 0RP). Each is led by a talented professional artist who will guide children through exciting projects, from willow weaving to clay work, sun printing, and even animation. Here’s the line-up: 25 Sept & 9 Oct – Daisy Buckle (Willow Work): Weaving stars & textile dreamcatchers  23 Oct & 6 Nov – Suzon Lagarde (Cardboard Cutouts): Inside the Picture – create your own 3D scenes  20 Nov & 4 Dec – Brook Morgan (Illustration & Animation) Stop Motion Animation  8 Jan & 22 Jan – Linda Norris (Cyanotype & Fabric Printing): Winter Light – sun

Love Stories to Nature – Community Call Out    Join us to take part in our latest Love Stories to Nature project ‘Trysor y Môr’ (Treasure of the sea). Artist Deryn May will create an immersive installation using seaweed, light, film and sound.Join Deryn for the following sessions: At the Seashore –Collecting seaweed – 8th October  At SPAN Arts Narberth –Sewing seaweed – 15th October  Exhibition opening – 19th November  Welcome Wednesday – 26th November  Let us know you’re coming by emailing:info@span-arts.org.uk Book Here Previous Commissions Songs Of The Land / Canueon Y Tir by James Williams Natural Consequences by Gillian Stevens, Geraldine Hurl, Jackie Biggs, Tina Gould The Voice of The River by Katie Jones The Gentle Painting Project by Rhiannon Rees Becoming Nature by Lou Luddington  Mothers of Nature by Hannah Darby, Meg Haines, Emma Stevens Date Nature by Emily Laurens.  A Gathering Tide by Bronwen Gwillum & Gilly Booth – film coming soon. Our Branch the Stopped Singing by Billy Maxwell Taylor Songlines by Charlotte Cortazzi & Sue Kullai The Pull by Sam Walton Seed to Flight by Sarah Sharpe & Louise Carey Support Arts for Social Change with a one-off donation! YOUR in person donations add up to enough to fund half of

Enjoy Every Minute / Mwynha Pob Munud Eight weeks of free creative workshops in Milford Haven for mothers with children 5 and under Hi there fellow mamma! Are you looking for a space to breathe, unwind, and connect in a supportive space with other local mums? Join us for 8 weeks of free, creative workshops designed especially for mums of children aged 5 and under. WHEN? STARTING WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER running weekly until 12th NOVEMBER  (with a break for half term on the 29th October) WHAT TIME? 10am – 12pm (with a break. Free tea, coffee & cake and drinks and snacks for your little ones) WHERE? First four sessions: MILFORD HAVEN LIBRARY Last four sessions: THE PILL SOCIAL CENTRE, MILFORD HAVEN Right, that’s all the boring bits out the way, phew! Let us introduce ourselves! We are Ceri & Angharad. Two mums who work in the arts and both struggled with our mental health after having children. Finding moments to still be creative whilst juggling the rollercoaster of highs and lows of the postpartum period helped us cope and stay well. We want to offer support by sharing  these skills with you, so we have created this project – ENJOY EVERY

SPAN’s Big Sing! SPAN’s Big Sing brings Songs of the Land and Street Art Opera films to the Saundersfoot harbourside schooner! Event Details: Date: 24th of May Time: 7:30pm onwards Location: Saundersfoot Harbour Price: FREE. No booking required. Please contact info@span-arts.org.uk to discuss access requirements. Join us for SPAN’s Big Sing at Saundersfoot Harbour on the 24th of May. In this celebration of music, performance and song, we are joined by Music Theatre Wales with their new Street Art Opera films, and composer James Williams with the final massed choral performance of his Love Stories to Nature Commission, Songs of the Land. Songs of the Land is the final performance for SPAN’s most recent Love Stories to Nature Commission. In this project, James Williams has composed a choral piece of music that celebrates the coming together of stories gathered from choirs across Pembrokeshire, reflecting our changing relationship to the land. In this massed choral performance, all of the choirs who contributed to James’ composition will perform the final piece at Saundersfoot Harbourside for the first time. Stay with us until after dark, where Music Theatre Wales’ new Street Art Operas will enliven the Saundersfoot Coastal Schooner with large-scale, cinematic projections. These new

Swyn: A Spellbinding Outdoor Circus and Dance Show Celebrating Women, Ritual and Rural Life Comes to Pembrokeshire this Summer BOOK NOW This August, SPAN Arts is proud to present Swyn, a breathtaking new outdoor performance from Collective Flight Syrcas, staged in the heart of the lush and tranquil Colby Woodland Gardens. Surrounded by towering trees, birdsong, and the magic of the Pembrokeshire landscape, this unforgettable show invites audiences to pause, gather, and connect. Event Details: Location: The Meadow, Colby Woodland Gardens, Pembrokeshire Date: Saturday 2nd August 2025 Times: Performance 1 – 1pm | Performance 2 – 4pm (each approx. 45 minutes) Tickets: Pay What You Can – starting at £5 For ticket holders who need access support to attend, we offer a free ticket for their companion, carer or personal assistant. Contact 01834 869323 to book your carers ticket. Swyn (the Welsh word for “spell” or “charm”) is an atmospheric, multi-sensory experience that honours the women and the work that came before us. Through a powerful fusion of contemporary circus, acrobatic dance, bilingual storytelling, and original song, this performance evokes themes of memory, ancestry, and belonging. The show is performed on an outdoor aerial rig, surrounded by symbolic props—pails of

We’re excited to hear your creative ideas for new work that responds to the prompt ‘The Environment’ with consideration towards reducing feelings of climate anxiety. We invite working in any art form to explore environmental themes in fresh, innovative ways and contribute to a wider conversation on the importance of our natural world. Please read the full brief for the 2026-27 commissioning series Join Us for a Group Open Session: Tuesday 24th March & 26th July 2026, ahead of the submission deadline for round 2. We’ll be hosting an ‘open group session’ led online by the SPAN team, where you can connect with other creatives, ask questions, and get feedback on your ideas. It’s a great chance to share your vision and gain insight into how your work could fit into this environmental commission. How to Submit: You can share your idea with us through a written or video submission. The commission comes with a budget of up to £2,500 to support the development and realisation of your idea. Deadline for commissioning round one: 6 April 2026. A further submission window will open later in the year with an August deadline. We anticipate commissioning up to 2 of the 3-5