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 age of 25, she has lost both her parents and feels trapped — unsure how to move forward. That begins to change when her old school friend, Owen, returns to the village with new ideas about the environment, coastal protection, and the power of community action.
“Carys’s journey is one of bravery, resilience and care,” says the company. “She’s inspired to make a difference, even when rallying her neighbours proves to be no easy task.”
A Village on the Edge
The play’s setting — a Welsh coastal village — provides a vivid backdrop and a microcosm of wider climate challenges. Through the eyes of locals such as Aunty Gwen, who struggles to keep her seafront café afloat, Tomos the farmer whose low-lying fields are at risk, and Bradley, an incomer eager to boost tourism with a watersports business, we see a community with contrasting perspectives and priorities.
“The seaside setting allows us to explore all sides of the debate,” explains the team. “We discover that nothing is wholly bad or good — everyone is trying to survive and make sense of change in their own way.”
From Idea to Stage
The Woman on the Hill has been in development since early 2024, moving through several creative stages — including research and development, music development, and script writing. “It’s been a long journey, but an exciting one,” says Mercury Theatre Wales. “We’re thrilled to finally bring it all together for audiences.”
Grounded in Real Experiences
Community voices are central to the project. “The input from local people during our initial discussion sessions and interviews ensures that the play feels authentic,” the company explains. “Audiences will recognise themselves, their neighbours, and their landscapes on stage.”
The team also worked with climate experts, gaining insights into the real and pressing dangers facing Wales’s coastal areas. “We’ll never forget the moment when the Chairman of the Wales Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee listed the coastal roads that are likely to be under water within the next 20 years,” they add. “These are places we love — and we hope this play will inspire communities to take action.”
Continuing the Conversation
Each performance of The Woman on the Hill is followed by a post-show discussion, an important part of Mercury Theatre Wales’s approach.
“Our productions often evoke strong emotions,” they explain. “We want to offer audiences a space to reflect, ask questions, and find out how they can get involved or take action themselves.”
The discussions also connect audience members with organisations offering support and practical ways to make a difference — ensuring that the play’s impact continues long after the curtain falls.
.
The Woman on the Hill premieres at Theatr Gwaun on 30 & 31 October 2025 (with a BSL-interpreted performance on 31 October by Cathryn McShane).
