10 bilingual storytellers have been selected to help deliver a new Wales wide initiative which aims to support the Welsh storytelling sector in Wales, and tackle the impact of climate change on the night skies.

Cysur y Sêr (the comfort of the stars) is a Welsh-led and bilingual project that is about developing stories in Welsh, environmental respect and leaving an impactful legacy for future generations, leading up to performances Stars and their Consolations tour across Wales in March-April 2026.

Cysur y Sêr is a Wales wide project led by storytelling production company Adverse Camber, supported by Theatrau Sir Gâr, Arts Council Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Colwinston Foundation, The Darkley Trust, Welsh Government, Prosiect Nos Partnership and People Speak Up.

Over the next 6 months, 10 storytellers will be working with communities across Wales, including 10 venues involved in the tour, and collaborating as a group of experienced and emerging storytellers to explore themes and ways of working together in ways which are accessible and climate conscious.

An artist call out ran over the summer for Welsh language performers, artists, musicians and storytellers to be apply to be a part of this project.

The selected artists are Rhodri Trefor and Gillian Brownson from Ynys Môn/Anglesey; Fiona Collins from Dee Valley, Chris Baglin from Clwyd, Ceri Phillips from Llandeilo, Hedydd Hughes from North Pembrokeshire; Stacey Blythe from Cardiff, and Dan Mitchell from Pontardawe.

While all are storytellers, they can also draw on skills as a group in acting, stand-up comedy and music.

They will be joined by two storytelling project leads Tamar Eluned Williams from Cardiff and Mair Tomos Ifans from Mid Wales.

Over the next few months the team will be devising a programme of activities together, following a residential training session at Ty Newydd led by Welsh storytellers Tamar Eluned Williams and Mair Tomos Ifans.

The team are also excited to realise the exciting possibility of developing and discovering Welsh myths of star patterns with audiences and communities and finding out what happens when Greek myths of the stars are told in Welsh.

Tamar Eluned Williams lead Welsh Storyteller on Cysur y Sêr project is an award-winning storyteller who tells stories in Welsh and English.

She has performed in schools, museums, theatres, and forests, on beaches and (the strangest place to date!) once on the top deck of the number 45 bus in Birmingham. She has a vast repertoire of myths and legends and believes firmly that stories are for everyone.

Previous performances included Green Man Festival, Beyond the Border, Festival at the Edge, Village Stories Festival, Settle Stories, and Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. She has collaborated with National Museums Wales, Sinfonia Cymru and Green Squirrel to create storytelling commissions and performances for audiences of all ages.

Her first play, Huno, was produced by The Other Room in 2022, she was a Creative Curations artist for Tin Shed Theatre in 2024 and is currently an Associate Artist for Awen Cultural Trust.

Most recently, she created Mali a’r Môr/Mali and the Sea, a new bilingual storytelling show for early years audiences, which is currently touring libraries, schools, and festivals across the UK.

Tamar was awarded the national Young Storyteller of the Year Award in 2013 and the Gwobr Esyllt Harker Award for an emerging Welsh storyteller by Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival in 2016.

On the project, Tamar said: “The Stars project will enable lots of professional and creative development for storytellers in Wales, in particular those using Welsh in their practice.

“There's a growing interest in the art form, as well as in the repertoire of myths, legends, and folktales that we work with, and this project will allow us to explore and develop a new repertoire of stories in connection with the constellations and dark skies. We can also strengthen our creative networks, skill share, and continue developing a sustainable storytelling practice across Wales.”

Sesiwn y Sêr co-facilitator Mair Tomos Ifans will facilitate the majority of practice based Welsh Language storytelling sessions at Sesiwn y Sêr, drawing on her knowledge of myths and folktale including published Welsh language collections of Greek myth aimed at readers of the language but are very rarely heard through the medium of Cymraeg.

Another artist involved, Pembrokeshire’s Hedydd Hughes said: “Growing up in Fishguard on the North Pembrokeshire coast, I feel lucky to have been inspired by many storytellers.

“They shared local tales, folklore and legends, passing on knowledge about the landscape, its characters and day to day life. I am privileged to continue in that tradition.

“I now live near Strumble Head lighthouse where the contours of the landscape are illuminated every night by four flashes every 15 seconds. I am looking forward to joining the project, hoping to learn & share new stories about the night sky with many new friends.”

Cysur y Sêr will deliver activities in communities as part of Wales Dark Skies week in February 2026.

The project will also leave a lasting legacy which will housed at the People’s Collection at The National Library of Wales, which will be an audio collection of stories created by the storytellers involved in the project.

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We’re pleased to support Cysur y Sêr, a project that brings together storytelling, language and our natural heritage. By connecting communities with the night skies and Welsh myths, this initiative will preserve cultural heritage and inspire new stories for future generations.

“Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, it’s an example of how heritage can be both rooted in tradition and forward-looking.”

Following the project, there will be an English led performance of Stars and their Consolations, which will be toured across Wales in March-April 2026.

With three protected International Dark Sky Places within its borders, including two of only 18 ‘International Dark Sky Reserves’, Wales is now one of the top destinations in the world for stargazing.

The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) initiative, encourages communities to preserve and protect the world’s dark places through education and alternative lighting means. The association believes minimising light pollution is not only essential for the health of nocturnal wildlife, but also human wellbeing as well. (Wales.Com) Some Welsh language terms for constellations draw from Greek myths.

Knowledge around how the constellations help guide navigation (for coastal communities) and inform seasonal knowledge were deeply understood in earlier centuries, but now are in danger of dying out. Some of this knowledge is also embedded

in Welsh myths and folklore. Greek myths continue to hold popular sway in people’s imagination, shown by the popularity of Natalie Haynes, Netflix’s recent Kaos series, and Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming big budget version of The Odyssey.

Further details about the project and tour, can be found at: adversecamber.org

The project is supported by Theatrau Sir Gâr, Arts Council Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Colwinston Foundation, The Darkley Trust, Welsh Government, Literature Wales, Prosiect Nos Partnership and People Speak Up.

Stars and their Consolations was originally commissioned for Beyond the Border 2021 and its R&D was supported by Arts Council Wales & Tŷ Cerdd with support from Theatrau Sir Gâr.