Everyone knows the famous Irish story of Nia Ben Aur, which is so close to our hearts here in Wales, thanks to T Gwynn Jones’ iconic poem, and the first Welsh language rock opera based on the legend and performed at the Eisteddfod exactly fifty years ago
The relationship between the two Celtic countries will be further highlighted in the Eisteddfod's new adaptation of Nia Ben Aur this year.
Dancers from Ireland will play a leading role in the show, taking place on Saturday and Monday night 3 and 5 August in the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod Pavilion in Pontypridd.
Cymru's Children's Poet Laureate, Nia Morais, has created a brand new script for the Nia Ben Aur show with new musical arrangements by Patrick Rimes and Sam Humphreys and re-imagined by director Angharad Lee.
The performance includes choral arrangements by Richard Vaughan which will be performed by the Eisteddfod choir.
Afon Dance, a local community dance group and tap dancers will also join the choir along with a professional cast bringing Nia Ben Aur’s legendary characters to life.
Joining the professional Welsh actors and instrumentalists, are Irish dancers, Nicola Kilmurry, from Dublin and Tadhg Quigley Brennan, from Donegal (via Six Collective).
Last month, the National Eisteddfod announced a new partnership with Ulster Touring Opera and Six Dance Collective to present dancers for the new adaptation.
Eisteddfod Artistic Director, Elen Elis, said, "It’s wonderful to collaborate with companies and artists working across Ireland’s borders to tell this well-known story, half a century after the first performance of Nia Ben Aur at the National Eisteddfod in Carmarthen in 1974."
Nicola Kilmurry is a versatile dancer who performs various dance styles.
While at the Central School of Ballet in London she performed in many theatres across the UK, and since graduating last summer she has worked with Ballet Ireland and Six Dance Collective.
Tadhg Quigley Brennan started dancing at the age of 10. After graduating he joined Ballet Ireland and has recently explored dance for film with the Irish band A Lazarus Soul.
Ulster Touring Opera is the only dedicated cross-border touring opera company in Ireland. They have received high praise for their pioneering programme to bring opera to every community.
Dafydd Hall Williams founded Ulster Touring Opera and has a strong Welsh connection as poet T Gwynn Jones was his grandfather.
As director and staff director, Dafydd has worked with companies across the UK and Ireland.
Six Dance Collective was founded by choreographer Ruaidhrí Maguire wo wanted audiences and artists across Northern Ireland to experience the richness and diversity that dance can offer to contemporary stories alongside presenting a popular classical repertoire.
Nia Ben Aur is a well-known Irish story. Nia (Niamh) falls in love with Osian (Oisín) and goes to Tír na nÓg - the land of youth - to get married.
They live happily in Tir na nÓg for three years but Osian is homesick and wishes to leave the magical kingdom to visit his family in Ireland. There’s definitely much more to the story, which will become clear in the new adaptation of this iconic story on the Pavilion stage.
Tickets for both performances are sold out.
The Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod will be held in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd from 3-10 August. For more details go to eisteddfod.cymru.