Member Article

Autumn Wye Valley River Festival sound and fire installation to wow Tintern Abbey visitors

A unique sound, projection and fire night installation is to be staged at Tintern Abbey next month in the latest spectacular event for families to be produced by Wye Valley River Festival.

Tickets are now on sale for Shadows of Tintern which will take place in the historic abbey grounds on the Welsh bank of the River Wye on Friday 18th October and Saturday 19th October.

Following the success of this year’s Wye Valley River Festival in May, the organisers commissioned Mark Anderson, a visual sound artist and pyrotechnician working with Liam Walsh and Ulf Pedersen, specialists in art works using sound, light and space, to create this stunning installation.

Artistic director Phillippa Haynes said: “As the nights draw in we are pleased to again partner with Tintern Abbey and Cadw to bring site specific event Shadows of Tintern to the Wye Valley offering a captivating night out for all ages and a rare chance to walk around the abbey grounds after dark. 

“Mark Anderson and his team are alchemists of sound, light and space who will take visitors on a magical and evocative journey bringing the abbey to life which will draw your eyes to spaces less seen, listening to sounds usually unheard. 

“You can expect to see shadows dance across walls and light bouncing on ancient stone, with harmonic sound and light filling space to evoke time past, time present and future as modern artists breathe life into this magnificent structure. There will be delicious and warming autumnal treats provided by local independent suppliers offering spiced winter warmers, hot chocolate and food plus a bar on site.”    

Running until 10.30pm, doors open at 6.30pm with last entry at 9pm. Tickets are available via the festival website and priced at £10.50 for adults, £7 for children aged between five and 17 plus students with NUS cards. A family ticket costs £33 while children aged up to four get in free.

Mark Anderson works largely outside on temporary installations and performances which explore phenomena and perception, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival and UK events such as the Latitude arts and music festival and internationally as far afield as Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia.

Shadows of Tintern will be the second autumn live show delivered by Wye Valley River Festival CIC, an arts organisation led by artists and communities, following Alchemy and Artistry, a spectacular held in 2022 which saw the abbey grounds turned into a “fire garden”.

The 10-day main Festival programme held in May attracted family audiences to largely-free live music, feasts and theatre at venues along the Wye Valley. This year’s festival ecological theme was “the earth beneath our feet” to emphasise the importance of soil. 

Highlights included Farm Walk and Fodder, a tour on regenerative farming, three day interactive arts event We Weave the Woods, held at The Glade, Beechenhurst, and colourful parade Merry Monmouth Day followed by a full day of performances and activities in the town including a high flying show by No Fit State Circus, who performed acrobatics in constructions of bamboo.

The Festival, developed in partnership with Wye Valley National Landscape, is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, the Sustainable Development Fund, the Welsh Government, Cadw and Ashley Foundation. The summer event is held every two years to bring together local people, environmentalists and talented artists in an internationally important landscape.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Osborn Communications .