Brecon is set to host a dance premiere focussed around the Epynt clearance of 1940.

Epynt is a dance production created with professional and non-professional performers and artists at Brecon's y Gaer, on Glamorgan Street.

Powys-based creative dance organisation Impelo has been leading the performance project, which has brought together local communities and professional performers to present historic stories and contemporary responses to the story of the Epynt clearance of 1940 through dance, music and theatre. 

The project explores themes of Welsh language, sense of place, displacement and the impact of the Epynt clearance.

The Epynt clerance was the forced eviction of the Mynydd Epynt community, where 200 men, women and children were evicted from their homes, which included 54 farms and a pub.

Responding to these themes, the professional team has collaborated with pupils at Ysgol Calon Cymru (Builth campus) and a wider community through a series of workshops and events to create a new contemporary dance piece that will be performed at y Gaer Museum and Library, this Friday, June 30.

The participating pupils have inspired the concept design of the set and costumes, music composition  and dance narrative alongside lead dance artist Bethan Cooper, dramaturg Naomi Keevil, dancers Jess Learner and Kim Noble, costume designer George Hampton Wale and musician Toby Hay.  

The research process for this project has engaged more 250 people who have taken part in social events at y Gaer, where historic photographs, films, writing and audio recordings and personal recollections shared; an Epynt themed evening with Brecon Folk Club and More at The Muse where music, songs and poetry created in response to the Epynt were performed; and a work-in-progress sharing at Ysgol Calon Cymru. Historic material has been provided from the archives at National Museum of Wales, National Library of Wales and the BBC Archive.  Further research planned will see pupils interviewing recently displaced Ukrainian people who are currently living in the Builth and Brecon areas. 

The Epynt clearance of 1940 saw the communities of Epynt and Bwlch-y-groes forced to leave their homes to make way for the military training site which remains operational today. Initially it was communicated that this was a temporary vacation lasting until the end of World War II, however this didn’t happen and the communities were permanently displaced.  

The performances take place on Friday, June 30 at 4pm and 6pm.