Dragon’s Breath - Anadl Y Ddraig

Dragon’s Breath was an immersive after dark event experience that merged fire, music, poetry and performance, set against the backdrop of one of Wales’ most iconic landmarks. A festival of fire, folklore, fantasy and Welsh culture, Dragon's Breath illuminated the National Botanic Garden of Wales over four nights.

The event was a sensory nightime fire-trail that showcased the magic of the garden after dark, and featured intricate hand-crafted fire sculptures, harmonised with performances from artists, poets and musicians who imparted to visitors the spectacular story of the Dragon’s Breath – an environmental allegory - as they made their way along the fire-lit pathways of the Botanic Garden. 

As the experience unfolded it told the tale of a dying dragon who had abandoned its home on the coast of Rhossili on the nearby Gower Peninsula to find sanctuary in the lake behind the Garden’s iconic Great Glasshouse. Here, dotted around the garden visitors discovered young apothecary fire gardeners mixing potions to heal the dragon while also trying to protect the plants and landscape from the dragon’s fire. Through poetry and song that is rich with Celtic resonance, visitors saw that while the earth might be burning, hope lies with young people and their ability to heal the world. 

Hope was the central tenet of the event’s message, with a connecting aim to shine a spotlight on the National Botanic Garden of Wales’ reputation as an internationally renowned centre for biodiversity, conservation and research. 

Featuring the poetry of Dylan Thomas and new work from Children Poet’s Laureate 2021 – 2023, Connor Allen, the bold event offered visitors, both young and old, an enchanting and thought provoking evening. 

We also partnered the University of Wales Trinity St David, to provide hands on learning to students from the BA Acting, BA Set Design & Production, BA Digital Media Production, and BA Adventure Filmmaking courses. 

In early October, Liz Pugh facilitated a masterclass to the acting students who feature as the Fire Garden performers. 

Thank you to the students involved, we appreciate your hard work and creativity and couldn’t have done it without you.  

Commissioned by National Botanic Garden of Wales, produced by Walk the Plank, in partnership with UWTSD.