Theatr Cymru, Wales' national theatre dedicated to Welsh-language productions, is embarking on its first international tour in over ten years, bringing their acclaimed children’s show Dawns y Ceirw to Japan this autumn.

This tour features cultural exchange workshops with Ainu artists at UPOPOY, highlighting a collaboration between Wales and Japan that explores minoritised languages and cultural practices as part of the Year of Wales and Japan 2025 initiative.

Dawns y Ceirw, written and performed by Casi Wyn, tells the story of a lonely deer’s journey of discovery, emphasizing themes of courage, friendship, and belonging through a blend of live performance, music, and movement.

The show will be performed at the Setagaya Public Theatre in Tokyo on October 18-19 and at the UPOPOY National Ainu Museum in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on October 22, with performances featuring real-time Japanese captions via the Sibrwd app and Japanese narration in translation.

Aiming to introduce Japanese audiences to Welsh language and culture, the bilingual production features original music by Casi Wyn and Japanese narration by Miki Yamazaki, voiced by Susan Hingley.

This international tour is supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Wales Arts International, the British Council, and the Welsh Government, with the goal of fostering global cultural connections and showcasing Welsh creativity on the world stage.