The Ballad of Blea Wyke

by Hannah Davies and Jack Woods directed by Em Whitfield Brooks

A young woman wants to see the sea. A stranger stands on a cliff. The last grey seal swims towards the shore. Evocative and lyrical folk storytelling that draws inspiration from the traditional Selkie myth, reimagined for a dystopian Yorkshire coast.

The Ballad of Blea Wyke was originally micro-commissioned by York Theatre Royal as part of Green Shoots. It was part of Scarborough Fringe 2025. It is presented in association with Next Door But One and Say Owt.

Inspired by the traditional selkie myth. This contemporary re-imagining is set against the dramatic landscape of the Yorkshire coast. When Cerys turns 18 she breaks the city’s lockdown and travels to the coastal cliffs that birthed her, the crumbling landscape drawing her back to her mythical past.

Lyrical spoken word storytelling with original live music.