Kerdroya & The Vanishing Labyrinths of the Isles of Scilly plus Q&A

Cornish Labyrinths: Kerdroya & The Vanishing Labyrinths of the Isles of Scilly

Head down to The Poly for two Cornish short films:

Kerdroya & The Cornish Hedge

From Artistic Director, Will Coleman and Filmmaker, Gemma Gilbert.

Kerdroya, the Cornish Landscape Labyrinth, is a work of Slow Art.

The Classical Labyrinth icon is a 4,000-year-old visual symbol found across the proto-Celtic world and beyond, inviting the pilgrim along its meditative pathway.

Cornish Hedges are the oldest structures on the planet still in use for their original function, an ecologically benevolent craft handed down aurally through countless generations.  

In the middle of Bodmin Moor, Kerdroya entwines these two ancient cultural phenomena and launches them into the future as a beacon of hope for those yet to come.

Vanishing Labyrinths of the Isles of Scilly

From artists Teän Roberts and Layan Harman

A public art project celebrating the history, culture, and folklore surrounding the phenomenon of pebble mazes on the Isles of Scilly

A short film about Scilly's labyrinths. Expect gorgeous footage from the islands featuring Scilly's stunning labyrinths, a look at the history of the mazes, documentation of the restoration and celebration of Giant's Castle Maze.

The Isles of Scilly - a small archipelago twenty-eight miles from the south west tip of Cornwall - have an iconic and enigmatic labyrinth heritage unique to the British Isles. 

Labyrinths are ancient symbols of pilgrimage, folklore and sea-faring superstition - sparking curiosity and imagination. So perhaps it is only fitting that a folk-culture of labyrinth building emerged on the islands, which are so rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. 

However, very little is known about Scilly’s labyrinths. Their important story is largely untold, and most people - visitors and islanders alike - are unaware of their significance. Because of this, they are vulnerable. Many have already vanished from the coast paths - their stones rolled aside in high winds, overgrown by vegetation, or covered by shifting sands - and now they survive only in memory.  This community art project aims to lift up the importance of Scilly’s labyrinths. 

Plus Q&A from artists Teän Roberts and Layan Harman and Artistic Director of Kerdroya & The Cornish Hedge Will Coleman

Part of The Poly's Cornish Stories On Screen film season. With support of the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK.

Cornish Labyrinths: Kerdroya & The Vanishing Labyrinths of the Isles of Scilly

Friday 7th August, 7.30pm

Tickets:  £9.50/£8.00/£7.70/£7.00

A £1 Poly Fund payment is added to each ticket sold. A 50p booking fee is also applied per ticket for online and telephone transactions.

Please be aware films will start at the advertised time, we rarely show adverts and usually show under 5 minutes of trailers.