And Breathe: An Immersive Film Exploring Calm, Creativity and Our Relationship with the Sea
On Blue Monday, Monday 19th January, Market Hall Devonport will host a special preview of And Breathe, a new immersive film by artist and participatory filmmaker Megan Roberts, created through a residency as part of the Sea for Yourself programme.
And Breathe is a gentle yet powerful invitation to slow down, reflect, and reconnect; with the sea, with creativity, and with ourselves. Developed through a series of community workshops with Plymouth residents aged 55+, the project explores how time spent by the ocean can support wellbeing, emotional regulation, and a sense of care for the natural world.
Megan Roberts describes herself as a participatory filmmaker, where process is as important as the final artwork. Rather than arriving with a fixed script or outcome, And Breathe was co-designed with participants through collage-making, sound recording, coastal walking and shared reflection.
“And Breathe was born out of a curiosity to explore how filmmaking can be co-designed rather than authored. With each project, I try to move further away from work that feels centred on my own perspective, and closer to processes shaped by participant contributions.””
What's On Plymouth Culture's Community Reporter Victoria Lammie, who attended multiple workshops, described the experience as deeply calming and connective.
“Spending a couple of hours with Megan was a very tranquil way to start my Saturday. The sea has long been known for its positive effects on mental wellbeing, and much like art, can have incredible therapeutic benefits.”
Across the workshop series, participants were invited to explore what stress feels like in their bodies and how the sea offers release, grounding and joy. Using fabrics, textures, sound and conversation, they created collages representing both stress and calm. These collages now form the visual and emotional backbone of the film.
“Everyone’s collage looked completely different - just as stress does in real life.”
The workshops also created space for shared storytelling. Participants spoke openly about grief, caring responsibilities, loss, brain fog and the pressures of everyday life, alongside moments of peace found by the water.
“My aim was always to create a safe container in which participants could share as much or as little as they like. I didn’t anticipate how much they would share and how tender those moments of recognition would be.”
An immersive experience in the Dome
Rather than a conventional film And Breathe has been created as a 15-minute immersive 360° experience, shown inside Market Hall’s Full Dome. The film weaves together animated collages, collectively-built soundscapes, and footage captured during coastal walks, allowing many voices and sensations to coexist.
“As much a love letter to the sea as it is a reflection on what we bring to it and how deeply we rely on it in our personal lives.””
The film holds space for joy, care, grief and responsibility without trying to resolve them, inviting audiences to reflect on their own relationship with the sea, not just as a landscape, but as a presence we live alongside.
“The immersive dome offers a unique canvas for artists to create transformative experiences, and Megan’s deeply collaborative approach demonstrates exactly the kind of innovative, community-centred work we want to champion.”
A Sea for Yourself commission
And Breathe was developed through an artistic residency within Sea for Yourself, a creative programme exploring Plymouth’s relationship with the sea through community engagement, heritage and artistic practice. The residency focused on enabling participants to explore the wellbeing benefits of spending time by the ocean, while also nurturing a deeper sense of stewardship for Plymouth Sound.
“This project will have a truly long-lasting impact on Plymouth, offering a deeper understanding of just how important the sea is to our mental wellbeing and why it deserves our care.”
Screening Information
Invitational Previews
Monday 19 January 2026
4pm onwards: Invitation screening (participants)
5–7pm: Invitational screening (partners & stakeholders)
6pm: Short conversation with the artist
Public Screenings
Tuesday 20 January – Sunday 1 February 2026
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12–1pm
Saturdays & Sundays:
11am–12 noon
1–2pm
Screenings repeat every 15 minutes. Viewing from the start is recommended.
The production and presentation of And Breathe has been generously supported by Real Ideas. The residency and film were commissioned as part of Sea for Yourself, a programme led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England Place Partnership Fund.