…And Breathe: Free Creative Workshops for Over-55s Explore the Sea, Stress and Wellbeing
How can the sea help us slow down, find calm, and breathe more deeply? That’s the question at the heart of …And Breathe, a new residency project by Cornwall-based participatory filmmaker Megan Roberts, running in Plymouth this autumn as part of Sea for Yourself.
Megan believes that the ocean offers more than a view: it can be a source of mindfulness, community connection, and wellbeing. Through a series of four free creative workshops for over-55s, she is inviting local people to explore their relationship with the sea, reflect on the stresses of everyday life, and co-create an immersive 360° film that will premiere at Market Hall’s cutting-edge dome in December.
The workshops take place at Grow Plymouth, 14 Drake Circus, and no prior experience is required. Participants can attend one, some, or all of the sessions — all that’s needed is an open mind, comfortable clothes, and a willingness to get creative.
Four steps to slowing down
Each workshop introduces a different creative practice, offering playful and accessible ways to explore themes of stress and release:
Collage (Sat 11 October, 10.30am–12.30pm)
The journey begins with scissors, glue, and imagination. Participants will use collage to reflect on their own experiences of stress and their personal associations with the sea. Through guided prompts, the ocean is reimagined as a calming, restorative presence.
360° Filmmaking (Sat 24 October, 10.30am–12.30pm)
The group will head outdoors to Devil’s Point, one of Plymouth’s most evocative coastal sites, to capture video and sound recordings. With Megan’s guidance, participants will experiment with 360° cameras and field recording equipment. The trip will highlight how time spent by the water can ground us, connect us, and bring relief from daily pressures.
Sound (Sat 8 November, 10.30am–12.30pm)
Back at Grow, the focus shifts to sound design and foley. Participants will work together to create two contrasting soundscapes: an “anxious tunnel” representing the feelings of stress, and a “free sea” soundscape evoking calm and release. It’s playful, hands-on, and completely beginner-friendly.
Editing (Sat 22 November, 10.30am–12.30pm)
The final session brings everything together. Collages, recordings, and film footage will be shaped into a collective story that charts the journey from stress to calm. Participants will act as curators, deciding what best captures their shared experience and how it should be presented in the immersive film.
About the artist
Megan Roberts is a participatory filmmaker who works with communities to tell stories on their own terms. She uses film as a tool for dialogue and collective expression, creating spaces where local voices and lived experiences are centred. Her previous projects have explored themes of civic joy, displacement and belonging, and environmental advocacy, with work shown in galleries, festivals, and community spaces across the South West.
She says of …And Breathe:
“I want this project to create space for empathy and shared understanding. By working with the sea as our starting point, we can uncover the ways it helps us to pause, reset, and connect with one another.”
Part of Sea for Yourself
…And Breathe is one of the artist residencies commissioned for Sea for Yourself, a four-year cultural programme produced by Plymouth Culture. Sea for Yourself explores the city’s deep and varied relationship with the ocean through artist commissions, residencies, and community engagement. The programme is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund Horizons programme and Arts Council England’s Place Partnership.
For Plymouth, a city shaped by the sea, projects like …And Breathe invite us to think about more than heritage and history — they ask us to reflect on how the ocean still impacts our daily lives, our wellbeing, and our sense of belonging.
How to take part
The workshops are free, but places are limited and booking is essential. You can join just one session or take part in the whole series.
Location: Grow Plymouth, 14 Drake Circus, PL4 8AQ (next to The Box)
Dates:
Collage Workshop – Sat 11 October
360° Filmmaking Workshop – Sat 24 October
Sound Workshop – Sat 8 November
Editing Workshop – Sat 22 November
Time: 10.30am–12.30pm
To register follow: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/over-55s-and-breathe-free-workshop-series-part-of-sea-for-yourself-tickets-1749181191029?aff=oddtdtcreator
For anyone over 55 looking for a chance to pause, reflect, and get creative, …And Breathe offers a welcoming space to reconnect with the sea — and with yourself.
