A GIANT digital projection will be seen on Pontio’s exterior front wall every evening during its summer circus feast events Gwledd Syrcus.

The Bangor spectacle can be seen after dark, from 10pm, between July 21 and July 23, as part of Pontio’s activities, events and shows celebrating all things circus.

The huge projection explores the connection discovered between the area’s slate quarrying past and the name of the circus company from Ethiopia, Circus Abyssinia, company which is to perform six circus shows at the centre between July 19-23.

Abyssinia is a historical name for the Ethiopian Empire. Pontio recently discovered that there was a ‘Ponc’ or bank (an area hewn from the slate from which quarrymen would work to cut the slate) in the nearby Dinorwig Quarry called ‘Abyssinia’ following a programme on Radio Cymru, and a callout via the BBC website, for more of these ‘lost’ names to be found.

Part of the research pointed to the fact that quarrymen often joked that they could ‘walk from Abyssinia to Australia, past New York and California in ten minutes.'

It was believed that these names derived from some of the places the slate was exported to.

Inspired by this new discovery, and with this year’s festival taking on the theme ‘The World At Our Feet’, Pontio commissioned Double Take Projections from Scotland, who specialise in large-scale projections on buildings.

The company has undertaken projects on famous buildings such as Edinburgh Castle and the Glencoe scenery, to use this connection as inspiration for their projection onto Pontio’s front exterior walls.

The projection will take place on Sunday, July 21st, Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23, following the headline show of ‘Ethiopian Dreams’.

As darkness is required for maximum impact, the free projection show will follow local entertainment with a folk twist in the bar, and a fire circus display by local company Circo Pyro.

Elen Roberts of the National Slate Museum said, “Quarrymen often named galleries after significant events and dates.

"There were numerous articles in the Welsh press in the 1860s about the conflict in Abyssinia, and we can be confident that the quarrymen would be aware of the turbulent events there during that period.”

The projection and accompanying fire circus display is just one of a host of events taking place in Bangor as part of Pontio’s Gwledd Syrcas Feast.

Other events include a circus procession through the city, today, from 1-2pm,on Thursday, July 18.

The main show, local circus company Cimera’s premiere of dark fairytale Drudwen, circus skills workshops and showcase, free outdoor shows, two Greatest Showman Singalongs in the cinema and free live music before and after the main show.

The Cegin cafe at Pontio, is also featuring an Ethiopia-inspired menu during the Circus Feast.

For more information please visit www.pontio.co.uk for full details and a digital guide. Pocket guides are also available to pick up at the centre. The Box Office is on 01248 38 28 28.