Category Archives: Events

True-to-Life Storytelling Workshop 28/6/26

True-to-Life Queer Tales:
LGBTQ+ Storytelling Workshop

Sun 28 June 2026, 1:30-4:30 PM, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

An Aberration workshop with visiting Berlin-based performer Qwigo Ly Baldwin

… The first time I knew … 
… passing normal …
… king of the dance floor …
… making our kind of family …
… lost somewhere over the rainbow …
… and that was the last time we touched …
… my secret queendom …  
… not your cliché …
… I used to believe …. but now …
… and then I knew I‘d found my people …

What’s the true story you want to tell? What makes a story queer — beyond the identity of the teller? This workshop offers tools and space to share real-life tales of our LGBTQ+ lives.

In this 3-hour workshop (with max. 16 participants) we explore how telling stories is not just about language, body and presence, but even more about listening. We’ll listen within ourselves, tell queer true-life tales together and explore the ranges and weird edges of our common ground.

This Aberration workshop is open to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, aged 16 and up. No stage or storytelling experience required, just the desire to hear and share.

Tickets from Aberystwyth Arts Centre – £10 / £5 (pay what you can):

Click here for tickets >>

Facilitator

Qwigo Ly Baldwin (pictured above) brings lifelong experience in theatre and music (both onstage and backstage) to the practice of community storytelling. With degrees in performance, theatre pedagogy, and storytelling, as well as advanced training in circle singing, Qwigo works with people of all ages on cultural education projects throughout Germany. Originally from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., they live in Berlin, where they are part of the Doable Storytelling trio.

Aberration is delighted that Qwigo has offered to work with us on their visit to Wales! As always, the workshop will be inclusive and encouraging for everyone under our rainbow umbrella.

Funding

EVENT SUPPORTED BY DINAS LLÊN / CITY OF LITERATURE
via PRIFYSGOL ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY

Aberration Calendar

From June 2026

Events by Aberration and other arts organisations

Sun 28 June: Aberration presents a True-life storytelling workshop with facilitator Qwigo Ly Baldwin, visiting from Berlin. 1.30pm Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Supported by Dinas Llên / City of Literature through Aberystwyth University. More info and tickets here >>

And in the autumn…

Fri 16 October: Queer Lit Quarterly presented by Gayberystwyth Books in association with Aberration at Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

Fri 13 November: (TBC) Our first ever Aberration Comedy Club, Bank Vault bar, Aberystwyth, hosted by Aitch.

Coming next year: your Aberration team are already busy planning events for LGBTQ+ History Month UK in February 2027, the grand reopening of Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum in May (with new inclusive displays) and next year’s National Eisteddfod. Watch this space!


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‘My Love…’ book launches (past events)

My Love All Love Excels:

The Remarkable Life of Katherine Philips

The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

TICKETS >>

{CYMRAEG >>}

{ENGLISH} Join Norena Shopland and Aberration, in association with Parthian Books, as they launch Norena’s new biography on the Anglo-Welsh poet Katherine Philips: My Love All Love Excels in the Drwm auditorium at The National Library of Wales (NLW), Aberystwyth on 5 June.

Katherine has many accolades – the first woman to have a play commercially produced; a seventeenth-century Civil War poet of distinction; someone who broke the rules of poetry; one of the first notable female poets in the world; one of the first to write of same-sex attraction, the list goes on.

Katherine’s extraordinary story will be brought to life with poetry readings, songs and talks that will amuse and amaze, and will show why Katherine Philips must be regarded as one of Wales’ best poets.

This major biography of Katherine Philips is published by Parthian Books. Be the first to buy a copy at our launch event and get it personally signed by author Norena Shopland (pictured above).

More about the book on Parthian’s website >>

>>TICKETS TO NLW EVENT >>

Alternatively…

Online stream:

You can also watch the National Library event live online on 5 June…

Online tickets for NLW >>

12 June Picton Castle event

Norena’s next book launch is in the castle where Katherine lived for part of her early life, Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire, on 12 June at 3pm.

Tickets for Picton Castle >>

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