Portrait & Pride gallery tour 24/4 >> SOLD OUT! Tour of the National Library’s portrait exhibition highlighting the queer stories behind some of the pictures. Aberration & NLW
Pockets of Pride For one week, Thurs 23 April to Fri 1 May, Ceredigion Museum will have a special temporary display of the ‘Pockets of Pride’ made in the recent workshops!
Balchder Mach Pride 16/5 – follow them on socials! A packed day of celebratory LGBTQ+ events at the Owain Glyndwr Centre, Machynlleth, including ‘Cwtsh Corner’ with Queer Tales from Wales.
My Love All Love Excels: Book launch 5/6 >> Norena Shopland launches her new biography of the woman-loving-woman poet, Katherine Philips. Supported by Aberrationand Parthian
Arddangosfa yn siop Amgueddfa Ceredigion: Wedi’i chreu gan bobol LHDTC+ leol, wedi’i ysbrydoli gan byrsiau bach Eisteddfod o gasgliad yr amgueddfa
On Thurs 23 April 2026 a special exhibition will go on show in the ground-floor shop at Ceredigion Museum!
++ 23 April to 1 May only ++
Pockets and purses made in our recent ‘Pockets of Pride’ workshops will be on display inside the shop, to coincide with Aberystwyth Pride (Saturday 25 April).
Don’t miss these beautiful unique works by local LGBTQ+ people. As the main museum is currently closed for refurbishment, the next chance will be when it reopens next year.
Access: good – automatic double doors, disabled toilet
VENUE: Ceredigion Museum Shop / Info Centre, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth SY23 2AQ
1pm Friday 24th April 2026, Gregynog Gallery, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU
Join Jane (Aberration) and Phoebe (The National Library of Wales LGBTQ+ Forum) to start Aber Pride weekend with an informal tour of the Portrait and Power exhibition, celebrating some of the Queer stories behind the portraits. FREE.
There will be a chance to carry on the conversation in Pen Dinas café after the event.
1pm Dydd Gwener 24ain Ebrill 2026, Oriel Gregynog, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU
Ymunwch â Jane (Aberration) a Phoebe (Fforwm LHDTC+ Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) i ddechrau penwythnos Pride Aber gyda thaith anffurfiol o’r arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer, gan ddathlu rhai o’r hanesion cwiar tu ôl i’r portreadau. AM DDIM.
Bydd cyfle i barhau’r sgwrs yng Nghaffi Pen Dinas ar ôl y digwyddiad.
QLQ – FRIDAY 8 MAY 2026 ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE STUDIO 6.30 for 7pm, £6.50
Queer Lit Quarterly is a special evening for book lovers to hear LGBTQ+ writers speak about their work. There will be a chance to buy books and have them personally signed by the authors. Hosted by Gayberystwyth Books with the support of Aberration.
ROSIE WILBY
Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian, author, speaker, journalist and broadcaster. Obsessing about breakups ever since a girlfriend dumped her by email, Rosie embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak.
Her nonfiction books The Breakup Monologues, accompanied by a podcast of the same name, and Is Monogamy Dead?, longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize, combine humour, heartache and science to take a very queer look at relationships. She’s now working on a novel based on her experiences in the comedy world.
J.S. STRANGE
J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books and cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, he often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural.
He is the author of The Boyfriend Academy: In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants – or the man he really is?
J.S. is also working on gay murder mysteries.
SACHA COWARD
Sacha Coward has worked in museums and heritage for over ten years. He has run LGBTQ+ focused tours for museums, cemeteries, archives and cities around the world. Queer As Folklore is his first book. It explores the hidden queer history of myths and monsters, travelling across centuries and continents.
Leaving no headstone unturned, Sacha takes you on a wild ride through the night from ancient Greece to the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, visiting cross-dressing pirates, radical fairies and the graves of the ‘queerly departed’ along the way.
MALCOLM PRINCE
For twenty years, Malcolm Prince was Paul O’Grady’s radio producer at the BBC. In a new biography, Paul O’Grady – Not The Same Without You, Malcolm writes about the mercurial star we knew as both drag act Lily Savage and the nation’s dog-loving agony uncle.
Malcolm writes:
‘It’s been a privilege to bring his remarkable story up to date and, just like Paul O’Grady, this book is heartfelt, candid and even has a little bit of bite.’
Join Norena Shopland and Aberration, in association with Parthian Books, as they launch Norena’s new biography on the Anglo-Welsh poet Katherine Philips.
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.
(PAST EVENT) We watched the latest international LGBTQ+ films and chose this one just for you!
Manok is a delightful, funny, politicised queer movie and a celebration of community. Join us at 5pm on 28 March at Aberystwyth Arts Centre cinema for this one-off screening followed by Q&A on screen with director Lee Yu-jin all the way from South Korea! Yujin will be chatting to our own Helen Sandler about the making of the film, with a chance for you to ask her questions.
What happens when middle-aged lesbian bar owner Manok retreats from Seoul city life back to her hometown in the country? Will she settle down for a quiet life? Not exactly…
A fabulous Aberration takeover of the gallery after hours!
Noson arbennig! Off the Wall is a playful, creative, thoughtful and celebratory evening of spoken word and performance to an audience of LGBTI+ people and allies, at The National Library of Wales. Inspired by the Portrait & Power exhibition, bringing the portraits ‘off the wall’, and asking ‘How do we want to be seen?’
Aberration’s Out of the Frame evening at National Library, July 2025 (Anthony Pugh)
Latest news! Unique presentations from exhibition artists Denver K Shai and Morgan Dowdall especially for you! 🎉 Plus amazing brand-new performance pieces from radical cabaret artists Poppy Cock and Penny Comequick! Queer Tales from Wales (Jane Hoy with Colin Audigé-Soutter and Simon Robson) zhoosh up a story from the history books, and Kitty O’Blitherin brings the art ‘off the wall’. With new queer performances emerging from our recent workshops (presented by The Off the Wallers – Alex, Avi, Hannah, Inge, Mila, Miles), music from Elaine Turnbull & Amy Ellen, and your host Helen ‘Aitch’ Sandler guiding the way through these delights.
PROGRAMME: At 6.30pm we will gather for drinks and snacks, then lead into the Gregynog Gallery around 7pm for the tour with pop-up talks and performances, followed by fun activities, sketching by Hilary Reed and more. A chance to look round the whole Portrait & Power exhibition at the end. Finish around 9pm. Event mainly in English with some Cymraeg.
Everyone is welcome to come along to watch and listen.
If you’d like to be more involved, we’re playing with the theme ‘How would you like to see yourself in a portrait?’ So you can bring an object you would like to include if someone was painting YOU, or dress up as a living self-portrait! Or come in your civvies and just enjoy the ride!
Evening includes new writing from group workshops (now fully subscribed). See below…
Off the Wall workshops
Sat 31 January & Sat 7 Feb 10.30am to 1.30pm: Two inspiring linked workshops for LGBTQ+ adults where we will respond to the portrait exhibition with new writing and performance. Click to see details >>
With thanks to NLW/LLGC for their enthusiastic partnership working & financial support.
About Aberration
Aberration is a series of exciting events with an LGBTQ+ theme. We aim for a friendly community space. Everyone is welcome at our public events including open-minded straight friends and allies. (Some smaller group workshops are specifically for those who are / think they might be LGBTQ+) Events are very much trans-inclusive as well as highlighting lesbian, gay and bi lives and culture, and other queer identities – all under one rainbow! Your friendly hosts are Jane Hoy, Ruth Fowler and Helen Sandler. For Off the Wall we are joined by talented creative practitioner Cath Rigler (who performs as Kitty O’Blitherin).
It’s time to queer up the museum collection – and you can be part of it!
‘Pockets of Pride’ is a series of three creative workshops for LGBTQI+ people where we will come together as a group to put a queer spin on traditional Eisteddfod purses.
These purses were small prize bags – often elaborately decorated – given to winners of Eisteddfod competitions in the past. The winners would proudly wear them throughout the festival week.
In our playful sessions, you will be supported to stitch, fold and stick a pouch, pocket or purse. Each piece will have its own unique ‘purse-onality’, reflecting your own stories!
The group’s creations will form part of a new permanent LGBTQI+ display at Ceredigion Museum.
When and where do the workshops take place?
For LGBTQ History Month 2026 on three consecutive Saturdays: 21 February, 28 February and 7 March, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Venue: Aberystwyth Bandstand (on the seafront). The venue has good disabled access.
Who are the Pockets of Pride workshops for?
Anyone identifying as part of the LGBTQI+ community and who can commit to all three purse-making workshops. You don’t need experience of sewing or craft, and all materials are provided.
Workshops are free and include light refreshments. Participants will receive a £50 voucher (multi-store gift card) each week in recognition of your contribution.
Places are limited and will be allocated to the first eight people to sign up.
How do I book my place?
UPDATE: FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST ONLY!!
First make sure you’ve read this information carefully, then send an email headed ‘Pockets of Pride’ to Carrie: museum@ceredigion.gov.uk
Details of Workshops
SESSION ONE:
What Do You Prize as a Queer Person?
Together we’ll explore what you hold dear – the values, stories and identities that shape you. Through creative exercises, we’ll begin to imaginatively shape the spirit and intention behind your own handcrafted purse, pocket or pouch.
The museum’s curator, Carrie Canham, will join us to give the context of the project, which is inspired by the historical Eisteddfod purses in the current collection. She will share how our creations will contribute to a new LGBTQI display.
SESSION TWO:
Sew your own way
Working with our hands and hearts; we’ll choose fabrics and threads, and start cutting, sticking, assembling and stitching. With guidance and support from Rose and the group, you’ll bring your design to life.
SESSION THREE:
Stitch and finish
Adding the finishing touches to complete our pockets and purses, we’ll explore ways to display them as part of the exhibition at Ceredigion Museum, celebrating our queer creativity. Together we’ll reflect upon and document the process with photographs and words.
Who is facilitating the workshops?
Rose Thorn has worked as a community artist within health and education settings; she is passionate about the therapeutic uses of the arts with people who often feel disempowered. Her own practice has focused on textiles.
Her last collaboration with Ceredigion Museum was with ‘Voices from the Edge’, a global majority group that explored their responses to colonial objects loaned from the British Museum. This culminated in a group exhibition where her hand-sewn drape, called ‘Wake’, explored the movement of people across the seas.
Rose is also a Playback Theatre performer and trainer, which honours personal stories by instantly ‘playing-back’ what the audience shares. Her interest in the body, breath and mind continues with teaching local yoga classes.
Run by Ceredigion Museum in association with Aberration
A special edition of Queer Lit Quarterly for young readers
[PAST EVENT]
On Friday 12 December 2025 at Aberystwyth Arts Centre at the earlier time of 4pm
Gayberystwyth Books and Aberration Cymru invite you to join us at our ‘Children’s QLQ’ for an afternoon of children’s literature and entertainment. Up to 2 children can attend for FREE with each paying adult. Also of interest to teachers.
Our speakers will be:
Ian Timbrell, author of ‘It’s More Than Flags and Rainbows’, written to help schools develop the confidence and know-how to ensure meaningful, fully inclusive provision for all.
Steve Antony, author of bilingual picture book ‘Enfysawrws / RAINBOWSAURUS’ Dyma stori dau Dad a’u tri o blant ar eu hantur i ddod o hyd i’r Enfysawrws. / Join two dads and their three children as they set off on an adventure to find the Rainbowsaurus.
Sam Langley-Swain, author of ‘Santa’s Wish’ and ‘Where Björn Belongs’ – A heartfelt Christmas story of friendship and belonging, centered around the unbreakable bond between an autistic boy and a polar bear.
Mel Elliott, author of ‘The Girl with Two Dads’ – A funny and heart-warming tale about the differences and similarities between families. With a special guest appearance from Anwen Pierce, who translated the book into Cymraeg as ‘Y Ferch â Dau Dad’.
Also… Balloon twister, modeller and entertainer ‘Tricky the Twister’ Neil Kitchin-Wilson, will be with us for the afternoon, creating wonderful models and caricatures!
This event will have cabaret-style seating with tables and chairs. Good access but please contact venue if your access needs require suitable seating or designated wheelchair space.
Tickets via Aberystwyth Arts Centre at £6.50 for one adult and up to 2 children.
Theatre-maker Tom Marshman and friends are bringing their brilliant new show Billy Twirling Through Time to Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 13 November 2025, with post-show discussion led by Aberration. Book now and tell your pals!
Billy Twirling Through Time
Join us for this amazing theatre production at Aberystwyth Arts Centre in the round studio on Thursday 13 November at 7.45pm.
This vibrant performance, inspired by the film Billy Elliot, spins, pirouettes, and lip syncs its way through a joyful exploration of the bonds that make us move.
Tom Marshman (as seen in stunning past Aberration performances) and collaborator Ryan O’Shea bring humour and heartfelt reflection to the stage, reimagining iconic moments from the film while exploring the challenges of ageing. Be prepared for cheap wigs, even cheaper costumes, and a rich tapestry of life experiences. Join us for a celebration of Queer Joy, dance, and friendships. Presented by Beacons, Icons and Dykons. Post Show talk and discussion hosted by Aberration.
Access Information: Good disabled access. Audio description woven into the performance and advanced audio notes available.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS:
Special Aberration price £8.50 (plus £1.50 fee). Click the link to Aberystwyth Arts Centre below and scroll down through the prices to ‘Aelodau Aberration Members’.
