Saturday 7 March 2020 for International Women’s Day at Aberystwyth Arts Centre
The first part of the evening (6 to 7.30pm) is a panel discussion with the theme of Speak Up! We are fortunate to have three inspiring women on the panel:
Maria Constanza Mesa
Maria is the Operational Director of Women Connect First – a
Cardiff-based charity to empower BAME women – and a WEN Board member.
Originally from Colombia, she arrived in Wales as a refugee and has over 30
years’ experience in social work and community development, specialising in
gender and race issues.
Leena Sarah Farhat
Leena is a computer science student at Aberystwyth University and a young
activist with the Liberal Democrats. She is first generation British,
multilingual and international in outlook. Leena has campaigned to prevent
violence against women and for improved Welsh language provision, among other
passions. She is a prospective candidate for the Senedd.
Shrouk El-Attar
An activist for the rights of refugees and LGBT+ people, Shrouk is herself
a refugee from Egypt. She is based in Bristol where she is an electronics
engineer by day, a Dancing Queer
by night (as we will see when she performs for us later on!). Named by the BBC
as one of the 100 most influential women in the world.
Facilitator: Helen Sandler
Our Aberration co-programmer will be facilitating the discussion. Helen runs Tollington Press, publishing new books by women. She is an experienced chairperson and enjoys getting people talking and drawing out common threads. (Photo by Heather Broster)
We will ask:
How do we
get heard?
How have our
panel members been effective in their work?
How do they
use their voices to campaign around the issues facing women in their lives
today, in Wales, the UK and the world?
And what
can the rest of us learn from their experiences?
There will be time for questions from the audience and discussion. After an interval, sit back and enjoy our live entertainment.
Get your tickets for Our Voices, Our Lives (including panel and entertainment) from Aberystwyth Arts Centre >>
Shrouk El Attar performs her ‘Dancing Queer’ act Photo: @Diego_Maeso_
Celebrate International Women’s Day (a day early) on Saturday 7 March with a sparky and inspiring evening of talks, discussion and live music! At Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Organised in partnership by Aberration / SpringOut, Aberystwyth University and WEN Wales.
Talks and live performance to challenge, dazzle and inspire. Hosted by Helen Sandler. £7 / £5 (concessions)– your ticket is for the whole evening. TICKETS>>
6pm Panel discussion on the theme ‘Speak Up’: amplifying crucial issues affecting women’s lives in Wales and beyond. How can campaigners be heard and be effective? With activists Maria Mesa, Leena Sarah Farhat and Shrouk El-Attar. Read more about speakers >>
8pm Live performance
Louise and the Feathers
Shrouk El-Attar’s gyrating and gender-bending Dancing Queer (pictured, top) brings us magic tricks and Egyptian belly-dancing. Plus beautiful live music from Louise and the Feathers, whose second EP is now in progress; and truth-telling poetry from Kittie Belltree whose new collection Sliced Tongue and Pearl Cufflinks came out recently from Parthian. Read more about performers >>
Poet Kittie Belltree
Kittie’s new poetry collection
Evening open to everyone interested in women’s equality, whatever your gender (women, men, non-binary – all welcome). Events mainly in English. Age guidance 14+. Programme has changed slightly since we printed our leaflets due to unforeseen circumstances.
WORKSHOPS: Earlier the same day we are running an afternoon of creative workshops for women. Release your inner rock star with our ‘Encore’ music session run by The Rock Project, or make your own zine with artist Nicky Arscott. More about workshops here>>
An afternoon of workshops for women at Aberystwyth Arts Centre
There are three inspiring creative workshops to choose from, listed below with ticket links. Book now – and be sure to buy tickets for the evening event, ‘Our Voices, Our Lives’, too.
12 women per workshop (age 16+, trans women and non-binary people welcome at all sessions).
1. Our Selfies, Ourselves – Zine-making workshop for women
12.30 to 2.30pm in the Digilab, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, £5/£3 TICKETS>>
Fed up with the portrayal of women in the media? We’ll
take matters into our own hands as we draw, cut, stick, stamp and collage our
very own ‘zines’ with artist Nicky Arscott.
Zines (short for ‘magazines’) are hand-made or low-tech
booklets and magazines with a creative, DIY feel. No experience or special
talent is needed to make them!
‘Blind Carbon Copy’ by Nicky Arscott
Nicky Arscott lives in Llanbrynmair and specialises in making poetry comics. She has exhibited at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, MOMA Machynlleth and Oriel Davies Newtown. She has an MA in Creative Writing and is one of the directors of Ennyn CIC, which promotes art and creativity in schools and communities. Nicky is a friendly and encouraging workshop leader. TICKETS>>
2. Sounding Off! – Theatre workshop for women CANCELLED
Unfortunately this workshop has been cancelled due to low numbers.
Apologies for any disappointment. The box office have written to everyone who booked to offer them either another workshop or a refund.
3. Encore! – music workshop for women with The Rock Project
3-5pm in the Students Union, adjacent to Aberystwyth Arts Centre, £5/£3
As of Friday 6 March, a small number of places remain – vocals or guitar only – please phone the box office on 01970 623232 to book your place!
Release your inner rock star! This one-off taster
workshop starts with a lesson on specific instruments or vocals in small
groups. This is followed by a ‘plug
and play’ session where you will all be able to put into
practice what you have learnt by playing together as a band. Mentored by the
tutors throughout.
You do not need any experience – beginners are welcome. On
the other hand, if you have been a bedroom player all your life and want to
play with other musicians, then this is your chance. So whether you are 20, 30,
40 or 70-something, if you have always dreamt of being in a rock band, Encore
is just what you’ve been waiting for.
All instruments provided. Capacity: three drums, three guitar, two bass and four vocals. Express your preference when booking. Led by Lisa and Liesa: friendly and knowledgeable tutors who also offer longer courses for adults and children with The Rock Project Aberystwyth.
International Women’s Day programme is organised in partnership by Aberration, Aberystwyth University and WEN Wales, with support from The Rock Project.
FORGOTTEN STARS ~ Aberration, Saturday 8 February 2020 / Dydd Sadwrn 8 Chwefror 2020
Scroll down for details in English (pink) and Cymraeg (melyn). Digwyddiadau yn Saesneg yn bennaf / Events mostly in English.
SARAH JANE REES (‘Cranogwen’, 1839 – 1916) bardd, golygydd, a sefydlydd ‘Merched y De’ // poet, navigator, schoolteacher, editor
1.30 to 3.30pm [SOLD OUT] LGBT+ History Walk around Aberystwyth. Meet at Ceredigion Museum where your guide, Jane Hoy of Living Histories Cymru, will take you on a tour round Aberystwyth meeting LGBT+ characters from the past, from Sarah Jane Rees to Goronwy Rees. Expect the unexpected! All welcome. (Indoors at museum if too wet or windy.) Limited to 20 places. SOLD OUT.
1.30-3.30 yh [WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN]Taith Gerdded yn olrhain hanes pobl LGBTQ Aberystwyth. Fel rhan o ddathliadau mis dathlu Hanes LGBT, ymunwch â ‘Hanesion Byw Cymru’ ar daith gerdded o amgylch Aberystwyth a dewch i gyfarfod â rhai o bobl LBGT mwyaf dylanwadol hanes y dref, pobl sydd bron wedi mynd yn angof. Man cyfarfod – Amgueddfa Ceredigion. WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN.
Yasmin Begum
4.30 to 6pm Workshop at Aberystwyth Arts Centre: Yasmin Begum is a writer, artist and activist from Cardiff. As a member of the 1919 Race Riots collective she will run a zine-making workshop delving into exciting ideas of Welsh identity, language, history and cultural memory with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. (Zines are creative / lo-fi magazines or booklets.) Meet at Box Office at 4.20pm to go to Creative Studios 5&6 (silver pod). £5 / £3. WORKSHOP TICKETS>>
4.30-6 yh Gweithdy: Mae Yasmin Begum yn ysgrifennwr, artist ac actifydd o Gaerdydd. Bydd hi’n cynnal gweithdy gwneud zine, gan ymchwilio a syniadau cyffrous o hunaniaeth Gymreig, iaith, hanes a chof diwylliannol gyda phwyslais ar gynwysoldeb a hygyrchedd. (Mae zines yn gylchgronau neu lyfrynnau creadigol/lo-fi.) Cwrdd yn y Swyddfa docynnau am 4.20 yh i fynd i stiwdios creadigol 5 i 6 (pod arian). £5/£3. TOCYNNAU>>
GYDA’R NOS / EVENING
Alison Child (R) and Rosie Wakley
7.45pm Aberration presents: ‘Forgotten Stars’ evening at Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Studio) [Cymraeg isod] Lively talks, songs and stories of LGBT+ history. TICKETS£10 / £8 (concs).
In a special presentation, Yasmin Begum (who is also leading a workshop, above) will use the lens of the 1919 race riots to shine a light on black and minority ethnic communities and queer people of colour in Wales. With film clips and discussion.
Alison Child will talk about the research for her new biography ‘Tell Me I’m Forgiven’, about the once-famous music hall duo (and romantic pairing) Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney. Ali and her partner Rosie Wakley will treat us to some of the songs that Gwen and Norah used to sing. Plus storytelling by Queer Tales from Wales: coppermine girls, women wrestlers and men in pink houses. BUY TICKETS NOW>>
7.45 yhAberration yn cyflwyno: ‘Forgotten Stars’ yn Canolfan Y Celfyddydau (Stiwdio): sgyrsiau bywiog, caneuon a straeon o hanes LHDT. Tocynnau £10/£8.
Mewn cyflwyniad arbennig, bydd Yasmin Begum yn defnyddio lens terfysgoedd ras 1919 i ddisgleirio golau ar gymunedau pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig a phobl queer o liw yng Nghymru.
Bydd Alison Child yn siarad am yr ymchwil ar gyfer ei Bywgraffiad newydd ‘ Tell Me I’m Forgiven’, am y ddeuawd neuadd gerddorol a fu’n enwog ar un adeg (a’r pâr rhamantaidd) Gwen Farrar a Norah Blaney. Bydd Ali a’i phartner Rosie Wakley yn ein trin ni i rai o’r caneuon y mae Gwen a Norah yn canu. Ynghyd ag adrodd straeon gan Queer Tales o Gymru: merched copr, ymgodymwyr menywod a dynion mewn tai pinc. TOCYNNAU>>
+ Charity RAFFLE (bring a prize if you can!), guest appearance from friend of Aberration NORENA SHOPLAND with her latest queer history book, PLANET magazine on sale, and COMMUNITY COHESION stall.
+ Raffl, awdur Norena Shopland, Stondinau Cylchgrawn Planet a ‘Community Cohesion’.
Barbara Nice crowdsurfs her way to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent
[PAST EVENT: you are now entering the realm of past fabulousness and nostalgia…]
Mae’n ol! Bigger and better than ever! A massive Aberration queer-themed cabaret night: Cabarration in the Great Hall at Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
8pm Friday 15 November 2019, Aberystwyth
Starring Barbara Nice – ordinary housewife extraordinaire – a refreshing blast of proper good fun. She believes in bargains, public transport and livin’ la vida loca! Recently seen storming it in the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent 2019, with her quick-fire chat and stage-diving, Barbara is guaranteed to bring joy to any audience.
AND: Shelf, up-to-the-minute lesbian comedy duo from that London Edd Muir, aerial artist extraordinaire Rad drag-king troupe The Family Jewels Live music from melodic local band Chocolat Compere Helen Sandler Wear your best queer cabaret get-up! Edrych ymlaen!
Edd Muir on pole
For all LGBT+ people and open-minded straight folks. Age guidance 16+ . Not suitable for children due to adult humour, references to hanky panky, and perhaps a little light striptease if you’re lucky.
Oo-er missus/ mister/ wotever!
Tickets: £14 / £10 (concs) from Aberystwyth Arts Centre on the links below.
On Friday 5 July 2019 we had a fab beach party! Starting out in Bottle & Barrel bar and then with food and fires on Aberystwyth South Beach. A lovely sunny evening social. Here’s a pic while the sun was still out.
{Scroll down for English} Dathlwch Ddiwrnod Menywod Rhyngwladol! Darganfyddwch 100 o fenywod anhygoel o’r gorffennol a’r presennol sydd wedi gweithio dros gydraddoldeb yng Nghymru. Gyda sgyrsiau (Dinah Mulholland, Megan Talbot a mwy), barddoniaeth (Gillian Clarke) a cherddoriaeth fyw (Cerys Hafana – telyn). Croeso i bawb. Iaith: Saesneg
Aberration, WEN Wales (Women’s Equality Network) and Aberystwyth University bring you this special evening to celebrate International Women’s Day.
‘100 Welsh Women’ will include music, poetry and discussion:
Poetry: Gillian Clarke, former National Poet of Wales, will read her lyrical and moving poems. If you have never heard Gillian read, you are in for a mesmerising treat. If you have heard her before, then you know you will want to be here for this! Gillian has been awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and the Wilfred Owen Award. Selected Poems (Picador) was published in 2016, Zoology (Carcanet) in 2017, and her version/ translation of the 7th century Welsh poem Y Gododdin, appears this year from Faber.
Dinah Mulholland
Chisomo Phiri
Helen Sandler
Speakers: Dinah Mulholland (left), Chisomo Phiri (centre) and Megan Talbot will form a knowledgeable and rousing panel, chaired by our own Helen Sandler (right).
Dinah is a political activist who has campaigned around domestic abuse, women in prison and austerity. Dinah was the Labour Party candidate for Ceredigion in the 2017 General Election and is involved in setting up a local branch of Acorn Tenants Union.
Chisomo is the NUS Wales Women’s Officer. She was elected on a manifesto of campaigning to end period poverty, encouraging women to run for leadership, and tackling sexual harassment. She aims to create a strong, intersectional movement.
Megan is an associate lecturer in law at Aberystwyth University and is studying legal recognition of non-binary genders internationally. She is co-convener in the Aberystwyth Interdisciplinary Gender Studies Research Group (aber gender).
Helen is a writer and editor who runs Tollington Press and comperes Aberration. She has been involved in theatre and events for women and LGBT+ people for many years.
Live music: Musical interludes from Cerys Hafana (pictured, top) on the Welsh triple harp. Cerys is a talented young musician who lives locally. She is a member of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, and last year played at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient with Tŷ Teires and Robin Huw Bowen, and on the Aran Islands with Cerrig Camu. She will play her own compositions and tell us a little about the history of the instrument.
Bright Field
Bright Field sing folk harmonies such as Georgian, Corsican, Shape Note, British traditional and sacred music, as well as modern compositions. They enjoy the way voices will lock into or lean on one another. The group has changed its make-up over the years, but local singers Linda Gwillim and Joan Mills, who join us for the evening, have been a part of Bright Field since it began back in 2001.
Exhibition: on display will be WEN’s exhibition of posters of significant and inspiring women, past and present, who have worked for equality in Wales – including Gillian Clarke. We will pick out some of these women with readings chosen specially.
Inclusive fabulousness: All welcome at this inspiring evening. Whether you identify as female, male or non-binary, whether you are trans, intersex, queer, lesbian, gay, bi, straight, unsure or wotever… you are very welcome at all Aberration events.
Hidden Worlds is an enthralling evening about queer lives, as Aberration celebrates LGBT History Month UK. With talks from artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins and oral history researcher Jane Traies, plus the Welsh premiere of the brand-new jukebox musical ‘Rebel Dyke’ written by and starring Karen Fisch. Scroll down for more about all these wonderful guests. And click here for a workshop on doing LGBT history (same day). We can’t wait to share this special night with you!
Aberration is brought to you by Enfys Aber and SpringOut, supported by Over the Rainbow guesthouse.
Study for ‘The Exchange’ – Clive Hicks-Jenkins
Clive Hicks-Jenkins
Aber art lovers will be familiar with Clive Hicks-Jenkins’ magnificent paintings and prints from exhibitions at the Arts Centre and National Library, as well as the Museum of Modern Art in Machynlleth. In an illustrated talk devised especially for Aberration, Clive will explore how he created a hiding place for his gay identity in the magical world of his art.
Clive says: “I was born in Newport in 1951, at a time when all the old prejudices still held sway. Even as a small child I sensed raised eyebrows – and raised concerns – when I was too much myself. So I learned to hide that true self, and make a secret world I could retreat to and be safe in. And I got very good at it.”
The early part of his career was as a choreographer and stage director. In the 1990s he began to concentrate on painting and has garnered praise ever since. Simon Callow has called him ‘one of the most individual and complete artists of our time’.
Jane Traies
Jane Traies will talk about her new book of oral-history interviews with older lesbians, Now You See Me (Tollington Press).
Jane is a writer, researcher and story-teller who was also at various times a historical novelist, a director of the lesbian publishing house Onlywomen Press and a Trustee of the York Lesbian Arts Festival.
For some years, Jane has been recording the experiences of the oldest generations of lesbians in the UK. Her new book, Now You See Me (Tollington Press, 2018), features some of these life-stories. Jane and interviewees appeared in the short films Now You See Me (Esme Waldron, 2016) and Older Than What? (Steen Starr, 2017).
Karen Fisch sings her way through forty years of lesbian clubbing and protesting in her new jukebox musical, Rebel Dyke.
Karen aka Fisch is part of the Rebel Dyke Project, a group of outsiders from the 1980s. Fisch has been a significant member of this lived legacy since her first Gay Pride March in 1978. She has gone via Greenham Common (Main Gate), The Black Widows All Women Biker Gang, Chain Reaction (the UK’s first SM Dyke club) to running her own women’s club nights in London for ten years
Since starting performing as Drag King Frankie Sinatra three years ago Fisch is now both producer and host of the drag king night Kings of Clubs at London’s legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Frankie has graced the stage at both London and Amsterdam Pride.
Fisch encompasses all of this personal sistory in her one-woman jukebox musical. Rebel Dyke has only been seen once before at L Fest 2018, the UK’s largest Women’s Festival, where it was nominated for two awards and grabbed the attention of the Aberration team who immediately asked Fisch to bring it to Aber. She is now touring the show to select venues in England – we are the only one in Wales so far, so tell your friends to get over here!
Directed by Barbara Houseman, this funny and moving show featuring the Bad Boy with the Golden Voice will enthral and entertain you.
Host & warnings
Helen Sandler by Pink Portraits
Aberration’s Hidden Worlds evening will be mediated via your loud host Helen Sandler, who will as usual be pointing at you in disturbing new ways.
All welcome. Age guidance 14+ (some adult content). You don’t have to be queer to be here… but it sometimes helps to ask a queer friend what the hell is going on.
Workshop
We are very pleased to have arranged a separate afternoon workshop before the event on how to do LGBT+ history. Arranged and facilitated by Aberration’s own Jane Hoy, with sessions by LGBT+ historians Norena Shopland and Jane Traies. Book separately. Full details here>>
Mae Aberration yn dathlu Mis Hanes LHDT 2019 7.45pm Sadwrn 9 Chwefror, Canolfan Celfyddydau Aberystwyth, £10/£8
Study for ‘The Exchange’ – Clive Hicks-Jenkins
Mae Karen Fisch yn cyflwyno ei sioe gerdd jiwcbocs, Rebel Dyke. Mae Clive Hicks-Jenkins yn dangos sut y creodd guddfan ar gyfer ei wir hun yn ei gelf. Mae Jane Traies yn trafod ei llyfr o gyfweliadau efo lesbiaid hŷn, Now You See Me (Tollington). 14oed+ Iaith: Saesneg
Our first time in Caernarfon! Music, drag, spectacle and spoken word: Maggi Noggi, Chocolat, Sadiq, Archibald Tactful, Sarah McCreadie, King Frankie Sinatra + more
A cabaret night with an LGBT bite. Host Helen Sandler introduces a dazzling line-up of local and national talent, from circus to song. Expect quickfire words, irreverent laughs and gay abandon.
King Frankie Sinatra
Starring: Maggi Noggi: Wales’ Fiercest Drag-on. As seen on S4C’s The Salon, Maggi is Anglesey’s most famous queen. “You can take the girl out of the farm…” Chocolat: Gypsy swing jazz quartet from Aberystwyth. Victoria Evans on vocal and violin, Jean-Louis Raimbaud and Steve Metcalfe on guitar, Norman Roberts on double bass… and you on your feet to dance! Sadiq Sadiq: combines circus with elements of theatre, live art and dance to create stunning performances. Currently touring with Ockham’s Razor, Sadiq is also a winner of Mr Gay Great Britain and represented the UK at Mr Gay World in Malta.
Sadiq
Archibald Tactful: Proto-god, cement-lover and experimental dancer. “Laurie Anderson meets Groucho Marx” – FringeReview Sarah McCreadie: Sharp spoken word from a rising star, who has performed everywhere from Newport to New York. King Frankie Sinatra: Ol’ blue eyes is back! Frankie hosts the Kings ofClubs drag-king night in London. They have played everywhere from L Fest to Amsterdam; snuggled up on the sofa of This Morning; and hosted karaoke parties for Elizabeth Hurley. Their new show ‘Rebel Dyke’ will tour soon. + Open mic: see below
Everyone’s welcome at this fun and friendly night, whether you’re gay, straight, trans… or whatever! Age guidance 16+
Includes open mic: to perform a song or read a poem in Welsh or English, email aberrationcymru@gmail.com
Change of programme: sadly Mer Gân and Cortina Ford, both previously advertised, are unable to be part of the show this time.
Part of Aberration on tour, funded by Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, National Lottery, Aberystwth University, Over the Rainbow Guesthouse. Diolch yn fawr!
++++
CYMRAEG: Aberration ar Daith: Galeri Caernarfon Dydd Gwener, Medi 14, 2018, 19:30 Ymlaen llaw £10 / £12 ar y dydd
Maggi Noggi, Chocolat, Sadiq, Archibald Tactful, Sarah McCreadie, Cortina Ford a mwy
Maggi Noggi
Noson cabaret gyda naws LHDT. Bydd Helen Sandler yn cyflwyno detholiad o dalent dawnus lleol a chenedlaethol, o syrcas i gân. Disgwylwch ymddiddan ffraeth, chwerthin afreolus ac afiaith heintus. Maggi Noggi: Cwîn enwocaf a ffyrnicaf Ynys Môn a Chymru. Yn ymddangos ar Y Salon ar S4C. “Gallwch chi fynd a’r ferch o’r ffarm…” Chocolat: Grŵp ‘gypsy swing jazz’ o Aberystwyth. Amser dawnsio!
Sadiq
Sadiq Sadiq: Sgiliau syrcas cyfoes a syfrdanol. Mae Sadiq yn perfformio efo Ockham’s Razor Archibald Tactful: Proto-Dduw, carwr sment a dawnsiwr arbrofol. “Laurie Anderson meets Groucho Marx” – FringeReview Sarah McCreadie: Siarad miniog gan seren newydd o Gaerdydd King Frankie Sinatra: Caneuon Sinatra Meic agored: gweler isod
Mae croeso i bawb yn y noson hwyliog a chyfeillgar hon, p’un a ydych chi’n hoyw, yn syth, yn draws … neu beth bynnag! Arweiniad oed 16+
Yn cynnwys meic agored: i berfformio cân neu ddarllen cerdd yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg,
e-bostiwch aberrationcymru@gmail.com
Cefnogwyr: Mae Aberration ar daith yn ystod yr haf drwy nawdd hael Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, Llywodraeth Cymru, Y Loteri Genedlaethol, Prifysgol Aberystwyth a gwesty llysieuol Over The Rainbow. Rhaglenwyd y daith gan SpringOut ac Enfys Aber. Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb!
For some years, Jane has been recording the experiences of the oldest generations of lesbians in the UK. Her new book, 
