Tag Archives: Cymru

Off the Wall workshops

Aberration, Events, Workshops, , , ,

‘Off the Wall’ writing & performance workshops from Aberration

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2026, Aberration invites you to be part of a thoughtful, joyful group that will create new writing and performance pieces together

In these two linked workshops we’ll share our responses to the paintings and photographs in the Portrait & Power exhibition.

Two Saturdays: 31 January & 7 Feb 2026, 10.30am to 1.30pm National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

More information

In a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, we’ll create new writing and performance pieces together which will then become part of the programme at our fabulous Off the Wall Extravaganza Night.

These group workshops for LGBTQI+ people will be facilitated by Helen Sandler and Jane Hoy of Aberration, and community arts supremo Cath Rigler (who performs as Kitty O’Blitherin).

In the first session, we will visit the Portrait & Power exhibition in the gallery and discuss responses to the stunning paintings and photographs on display. Through writing exercises you can respond to a portrait (or portraits) with significance for you as a member of the LGBTQI+ community.

In the second session, we will shape our writing into short performance pieces for the upcoming Off the Wall evening (12 Feb). Individual and group pieces will magically emerge. Anyone who doesn’t want to perform doesn’t have to!

Helen and Cath at previous Aberration
Jane and Cath at last National Library event

SIGNING UP

Interested? Excited? Want to sign up or ask a question? Email aberrationcymru@gmail.com with the subject line Off the Wall Workshops.

You need to be available to attend BOTH workshops. There may be an additional rehearsal before the evening event.

Workshops are FREE (small expenses budget available). Limited places.

>> Make sure you read the main page about the Off the Wall extravaganza night here >>

Venue accessible for disabled people. Aberration is trans-inclusive, anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ run, and aiming for queer fabulousness!

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Y Tu Allan i’r Ffrâm 11/7/25

Cymraeg, ,

ABERRATION, LLYFRGELL GENEDLAETHOL, ABERYSTWYTH

Dydd Gwener 11 Gorffennaf 6.30yh, £5

SAESNEG / ENGLISH >>

6.30yh diodydd, 7yh taith

!!WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN!!
See English page for refunds / waiting list >>

Y Tu Allan i’r Ffrâm – Ymatebion Cwiar i’r arddangosfa ‘Dim Celf Gymreig’
Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer taith arbennig o’r Oriel. Ar hyd y ffordd, bydd artistiaid ac awduron yn edrych ar y celf drwy lens LHDTQ+. Noson gyffrous a chreadigol wedi’i rhaglennu gan Aberration.

£5 gan gynnwys gwydraid o win

TOCYNNAU>>

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Out of the Frame 11/7/25

Aberration, Archive, LGBT, , , , , ,

ABERRATION @ NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES, ABERYSTWYTH

CYMRAEG >>

!!SOLD OUT!!

Friday 11 July 2025, 6.30pm, £5 (includes drink)

OUT OF THE FRAME: QUEER RESPONSES TO THE EXHIBITION ‘NO WELSH ART’

!!SOLD OUT!! If you have tickets and can't come, email post@llgc.org.uk for refund, in plenty of time. If you don't have tickets, you can join the waiting list on the 'TICKETS' link below.

TICKETS >> [WAITING LIST]

6.30pm Gather for drinks. 7pm Tour begins in gallery

Join us in this very special tour of the current exhibition in the Gregynog Gallery, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

On the way artists and writers will take a fresh look at the art through an LGBTQ+ lens.  An exciting and creative evening programmed by Aberration.

Artists include Jane Hoy, Abid Hussain, Naomi Pearce, and Tomos Williams, each presenting their own unique take on the art, history and politics of Cymru, among the sumptuous artworks of the ‘No Welsh Art’ exhibition. Plus short queer tales performed by Simon Robson and Elin Haf; and alternative creative captions produced in an Aberration / National Library workshop.

Stories, sounds, performance and visions… all-round 360-degree queer fabulousness, for one night only. Grab your tickets now!

Click this link, then scroll down to the red ‘BOOK NOW’ button>>

🎫 TICKETS >>

About the Artists >>

About the Exhibition >>

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About the Artists

Aberration, , , , ,

OUT OF THE FRAME: Aberration has asked several talented artists and writers based in Wales to be part of this very special evening on 11 July 2025.

Naomi Pearce (pictured below) is a writer and curator; she is also a Lecturer at Aberystwyth School of Art and has helped to put together this event. For ‘Out of the Frame’ she will be presenting a piece of new writing inspired by one of the artworks in the exhibition, alongside a sculptural intervention created in dialogue with Catrin Webster. 

Abid Hussain is an emerging visual artist and a practice based researcher, based in Wales. He went to Aberystwyth University and completed his professional training as a practitioner at the School of Art there. Abid has exhibited at several locations including Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the British Museum. His work often explores the relationships between bodies and spaces.

Abid writes: “My art practice is a living and breathing organism, that is guiding me in return for providing nourishment and protection. It lingers ‘outside’ or ‘in-between’ the established boundaries of installation, sculpture, painting, film and performance art. Currently I am particularly drawn to examine the relationship between ‘minoritised’ bodies and ‘majoritised’ spaces.”

Tomos Williams will present a new piece especially developed for Out of the Frame. Tomos is a Welsh artist and maker based in Cardiff. Trained as a musician, he has been focussing on his art practice since the early 2000s.

Tomos has made and exhibited relief prints (examples held in the collection of the School of Art, Aberystwyth University), animated text, book works and fabric work. In addition he has performed his writing at Chapter and at the Wales in Venice venue during the Biennale in 2015.

He is currently looking at Welsh quilts and Shetland Lace knitting and developing his ideas about the relationships between stitch and place.

Jane Hoy of Queer Tales from Wales will present stories about the characters beyond the frame of some of the artworks. Brought to life by performers Simon Robson and Elin Haf. And the Ladies of Llangollen will make an appearance in the guise of Jane and her partner Helen Sandler.

Jane is a writer and researcher of short stories and performances about Queer people from Welsh History. She is one of the programmers of Aberration and a latin and ballroom dancer.

ABOUT THE EVENT >>

TICKETS >>

[PAST EVENT] Queer Lit Quarterly 13/06/25

Aberration, Archive, Books, LGBT, , , , ,

Latest update on timings: Doors open at 6.30 pm, with talks starting from 7pm.

Friday 13 June 2025: Queer Lit Quarterly returns to Aberystwyth Arts Centre with four fascinating authors of fiction and non-fiction. Arranged by Gayberystwyth Books and supported by Aberration, this is the LGBTQ+ night for all you book lovers! £8 (inc booking fee)

Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, editor of Curiadau

PJ Ellis, author of We Could Be Heroes

Ellen Jones, author of Outrage

Joshua Jones, author of Local Fires

Tickets: https://aberystwythartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173662770

Each author will read from and talk about their books and take audience questions. You will also have the chance to buy signed copies of the books. An enjoyable evening in the company of fascinating writers and friendly book lovers.

Queer Tales at Mach Pride

Aberration, Archive, History, LGBT, Women, , , , , ,

— PAST EVENT —

Queer Tales from Wales present

A LIFE OF SURPRISES

The True Story of a Remarkable Victorian Sapphic Couple

PART OF BALCHDER MACH PRIDE WEEKEND!

Friday 16 May 7pm, Old Pizzeria, Wynnstay Hotel, Machynlleth, Powys

TICKETS >>

What happens when a stroppy Irish feminist writer falls for a quiet Welsh woman sculptor in Bella Roma?

Find out in this delightful show about Frances Power Cobbe and her ‘wifie’ Mary Charlotte Lloyd of Llanelltyd – and their amazing friends; Ours is the old, old story of every uprising race or class or order.

The work of elevation must be wrought by ourselves or not at all.’ Frances Power Cobbe, The Duties of Women (1882). From the duo who brought you the Ladies of Llangollen: Jane Hoy and Helen Sandler of Queer Tales From Wales

What the audience said about previous shows:

‘Such a treat! Such a polished performance and wonderful script… I feel enriched by having had the opportunity to watch this.’
‘A deeply moving and funny animation of these inspiring women’s stories. Hope many others have the chance to see/ hear this.’
‘Forgotten women resurrected – wonderful.’

Tickets £8 plus booking fee, or pay what you can: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/…/queer-tales…/e-ajzmax 

A warm welcome for all! Croeso cynnes i bawb!

Written, researched and performed by Jane Hoy with Helen Sandler and friends

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Crossing the Line: LGBTQ+ History Month 28/2/25

Aberration, Archive, History, LGBT, , , , , , ,

We are delighted to bring Aberration back to the magnificent Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth with ‘Crossing the Line’, programmed especially for LGBTQ+ History Month.

We’ve put together an amazing evening of stories and film, facts and fabulousness for you all. Programme below. Edrych ymlaen!

Aberration presents Crossing The Line

An evening for LGBTQ+ History Month, Friday 28 February, Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth. Doors open 6.30pm, starts 7pm. Tickets: £8 early bird (plus booking fee) or £10 on the door.

Early bird tickets from Outsavvy: link.outsavvy.com/crossing

Aberration will be taking a journey around Ceredigion and beyond, including queer and trans Celtic history and mythology and some of the characters and events on our Ceredigion LGBTQ+ timeline. We are also proud to be hosting the Wales launch of a new book, 3000 Lesbians Go to York, about a much-loved national arts festival. The evening ends with a new film celebrating Aberration’s own contribution to Welsh LBGTQ+ culture and arts over more than ten years.

PROGRAMME

6.30    Doors open: Come and have a look at the Ceredigion Timeline and add your stories.

RAFFLE: Bring cash for raffle tickets in aid of All Out – lots of great prizes from local businesses and friends of Aberration including Bottle & Barrel, Medina cafe-bar, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, and our authors!

7pm Welcome from your Aberration hosts, Helen Sandler, Jane Hoy and Ruth Fowler

Cheryl Morgan: In Search of Trans Celts

Cheryl will look at evidence from archaeology, Roman writers, and Arthurian legend, to see what we can tell about how our ancestors saw gender.

7.30pm   Queering the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi: power, resistance, and desire

This talk by Colin Audigé-Soutter, based on his MA thesis, illuminates the potential queer undercurrents pulsing through one of Celtic literature’s most enigmatic narratives.

8pm  INTERVAL  Refreshments and Bar, Raffle for All Out with amazing prizes, and another opportunity to add your story to the Ceredigion Timeline.

8.30   The Ceredigion Timeline: an interactive journey

Jane (L) and Norena

Norena Shopland describes the background to the Timeline – a project to record the LGBTQ+ history of every county in Cymru. Jane Hoy introduces some of Ceredigion’s queer characters and events, with friends of Aberration reading their words.

9pm   3000 Lesbians Go To York

Jane Traies will launch her lavishly illustrated new book, 3000 Lesbians Go to York (Tollington, 2025) about the arts festivals that drew massive crowds in the Noughties. Aberration’s own Helen Sandler, publisher of the book, will introduce Jane’s talk about the legendary weekender.

9.30    Aberration: a celebration

FILM PREMIERE! Ruth, Helen and Jane of Aberration will screen Amy Daniel’s new short film about Aberration’s fabulous first decade.

10pm (approx) Ends

Early bird tickets from Outsavvy: link.outsavvy.com/crossing

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[PAST EVENT] Kaan & Aitch share a stage 14/11/24

Aberration, Archive, LGBT, , , , ,

Aberration returns to the Bank Vault bar in Aberystwyth on the evening of Thursday 14 November. Doors 6pm, onstage 7pm. £6 on the door (cash / card / phone)

Kaan K will perform spoken word from their brilliant collection If I Were Erol (published by Fourteen Poems) AND a brand new book just out (see below)! We are delighted that Kaan, who had a short slot at last year’s talent night, will tonight take you on a journey through their moving work. Books available to buy on the night, with author signings.

Sharing the stage is Aitch, the comedian alter ego of your regular host Helen Sandler. Aitch will perform new material especially written for tonight. She’s even been on a course!

A magical queer night! Drinks available from the well-stocked bar including a range of craft beers. No pressure to drink alcohol, as there are lots of great soft drinks on sale too. Please support our friendly venue.

KAAN’S FIRST FULL-LENGTH POETRY COLLECTION

Rosewater

Raw, sexy, vulnerable and challenging, Rosewater asks what it means to embody a border.

‘The land isn’t binary and neither am I’
Kaan K dives deep into their Cypriot heritage, pondering their connection to an island with the world’s only divided capital city. They reflect on the divisions in their personal life – cultural, spiritual, sexual.

Rosewater is a homage to trans tenderness, a cry for connection and a search for hope, joy and change. Follow Kaan on Instagram @dream.with.kaan

AITCH’S FIRST PROPER COMEDY OUTING

Tales of the Village

Come with Aitch on a journey. Around the village and back. Perhaps she’ll get a nice little part-time job along the way. What could possibly go wrong?

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Peace of Writing workshop 27/7/24

Aberration, Archive, Women, Workshops, , ,
Cymraeg >>

[PAST EVENT] Saturday 27 July 11am to 3pm Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth: Creative writing workshop hosted by Sian Howys of Academi Heddwch Cymru, with historian Norena Shopland and Aberration’s own Jane Hoy, inspired by the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of 1923-24. Scroll down for details and booking link.

You may have heard of the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition, which was signed by nearly 400,000 women from across the country, sent in a huge chest to the USA a century ago; and has recently returned to Cymru. But who were the women who signed this petition? We will hear the stories behind some of these women, and have the opportunity to write our own stories, poems or other writing in response to their lives.

Images of some of the women who signed, provided by their relatives

Details

Welsh Women’s Peace Appeal 1923/24
Peace of Writing Creative Workshop – free of charge!

Education Room, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Saturday July 27 11 am – 3 pm

Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be provided and Pendinas cafe will be open for light refreshments.

With Norena Shopland (Women and LGBTQ+ Historian) and Jane Hoy (Queer Tales from Wales and Aberration). You will be guided to produce short pieces of creative writing – poems, stories or other –  inspired by the hidden histories of the women who signed the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition 1923/24.

Four women with petition
M.G. (Gladys) Thomas; Mary Elizabeth Ellis; Annie Jane Hughes-Griffiths; Elined Prys
(Gwefan Llyfrgell Genedlaethol / National Library of Wales website)

You can present your work in Welsh or English. With your permission, the Petitioning Peace project would like to consider including any finalised pieces within the project’s collection of creative work.  

To receive further information about the workshop and to book your free place please email: post@academiheddwch.cymru

Event Calendar

Aberration, Archive, , , , , ,

DIGWYDDIADAU CYFFROUS

Friday 26 July 6pm Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum
Exhibition visit, artist talks, film and discussion around the exhibition ‘For the Curious and Interested’, led by Voices from the Edge. With Rose Thorn and Abid Hussain. Read more >>

and the next day…
Saturday 27 July 11am to 3pm Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
‘Peace of Writing’ – Creative writing workshop led by historian Norena Shopland and our own Jane Hoy, inspired by the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of 1923-24. Details >>

Saturday 3 August Plas Newydd, Llangollen
Queer Tales from Wales present ‘An Extraordinary Female Affection: The life and love of the Ladies of Llangollen’. An entertaining promenade performance in the grounds of the very house where the ladies lived two hundred years ago. With afternoon tea! Details >>

Friday 16 August Aberystwyth South Beach
Picnic after work – bring your own food and drink to this fun social event. Don’t forget a rug or folding chair to sit on too.

September: We’re taking a break – no event.

Wed 16 October Aberystwyth Arts Centre
A new operetta marks the centenary of Edward Prosser Rhys winning the Crown at the National Eisteddfod with his poem ‘Atgof’. And Aberration will host an intervention that turns a queer gaze on the poet and his circle.

Thurs 14 November Surprise event at Bank Vault!

Details of all above events to be announced soon on our website and socials!

www.aberration.org.uk @aberrationcymru

SPONSOR


We are grateful to Prifysgol Aberystwyth University for financial support for Aberration.

See you soon! Edrych ymlaen!

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