Tag Archives: Cymru

‘A Home for My Heart’ film

THIS EVENT HAS NOW PASSED

2.30pm Sunday 26 March, Aberystwyth Arts Centre: WOW Film Festival matinee

Come and watch A Home for My Heart, a sensitive documentary portrait of Suvana Sudeb, an Indian trans woman – her life with her family, friends, lover and fellow activists. Hour-long film directed by Sankhajit Biswas. Plus short.

After the film, Helen Sandler of Aberration will be chairing a Q&A in which the star and director will beam in from India to answer your questions!

Find out more and book your tickets at Aberystwyth Arts Centre >>

Full festival programme >>

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History Month ’23 Calendar

Events in Cymru for ‘Long LGBTQ+ History Month’ involving Aberration or Queer Tales from Wales

March 2023 – Book now!

Tuesday 7 March, 5pm, National Library, Aberystwyth.
Queer Tales from Wales present ‘A Moral Amazon: The Story of Miss Amy Dillwyn’. A novelist, industrialist and cigar smoker, Miss Dillwyn also loved her friend Olive with all her heart. ? https://www.library.wales/visit/things-to-do/events

Sun 26 March, 2.30pm, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberration will be part of a screening at WOW Festival of A Home for My Heart. This kind and moving documentary follows Suvana Sudeb, an Indian trans woman, through the ups and downs of life with family, friends, lover and comrades. With Q&A.
https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/cinema/wow-home-my-heart-15-short-film-mirrors

February 2023 (past events)

Sun 12 Feb, 12 noon, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.
LezDiff celebrates History Month with films, talks and performances. Queer Tales appear with both ‘Queen of the Lake’ and ‘A Moral Amazon: The Story of Miss Amy Dillwyn’. Also on the bill are our friends Behind the Lines and Norena Shopland.
https://lezdiff.org/lgbtq-history-month-event/

Sat 18 Feb, 2.30pm, Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
Aberration presents: Proud Writing Workshop with Norena Shopland – writing from history. Book early, limited to 15 places.

Sat 18 Feb, 7pm, Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
Aberration presents Dreaming Up the Past: Exciting evening of film, art, music and drama. With Cerys Hafana, Amy Daniel, Sarah-Joy Ford, Lost Knitters + Cranogwen.
https://www.aberration.org.uk/dreaming-up-the-past-18-2-23/

Thurs 23 Feb, 6pm, Conwy Museums & Archives.
Queer Tales from Wales present ‘Two Welshmen in Rome’ – the dramatised story of renowned sculptor John Gibson & his special friend Penry Williams. https://conwylibraries.com/events/out-and-about-lgbtq-history-month-celebration-event

Dreaming Up The Past

Bringing LGBTQ+ histories to life

Our tenth LGBTQ+ History Month! At Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 18 February 2023. Workshop, cafe, and evening event.

Supported by Aberystwyth University & National Library of Wales

Workshop

Please note: Proud Writing Workshop with Norena Shopland at 2pm has now sold out.

Dinner

5.30 to 6.30pm: All welcome to eat together in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre Café – pay as you go. Let us know if you want us to reserve a place in our space by emailing aberrationcymru@gmail.com

Dreaming Up the Past – The main event!

Tocynnau >> Tickets >> £10 / £8

Take your seats from 6.45pm with a welcome at 7pm from your host Helen Sandler.

Cerys Hafana – live music

Cerys Hafana (by Heledd Wynn)

Cerys Hafana is top of the bill! Cerys is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Machynlleth who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archive materials and electronic processing. Her latest release, Edyf, was Folk Album of the Month in the Guardian.

Especially for Aberration, Cerys has created ‘Queer as Folk’, by interviewing other LGBTQ+ musicians from around the UK and will be playing clips from these interviews as well as singing and playing live for us. A work in progress that has never been heard before!

“Cerys Hafana’s sound is simultaneously ancient in feel and yet impossibly, intriguingly modern. It is also in a field of its own; there is nothing else quite like this” – folkradio.co.uk

“Raw power” – Songlines

“A master of the Welsh triple harp… Hafana also sings movingly, her high voice like an indie-pop soprano shorn of its sweetness.” – Guardian

Behind the Lens – film and Q&A

Ysbrydion

Screening of Ysbrydion (Spirits) (Welsh with English subtitles), a stunning new short documentary by award-winning film director Amy Daniel. The film features four people sharing their experiences of growing up LGBTQ+ in rural Wales, imaginatively projected into the landscape. Followed by a panel discussion with Amy and participants.

Beloved – lesbian art

Sarah-Joy Ford

Sarah-Joy Ford will talk about her 2022 solo show Beloved: Crafting Intimacies with the Ladies of Llangollen at Plas Newydd. Created after a period of residency, the site-specific embroidered intervention was inspired by the deep and lifelong intimate relationship between the Ladies and the extraordinary home that they created together from 1780.

Sarah-Joy Ford is an artist researcher working with textiles to explore the complexities and pleasures of queer communities, histories and archives.

Tocynnau >> Tickets >>

The Lost Knitters of Tregaron – live theatre

Ruth Fowler as Cranogwen

The Lost Knitters take time out from their hard lives gathering wool, spinning and knitting to tell the story of their lives. Times are changing and they gossip about two local girls who cross-dress and have been immortalised in the street-corner ballad ‘Wel Lanciau’. 

Then Sarah-Jane Rees – often known by her bardic name Cranogwen – visits to answer their questions. Wondering what to do with your life? Cranogwen has the answer!

Cranogwen (1839-1916) was a writer, sailor, lecturer, and editor of the women’s magazine Y Frythones. Her relationships with women sustained and inspired her. She comes back to life this evening for your edification and delight.

Donations

Please bring cash for donations to AllOut, the international campaigning network that supports LGBTQ+ people wherever their rights and safety are threatened.

Croeso cynnes

All welcome. The evening is suitable for adults and young people interested in LGBTQ+ lives and history. Aberration is a trans-positive space. Event partly in English, partly in Welsh with English subtitles. The venue has good disabled access.

Book now!

Tickets >>

Tocynnau >>

Cefnogir gan / Supported by

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Summer Sizzlers

Aberration Summer Sizzlers:
Queer History Walk & Beach Picnic
Sat 20/8/22

Dewch i ymuno â ni – dau digwyddiad gwych yn Aber!

TWO GREAT EVENTS ON 20 AUGUST 2022

EVENING

BEACH PICNIC – JUST TURN UP!

7pm onwards on Aberystwyth South Beach near The Hut refreshment stand – look out for the rainbow flags and join the fun! Just turn up (no booking). Bring your own picnic. All LGBTQ+ people and their supportive friends and families welcome. If you are under 16 then your parent or carer needs to be with you.

Join the Facebook event page for updates >>

AFTERNOON

QUEER HISTORY WALK – SOLD OUT!

Manylion (Cymraeg) >> Wedi gwerthu allan!

Profits to AllOut – the grassroots campaigning charity for LGBT+ people worldwide.

Meet 2.30pm at The Bank Vault bar, 1 New Street, Aberystwyth for a guided walk around the town led by Jane Hoy of Aberration & Queer Tales from Wales. Fascinating stories of the queer history of Aber and the people who lived and worked here.

More info>>

Ceredigion Cwiar

Aberration yn cyfwyno Ceredigion Cwiar yn yr Eisteddfod Ceredigion: Tregaron, Dydd Gwener 5 Awst 2022. 6.30pm. Maes D {Scroll down for English}

Gyda’r awdur a’r darlledwr Mike Parker

Yn cynnwys…

Plethiad o ganeuon a straeon gan Nyddwyr Coll Tregaron

Holi’r Colofnydd Gofidau gyda’r bardd Cranogwen

Lleisiau Cwiar o Dregaron – gosodiad sain gyda Ruth Fowler a’i ffrindiau

Ailddarganfod baled o’r 1870au am ferched sy’n hoffi merched wedi gwisgo fel bechgyn…

Heb anghofio Mermerings – Izzey Rabey a Molly McBreen yn cyfuno Hip Hop, Pync a Gwerin

https://eisteddfod.cymru/

Cefnogir gan Prifysgol Aberystwyth

ENGLISH:

Aberration presents ‘Ceredigion Cwiar’ (‘Queer Ceredigion’) in Welsh at the National Eisteddfod Ceredigion: Tregaron, Friday 5 August 2022. 6.30pm. Maes D (Learners’ Tent)

With stories of the Lost Knitters of Tregaron, answers to your problems from the poet Cranogwen (played by Ruth Fowler, pictured), new short film of queer rural voices (dir. Amy Daniel), and live music from hip-hop / punk / folk duo Mermerings. Compered by writer and broadcaster Mike Parker. See you there!

https://eisteddfod.wales/

Supported by Aberystwyth University

Cabarration 2016

Aberration

CABARRATION

8pm 21 October 2016 (doors 7.30pm)
Aberystwyth Arts Centre – Great Hall
A cabaret night with a very queer bite!

Book tickets here>>

cabarrationweb-medium

AMAZING ACTS…

Jonathan Mayor

jonathanmayorgoldJonathan Mayor will be entertaining us with his cutting comedy – dressed up in glitter-storm Bollywood drag and delivered with twinkly chutzpah. Coming all the way from Gaychester just to entertain you.

‘A self-obsessed glittery queen with a larger than life personality who arrives onstage in a bamboozling mix of innuendo’ – Manchester Evening News
‘Very funny’ – Michael Palin
‘Marvellously wicked’ – Sarah Millican

www.jonathanmayor.co.uk
Twitter: @jonathanmayor

Lynette Frances

lynettefranceswebLynette Frances is a hit wherever she plays, from L Fest to an intimate bar, combining an amazing voice with a love of entertaining. She will play a range of rock and country covers to get us in the Friday night vibe. Later in the evening, Lynette will be teaching us all a line-dance so get your dancing shoes on!

Lynette lives on the south coast of England and has been performing since the age of 12. She runs the Way Out Country Facebook group for LGBT lovers of country music and line-dancing.

lynettefrances.webs.com
Twitter: @LynetteFrances

Ashleigh Owen

ashleighturnAshleigh Owen will be performing an extract from her one-woman show, ‘The Rise and Fall Of The Hamburger Queen’, which can be seen in full at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool, as part of Homotopia.

Ashleigh’s mum wouldn’t let her dance, because dancing killed her dad. ‘He went down into the splits and never got up again.’ She danced in secret until the day came to break the news to her mother: she was leaving for London to become a famous dancer. Bright lights, big city, wide-eyed Scouser… what could possibly go wrong?

www.ashleighowen.co.uk
Twitter: @AshleighPOwen

Sparkles Hoop Troupe

sparkles2Hula-hoop dancing from Cardiff’s amazing Sparkles Hoop Troupe. This community troupe is fully inclusive and hooping crazy.

‘The funniest, finest and most dynamic act in Cardiff!’ – We Are Cardiff Press

sparkleshooptroupe.simdif.com
Twitter: @sparkleshoop

Ernie Sparkles

sparkles7Fun ‘boylesque’ (male burlesque) from Ernie Sparkles. Cheeky in every way!


Bois y Fro

boisAberystwyth’s own vocal quartet, Bois y Fro, have been singing together off-and-on for 10 years and more. With a repertoire ranging from folk to classical to modern (and a lot of things in between) in both Welsh and English, there’s sure to be something for everyone when these guys take the stage.

Twitter: @boisyfro

Plus…

Hosted by Aberration favourite Helen Sandler, with raffle and bar. The evening has an LGBTQI+ theme (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, intersex, and all-round inclusive). All open-minded people are welcome at this fun and friendly night. “You don’t have to be queer to be here.” Dress to impress!

Subscribe to our Aberration mailing list




Join our event on Facebook for updates>>

Book your tickets now through Aberystwyth Arts Centre>>

Aberration is brought to you by SpringOut and Enfys Aber, in partnership with Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Without the financial and practical support of the Arts Centre, this year's Cabarration could not take place (or not unless we charged three times as much for the tickets) so please come along, show your support for the biggest queer-themed night in Mid Wales and have a fabulous night. Diolch yn fawr!

 

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Aberration: Out for Summer

Aberration

OUT FOR SUMMER

THEATR + CERDDORIAETH + GAIR LLAFAR // THEATRE + MUSIC + SPOKEN WORD

A hot night of Aberration music, theatre and spoken word with Tom Marshman, Kedma, Mike Parker, Helen Sandler and new acts! Champagne auction for Ugandan safe house for LGBT people. Event in English. Tickets on sale now at £7.50 from Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

miniflyeroutweb

RHAGLEN

{scroll down for English}

Bydd Tom Marshman yn cyflwyno detholiad o ei sioe newydd, Kings Cross Remix, fel gwaith ar y gweill. Gwau at ei gilydd o straeon y bobl a brofodd yn llaw gyntaf, mae sioe ‘un dyn’ Tom yn dathlu lleisiau aflafar o Lundain y 1980au.

Mae Tom yn artist perfformiad sy’n trawsnewid cyfrifon bob dydd i mewn i theatr. Mae gwaith blaenorol yn cynnwys ‘Move Over Darling’.

“Un o’r pethau mwyaf cyffrous am waith Marshman yw ei allu i ddewis pwnc sy’n ymddangos yn fach ac edrychwch drwy’r haenau i ddatgelu rhywbeth annisgwyl a dwys” – Big Issue

GWEITHDY Bydd Tom hefyd yn cynnal gweithdy cyn Aberration, am addasu cyfweliadau am sgript. Yn addas ar gyfer pawb, os ydych yn gwybod am theatr neu beidio. Chi jyst angen i fod hyd am gymryd rhan! Manylion.
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KedmaMae Kedma yn leisydd proffesiynol o Aberystwyth sydd wedi graddio yn ddiweddar gyda Gradd Dosbarth Cyntaf Anrhydedd o Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Fodern Prydain ac Iwerddon (BIMM) sy’n cael ei ystyried yn eang fel ysgol flaenllaw Ewrop ar gyfer cerddoriaeth gyfoes.

Mae hi bellach yn gweithio fel cerddor sesiwn gigio yn helaeth fel prif leisydd a chefnogaeth ar gyfer lleoliadau o fri, teledu, radio, llong fordaith ayyb. Yn fwyaf diweddar bu’n perfformio fel egwyddor ganwr yn ‘The Ballroom Bloomsbury’ ar gyfer lansiad y sioe arobryn “London Never Dies”ar gyfer y Clwb Cabaret Llundain. Yn lleol, efallai y byddwch yn adnabod hi o berfformiadau gyda “Elinor Powell’s Sgarmes”.

Mae ei llais yn gyfoethog ac yn llawn enaid ac mae ei pherfformiadau yn gwbl hudolus.

www.kedmamacias.co.uk

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Mike Parker yn sôn am ei lyfr newydd, The Greasy Poll (Y Lolfa, Mai) –  y dyddiadur am ei ymgyrch rhwystro i gael ei ethol yn Aelod Seneddol dros Geredigion.

Fel Sais hoyw, nid oedd llenor Mike Parker y dewis amlwg fel ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru yn eu sedd targed o Geredigion yn yr etholiad cyffredinol 2015. Diolch i’r afluniadau gwarthus y wasg, daeth yr ymgyrch yn frwnt  fel un o’r gwaethaf yn hanes yr ardal; gan alw ar hiliaeth, homoffobia, creu Stormydd ar Twitter a chyfraniad gan yr heddlu. The Greasy Poll ydi dyddiadur “ddoniol, cyffrous a brawychus” (Patrick McGuiness) Mike o’r ymgyrch a’i gwersi ehangach ar sut mae ein system wleidyddol yn ein methu. Byddwch un o’r rhai cyntaf i glywed Mike yn darllen o gofiant doniol a ddeifiol.

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Nid yw Helen Sandler yn un o’r tîm Aberration yn unig, mae hi hefyd yn awdur. Bydd Helen yn darllen i ni oddi wrth ei nofel nwydus newydd, ‘The Wishmistress’, am ddwy fenyw yn ceisio peidio â chael affêr.

HEFYD Ocsiwn Bwced Siampaen ar gyfer y tŷ diogel a gefnogwn yn Uganda ar gyfer pobl LHDT. Mae Bar Rummers wedi rhoddwyd yn garedig i ni magnwm o Siampaen. Byddwn yn arwerthu i ffwrdd mewn ffordd arbennig – cael gwybod mwy ar y noson a dod â rhywfaint o arian parod!

Ar ôl y digwyddiad aros i sipian coctels gyda’r artistiaid yn y bar Canolfan y Celfyddydau ac ar y teras.

ARCHEBWCH EICH TOCYNNAU NAWR!

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PROGRAMME

Tom Marshman will present an extract from his new show, Kings Cross Remix, as a work in progress. Woven together from the stories of the people who experienced it first hand, Tom’s one-man show celebrates the raucous voices of 1980s London.

TomMarshmanWebXTom is a performance artist who transforms everyday accounts into theatre. Previous work includes the acclaimed Move Over Darling.

“One of the most exciting things about Marshman’s work is his ability to pick a seemingly small subject and peel back the layers to expose something unexpectedly profound” – Big Issue

WORKSHOP Tom will also run a workshop before Aberration, about turning interviews into a script. Suitable for everyone, whether you know about theatre or not. You just need to be up for taking part! Details.
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Mike Parker will read from and talk about his new book, The Greasy Poll (Y Lolfa, May) – the diary of his thwarted campaign to be elected as MP for Ceredigion last year.

As a gay Englishman and a writer, Mike was not the obvious choice for Plaid Cymru candidate. Thanks to the outrageous distortions of the press, the campaign became the filthiest in the area’s history, invoking racism, homophobia, Twitterstorms and police involvement.

GreasyPollWebThe Greasy Poll is Mike’s “funny, thrilling and terrifying” (Patrick McGuiness) diary of the campaign, and its wider lessons on how our political system is failing us. Be one of the first to hear Mike read from this hard-hitting and humorous memoir.

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Kedma is a professional vocalist from Aberystwyth who has recently graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from The British & Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) which is widely regarded as Europe’s leading school for contemporary music.

She now works as a session musician gigging extensively as a lead and backing vocalist for prestigious venues, TV, radio, cruise ship etc. Most recently she performed as a principal vocalist at The Bloomsbury Ballroom for the launch of the award-winning show London Never Dies for The London Cabaret Club. Locally, you may recognise her from performances with Elinor Powell’s Sgarmes.

Her voice is rich and soulful and her performances are completely captivating.

www.kedmamacias.co.uk

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Helen Sandler is not just one of the Aberration team, she’s also a writer. Helen will be reading to us from her sultry new novel, The Wishmistress, about two women trying not to have an affair.

PLUS Champagne Bucket Auction for the safe house we support in Uganda for LGBT people. Rummers Bar have kindly donated a magnum of champagne. We will be auctioning it off in a special way – find out more on the night and bring some cash!

After the event please stay to sip cocktails with the artists in the Arts Centre bar and on the terrace.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Aberration, 1st feb Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Photo by Daryl Ras Gdalya Jemmott

Aberration workshop: Turned Tales

Aberration workshop

Turned Tales – Creating a script from interviews

A special workshop on the magic of turning interviews into scripts, arranged by Aberration

5.30 to 7pm Friday 27 May. Meet at 5.15pm at Aberystwyth Arts Centre box office to go to the room (Creative Unit 5 & 6). £5, book in advance, limited to 15 places

TomMarshmanWebCrop

Tom Marshman is a performance artist who transforms everyday accounts into theatre. For his Kings Cross (Remix) theatre project about 1980s gay London (pictured), Tom went through a process of having group chats over tea, then more intimate one-on-one interviews, which were recorded and transcribed before being worked into a script.

In this workshop, Tom will give an insight into his process, share tips, and talk about the issues of working with other people’s stories. He hopes to inspire people to start to collect stories and see that everyone has a fascinating tale to tell, even if they don’t know it yet.

Workshop tickets £5 from Aberystwyth Arts Centre box office.

After the workshop, Tom will be performing an extract from Kings Cross (Remix) at Aberration: Out for Summer – an evening of theatre, spoken word and music with an LGBT theme.

Aberration May 2015 PROGRAMME

[ARCHIVE RECORD OF PAST EVENT]
Aberration presents:

Hoyw Heddiw // Gay Today

>>Cymraeg yma>>

7pm (for 7.30) Saturday 9 May 2015
Main Hall, International Politics Building,
Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus
£7 (includes a glass of wine)
Aberration, 1st feb Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Photo by Daryl Ras Gdalya Jemmott

What’s it like to be LGBT in Wales (and beyond)?
An evening of live music, discussion and readings

7pm Drinks

7.30pm Introduction by Dr Jenny Mathers, head of the International Politics department, an expert in Russian human rights issues including Pussy Riot and anti-gay legislation.

7.45pm Discussion about being LGBT in Wales, with our fabulous panel:

Jaci Taylor, who served as mayor of Aberystwyth in 2000-01, with her partner as mayoress.

Gareth Lloyd Roberts, director of Aberystwyth Arts Centre, past producer at Wales Millennium Centre.

Paddy O’Malley, co-editor and founder of The Aberystwyth EGO magazine and part of Sgarmes singing group.

Chaired by Elisa Haf, an Aber native with a degree in International Politics from the university and an interest in left-wing feminism.

The panel will be held in Welsh and English, with simultaneous translation. Followed by Q&A – join in with your questions for the panel.

8.45pm Interval

9pm Richard Margraff Turley will read from and talk about his new novel, The Cunning House, about attacks on gay culture in Regency London and the raid on the White Swan molly house.

9.15pm Multilingual live music from Machynlleth’s answer to Edith Piaf – Nicola Burgess & friends.

10pm Ends – come with us up to the Arts Centre to buy a drink in the bar and continue the conversation.

Timings are approximate. Programme subject to change.

Aberration is brought to you by Enfys Aber (Aber Uni’s LGBT staff network) and SpringOut (arts events for women, LGBT folk and friends).

>>View photos of the last fabulous Aberration>>

Aberration Quiz 27 Feb

Aberration Quiz

Blackouts (smaller)

Queer Quiz, Friday 27 February 2015

Dickie Beau is performing his show Blackouts: Twilight of the Idols at Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the Aberration team have arranged a fun pre-show quiz in the theatre bar at 5.45pm prompt, as part of LGBT History Month UK.
Bring your friends or join a team to meet new people. Questions will include the queer history of Wales and a photo quiz. Ends in time for a chat or a bite to eat before the show. All welcome, whether you are lesbian, gay, bi, undecided, straight, trans, intersex, whatever.
£1 per person on the night.
Quizmasters Mike Parker & Helen Sandler.
It’s Aberration’s first birthday so we hope you will raise a glass with us to celebrate!
Please book separately for the show, see below.
Quiz organised by SpringOut and Enfys Aber for Aberration.

Blackouts: Twilight of the Idols

Drag fabulist Dickie Beau shapeshifts through a shadowy soundscape of lost souls in a theatrical trip to the subconscious underworld of his future self. Bringing to life extraordinary audio artefacts, Dickie leads us on a bewitching adventure in found sound as he channels the ghosts of his childhood idols. Includes previously unheard tapes of Marilyn Monroe’s final interview.

Book your ticket to the Blackouts show on the Aberystwyth Arts Centre website>>