LGBT History Month with Aberration
Workshop: Doing LGBT+ History
Saturday 9 February 2019 3.30-6pm
Aberystwyth Arts Centre: Creative Unit 5/6 (silver pod)
£5 / £3 (concessions) – includes refreshments
Tickets on sale from Aberystwyth Arts Centre here>>
Ever fancied doing some LGBT+ historical research but don’t know where to begin? This lively participatory workshop will introduce different ways of opening up lesbian, gay, bi and trans history. Everyone is welcome, whether you are a research newbie or have some experience to share. We hope that it will be the beginning of a Mid Wales network in which we continue to uncover our hidden queer histories in the past and present.
The workshop will be facilitated by Jane Hoy of Aberration and Living Histories Cymru.
In the first part historian Norena Shopland (as seen at Aberrations past) will ask us to consider: What is LGBT+ historical research? What does it mean to use the terms sexual orientation and gender identity in history? Which sources should we use, and why? She will also introduce us to her new online research tool. Norena is the author of Forbidden Lives: LGBT stories from Wales (Seren, 2018).
In the second part writer and researcher Jane Traies will introduce her groundbreaking research with older lesbians. She will explore what oral history can offer and introduce us to ways of doing it ethically and effectively. We will get the chance to practise interviewing skills on each other. Jane is the editor of Now You See Me: Lesbian life stories (Tollington, 2018).
Hidden Worlds
The workshop will be followed later in the evening by ‘Hidden Worlds’: Aberration’s celebration of LGBT+ History Month with illustrated talks from Jane Traies and artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins plus the Welsh premiere of Karen Fisch’s jukebox musical Rebel Dyke. The evening starts at 7.45pm in the Round Studio and is ticketed separately at £10 / £8. Find out more>>
Future plans
Storytelling around the queer histories of Cymru: we are considering a summer event in which individuals offer a 5-10 minute performance/presentation based on the life of someone they are interested in (perhaps one of the people from Norena’s book or someone you have found). We would explore creative ways of presenting each person, in a series of workshops using story, poetry, film, music, drama, diary, dialogue… whatever is suggested by the materials we find and your strengths. For further information email janehoy99@gmail.com