Wales Arts Review Weekly Update (04/03/2023)
"I like to have a specific person or demographic in mind that I’m writing for and with this, I felt like I was writing it for all the Pijins in Wales."
Pijin/Pigeon: In Conversation with Bethan Marlow
This week Theatr Iolo and Theatr Genedlaethol began their Wales-wide tour of the stage version of Alys Conran’s award-winning novel, Pijin/Pigeon. Emma Schofield spoke to playwright Bethan Marlow, who has adapted the play for stage.
"I like to have a specific person or demographic in mind that I’m writing for and with this, I felt like I was writing it for all the Pijins in Wales. I wanted to capture their attention and think about how I would draw them into it."
Featured Reviews
Birdsplaining: A Natural History | Review
Zoe Kramer reviews Birdsplaining: A Natural History, by New Welsh Writing Awards 2021 winner, Jasmine Donahaye. This exploration of women’s experience of nature, and the constraints placed upon it, takes in Wales, Scotland and California on its quest to offer a new way to engage with the natural world.
Read the full review here.
This spring Welsh National Opera brings its original work Blaze of Glory to stages across Wales. Gary Raymond was at the press night to see this story of a male voice choir brought to life.
Read Gary Raymond’s review in full, here.
News
A New Era for Wales Arts Review: A Letter from the Editor
Wales Arts Review’s Editor, Emma Schofield, announces an exciting new era for the Review.
Read the full letter, here.
Kate Wasserbeg Announced as New Artistic Director for Theatr Clwyd | News
Theatr Clwyd has announced that their new Artistic Director will be Kate Wasserberg. A hugely experienced and respected director, Kate was Artistic Director of both new writing company Stockroom and Cardiff’s The Other Room and has directed major productions that have toured nationally and internationally.
Read the full story here.
Aderyn and amateur theatre group Collaboration | News
Wales-based indie songwriters Aderyn and amateur theatre group have collaborated to produce “Yearning when i Sleep”, a pair of covers of each other’s songs, in order to raise funds and awareness for Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service and Calan DVS.
Read the full story here.
Video of the Week
This is Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today’s video features artist and illustrator Anne Cakebread taking us on a virtual walkthrough of her recent exhibition at Oriel Canfas in Cardigan.
In case you missed it…
The Americanization of Crime | Comment
"I know I’m not alone in having been carried on the true crime wave of the past ten years which taps into that age old human condition of being morbidly curious. But maybe it’s finally reached saturation and we will look back at this period in popular culture like we now look back at the problematic diet programmes of the early 00s."
Esyllt Sears wonders whether the time has come for popular culture to close the case file on true crime.
Read Esyllt Sears’ full essay here.