Wales Arts Review Weekly Update (11/03/2023)
"These were women who knew the true cost of the injustice and inhumanity of war."
PAX at MOMA Machynlleth
All this week we’ve been marking this year’s International Women’s Day with a focus on the work of women in the arts in Wales, to coincide with this year’s call to “Embrace Equity”. Candy Bedworth was at MOMA Machynlleth to see PAX an exhibtion commemorating the centenary of the Women of Wales’ Peace Appeal of 1923-24.
"Where did this up-swelling of action come from? And why Wales? Welsh non-conformist chapel life has a history of pacifism, and so many small communities were devastated by losing family members in the First World War. Some say that women were confronted abruptly by the loss of their traditional roles as carers and home-makers as communities were disrupted by the loss of sons, husbands, brothers and fathers to take care of. But this was not just women wanting to protect traditional family values. This was also the keening of a Käthe Kollwitz Pietà, the mourning mother cradling her dead child. These were women who knew the true cost of the injustice and inhumanity of war.”
International Women’s Day 2023
Are You Judging Me Yet? | Review
We continued our week marking International Women’s Day with Cerys-Leigh Phipps‘ review of Are You Judging Me Yet? Poetry and Everyday Sexism, the latest collection from award-winning poet Kim Moore, which delves into the relationship between poetry and sexism.
Read the full review here.
Our Voice: Network Sharing Event
Emma Schofield reflects on the recent Our Voice Network sharing event at the Riverfront in Newport. The Our Voice Network was founded by dancer, choreographer and writer Krystal S. Lowe with the aim of supporting female artists of the Global Majority to begin their career within the arts in Wales.
Read the full piece here.
News and Reviews
Ally-Joh Gowan-Day went along to Swansea Grand Theatre for the opening night of Richard Mylan’s debut play, Sorter, a tense two-hander starring Mylan, alongside Sophie Melville.
Read Ally-Joh Gowan-Day’s review in full, here.
Design for Statue of Suffragette Lady Rhondda Revealed in Newport - Wales Arts Review
The design for a statue of Suffragette Lady Rhondda (Margaret Haig Thomas) has been revealed in a special event organised by Monumental Welsh Women, in partnership with the Statue for Lady Rhondda group.
Read the full story, here.
The Almond and the Seahorse | Review
Gary Raymond listens to The Almond and the Seahorse, the new album from Welsh music legend, Gruff Rhys.
Read the full review 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 continues our week marking the theme of ‘Embracing Equity’ for this year’s International Women’s Day, with a look at ‘No Umbilical’, the new music video from emerging Welsh artist, Bethan Lloyd.
In case you missed it…
Pijin/Pigeon: In Conversation with Bethan Marlow
“I felt like I was writing it for all the Pijins in Wales.”
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.
Read the full interview here.