The Welsh Lxdies
Did you know that The Welsh Lxdies project and production started back in 2019? Scroll down to hear our journey so far!
A Little Bit About The Welsh Lxdies
Presented by Purple String Productions and written by Grace O'Brien, in collaboration with the cast, THE WELSH LXDIES is a bilingual episodic gig-theatre show intertwining poetry and music to represent a linguistic map of the Womxn of Wales, with a reclamation upon their sense of Womxnhood, Welshness, Sexuality and Identity. A conversation across the centuries, featuring the voices of Welsh Womxn across history, THE WELSH LXDIES traces a poetic, underscored arc from historical poet Gwerful Mechain who wrote an ode to her c**t, to a celebration of Betty Campbell the first Black headteacher in Wales, all the way to verbatim voice-notes from contemporary Welsh Womxn about vibrators and Tom Jones.
The Journey So Far
July 2019-May 2022
May 2022-July 2022
Grace O'Brien begins her research into 'The Welsh Lady' in Henry IV part 1 as well as the long history of the Welsh language through a post-colonial lens. They begin to write scenes and extracts from their personal experiences of Womxnhood and Welshness, as well as scenes in collaboration with verbatim experiences of growing up, reclaiming the voice, sexuality and identity. Grace is awarded a micro-bursary for freelancers during the Covid-19 pandemic by Theatr Clwyd and reads an extract for the first time at an open mic night at Little Nan's Bar, Deptford by July 2021.
Purple String Productions are awarded rehearsal space via New Diorama Theatre's lottery and so they call-out on Twitter for female/non-binary Welsh actor-musicians for an initial exploration and read-through. This is shown to around 40 audience members who offer feedback on the show verbally and via jot-form.
July 2022 - October 2022
'The Welsh Lxdies' is offered a slot at The Other Room Theatre's 'Try Your Art Out' festival for an early draft showing. Purple String Productions run 'Figuring Your Sh*t Out' open mic nights at Little Nan's Bar in Deptford to fundraise. 'The Welsh Lxdies' achieves a sell-out audience with positive reviews, despite only one day of rehearsal.
October 2022-January 2023
'The Welsh Lxdies' is offered a slot at VAULT festival 2023 and subsequently starts planning, advertising and casting. The team unfortunately are unsuccessful with their Arts Council England application with access support and therefore rely on fundraising and box office splits for the performances. The team reaches out online and are wonderfully supported by spaces such as Ugly Duck and The Other Room Theatre for in-kind space and rehearse for 2 days.
February 2023-August 2024
'The Welsh Lxdies' is added to Arts Council Wales' Noson Allan Scheme, which is aimed at grassroots companies to reach rural venues across Wales. The team tour a work in progress scratch version to Theatr Soar (Merthyr), Chapter Arts Centre (Cardiff), Theatr y Ddraig (Barmouth), Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw (Pwllheli) and Theatr Derek Williams (Bala). They undergo a flexible and minimal rehearsal process at Wales Millennium Centre due to financial constraints and continue to try to fundraise and apply for grants to support the work and ambition on top of box office splits and fees from Noson Allan.
September 2023 + Onwards
The team look towards the future and start planning the next stage of development - watch this space!
Team
THE TEAM
Grace O'Brien
Writer/Producer
Gemma Goulbourn
Actor/ Collaborator
Jenna Dychhoff
Musical Director
Donna Griffiths Williams
Actor/ Collaborator
Rebecca Wilson
Director/ Movement
Erin Enfys
Actor/ Collaborator/ Access Production Advice
Alys Morgan Pearce
Actor
Enfys Clara
Actor
With Thanks To...
THE WELSH LXDIES would not be what it is today without the following contributions: Gemma Goulbourn, Becca Wilson, Erin Enfys, Donna Griffiths Williams for contributing writing of their lived experiences. Ryan Samuel Davies (Video Design), Coel Dyckhoff (technical operator).
VERBATIM VOICE NOTES & STORY CONTRIBUTORS: Lisa O’Brien, Nayyab Malik, Erin Roberts, Ann Davies Dilys O’Brien, Emz Bevan, Kathryn Dyckhoff, Victoria and Emma Williams as well as participants of our Coffee Morning and Wellbeing Writing Workshops. Grace's wonderful Mam, Dad and family for supporting everything she does (even talking about humping teddy bears on stage) The Other Room Theatre, NDT Broadgate, Ugly Duck, BOLD Elephant, Chapter Arts Centre, WMC, Little Nan's Bar, Samuel Whiteman (Poster Design), Lucy Shuttleworth (Logo Design), Nia Powell (dramaturgy), Jan Williams Welsh Cakes, Wales Millennium Centre, Noson Allan (Arts Council of Wales), Theatr Soar, The London Welsh Centre, Theatr Derek Williams, Theatr y Ddraig, Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw and many more! . All brilliant and powerful voices of Welsh Womxn past and present who have inspired the piece.
