Wales Arts Review Audio

This week we celebrate one WHOLE year of bringing you the Wales Arts Review Podcast. We count down the top 5 most listened to episodes, shoutout to fans, and say 'thank you' to all those who have helped us along the way. If you want to support the podcast head to www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod  to donate. And we'll be back in August with brand new content!

This week we talk to Gareth Smith about his reviews of two crime thrillers - S4C's Yr Amgueddfa, and BBC One's Welsh-made series The Pact – thinking about the efficacy of formulas and codes, as well as the relationship between genre and place. In our second segment we discuss Nia Edwards-Behi's exploration of the term ‘post-horror', questioning the existence of the concept of post-horror in and of itself, and thinking about the potentialities of horror beyond critical snobbery. We also look at Martha O'Brien's review of Rachel Trezise's Easy Meat—a return to the 2016 referendum through the eyes of Caleb Jenkins, exploring Wales' relationship to the EU, examining class concerns and the desire for control, and if we can definitively say why Wales voted Leave. Finally, we'll be letting you know what projects and events you should be looking out for in our ‘What's on, Wales' segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What's on, Wales?' segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to Articles Discussed: Gareth Smith, ‘Yr Amgueddfa | New S4C Thriller is Far From Formulaic' https://www.walesartsreview.org/yr-amgueddfa-new-s4c-thriller-is-far-from-formulaic/ Gareth Smith, ‘The Pact | TV Review' https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-pact-tv-review/ Nia Edwards-Behi, ‘Cinema | A Response to Post-Horror' https://www.walesartsreview.org/cinema-a-response-to-post-horror/ Martha O'Brien, ‘Easy Meat by Rachel Trezise | Books' https://www.walesartsreview.org/books-easy-meat-by-rachel-trezise/ What's on, Wales? Nawr Magazine www.twitter.com/nawrmag Honno Press https://www.honno.co.uk/submissions-and-services/welsh-women-writing-crime/ Life on the Levels Exhibition https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/events/2021/5/18/life-on-the-levels-exhibition Music: ‘Vienna Beat' by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Trigger warning: In this episode we are discussing sexual violence against women, including image-based abuses, harassment, and rape. If you have been affected by what we discuss we have included resources and charities you may wish to visit in our description. This week we talk to Caragh Medlicott, senior editor at the Wales Arts Review, about her review of ‘When Nudes Are Stolen’—a BBC Three documentary exploring imaged-based sexual abuse. We discuss the role of the internet and social media in perpetuating these abuses, the emotional aspects of these crimes, and how the law and education is lagging behind technological advancements. In our second segment we discuss Rosie Couch’s review of Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, examining what it means to be a promising young woman, the desire for violence, and the fantasy of justice. We also explore Caragh’s interview with Anita Corbin about her exhibition Visible Girls: Revisited, thinking about image and identity, the productive potentialities of the internet, and the transversal gaze. Finally, we sit down with Dr Ashley Morgan, a masculinities scholar at Cardiff Metropolitan University to discuss the new anti-harassment campaign she and others part of the group Running Punks have launched to tackle the issue. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Caragh Medlicott, ‘When Nudes are Stolen’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/tv-when-nudes-are-stolen/ --, ‘Anita Corbin In Conversation | Visible Girls: Revisited’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/anita-corbin-in-conversation/ Rosie Couch, ‘Promising Young Woman https://www.walesartsreview.org/promising-young-woman-film/ Resources Running Punks: https://www.runningpunks.com/ The Survivors Trust: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ Refuge: https://www.refuge.org.uk/ Rape Crisis England and Wales: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/ Victims of Image Crime: Speak Out: https://voic.org.uk/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

This week we talk to writer and artist Umulkhayr Mohamed about her role as the lead curator of Amgueddfa Cymru/ National Museum Cardiff’s event Lates: PITCH BLACK. We ask Um about her own artistic practice, the curator’s role in making space for marginalised voices, and moving beyond the trauma into celebration of Black Lives. In our second segment we discuss Emma Schofield’s interview with Naz Syed, organiser and co-ordinator the Lost Connections project. We consider loneliness, isolation, and the artistic process as means of handling the emotions of the pandemic. We also explore Josie Cray’s review of ‘Women Rediscovered – a collaborative project from Theatr Clwyd and the North East Wales Archives - thinking about intergenerational connections, lineages of trauma, and how our relationship with the past might be closer than we think. Finally, we’ll be letting you know what projects and events you should be looking out for in our ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to Articles Discussed: Emma Schofield, ‘Lost Connections | Art and Loneliness in a Pandemic’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/lost-connections-art-and-loneliness-in-a-pandemic/ Josie Cray, ‘Women Rediscovered | Theatr Clwyd’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/women-rediscovered-theatr-clwyd/ What’s On, Wales? Nawr Magazine https://nawrmag.wordpress.com/ Carl Chapple – Artist in Residence with Ballet Cyrmu https://welshart.net/ The Future has a Past https://museum.wales/stfagans/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

This week we talk to Isobel Roach, contributor to the Wales Arts Review, about her recent piece which sees her returning to Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In our discussion we chat about the project borne out of lockdown, the longevity of the MCU and the implications of streaming. In our second segment we discuss Hannah Carter’s review of the documentary ‘I am Greta’, focusing on the disjunction between what activism might seek to do versus what a culture makes visible about that activism. We also talk about David Cottis’ review of Theatr Clwyd’s production of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, thinking about why we keep returning to this story and the issues of updating it for a modern audience. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Isobel Roach, ‘Phase One: Enter the Universe’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/marvel-phase-one-enter-the-universe/ Hannah Carter, ‘I am Greta’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/film-i-am-greta/ David Cottis, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray | Theatre Clwyd’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-theatr-clwyd/ What’s On, Wales? Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Cardiff – Lates: PITCH BLACK https://museum.wales/whatson/digital/11289/Lates-PITCH-BLACK/ Crime Cymru First Novel Prize https://crime.cymru/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

This week we talk to Devika Karnad and Marine Furet, doctoral students at Cardiff University, about their piece ‘Dorothy Bonarjee: A Hindu Lady Chaired’. We discuss the life of Dorothy Bonarjee, the importance of POC history and structures of privilege in both India and Britain. In our second segment we discuss Darren Chetty’s personal essay ‘Whatever Happened to the Black Boy of Killay’ reflecting on personal histories, slippages of memory and visual spectrality. We also discuss Durre Shahwar’s interview with Dr. Roiyah Saltus about Praisesongs from Wales, a rich and creative digital research resource dedicated to the celebration of older men and women of colour living in Wales. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Devika Karnad and Marine Furet, ‘Dororthy Bonarjee: A Hindu Lady Chaired’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/dorothy-bonarjee-a-hindu-lady-chaired/ Durre Shahwar and Roiyah Saltus, ‘Interview | Praisesongs from Wales’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/interview-praisesongs-from-wales/ Darren Chetty, ‘Whatever Happened to the Black Boy of Killay?’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/whatever-happened-to-the-black-boy-of-killay/ What’s On, Wales? UPROAR with new Welsh Music 2021: https://www.uproar.org.uk/radio And on BBC Sounds Chapter from Home: Children’s After-School Book Club: https://www.chapter.org/whats-on/workshops/chapter-from-home-childrens-after-school-book-club/8109 Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this bonus episode we speak to Chapter Arts Centre’s Cinema Programme Manager Claire Vaughan. Claire is also the director of Shift Cardiff, a multidisciplinary research and development arts space, and the founder of Reframed Film – a space in which to watch films online, together but apart. In our interview, we discuss women in the film industry, gender and genre, and viewing practices over the pandemic and beyond, and much more. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we speak to Chapter Arts Centre’s Cinema Programme Manager Claire Vaughan about women in the film industry, gender and genre, and viewing practices over the pandemic and beyond. In the second segment we discuss two horror-inspired articles: Rosie Couch’s ‘Saint Maud | A Star Return from Morfydd Clark’ and Gareth Kent’s review of Nuclear, a new Welsh horror from director Catherine Linstrum. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Rosie Couch, ‘Saint Maud | A Star Return from Morfydd Clark’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/film-saint-maud/ Gareth Kent, ‘Nuclear: A New Welsh Horror from Catherine Linstrum’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/nuclear-new-welsh-horror-from-catherine-linstrum/ What’s On, Wales? Audio Descriptions of 12 Lockdown Pictures, Carl Chapple https://carlchapple.com/news/82-audio-descriptions-of-twelve-lockdown-pictures/ Amber and Me, Chapter Arts For more information, to watch the trailer and to book, please visit: www.chapter.org/whats-on Dunkie, ‘The Vanishing and Other Stories’ https://dunkie.bandcamp.com/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we speak to Tilly Foulkes, a fiction and music writer, about her recent piece ‘Finding Wales in the Manic Street Preachers’. We discuss how she first discovered the band, the difficulty in articulating what it means to be Welsh, and the importance of boredom in our busy lives. In the second segment we discuss Caragh Medlicott’s ‘What does it mean to be a punk in 2020?’ and Angharad Van Rijswijk article ‘Satirical Sexism Gone Wrong: Women In Music Tech’. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Tilly Foulkes, ‘Finding Wales in the Manic Street Preachers’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/finding-wales-in-the-manic-street-preachers/) Caragh Medlicott, ‘What does it mean to be a punk in 2020?’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-punk-in-2020/ Angharad Van Rijswijk, ‘Satirical Sexism Gone Wrong: Women In Music Tech’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/women-in-music-tech-and-satirical-sexism-gone-wrong/ What’s On, Wales? Paned o Gê Interview Series https://paned-o-ge.wales/about/paned-...-interview-series.html The Parthian Podcast https://amam.cymru/parthianbooks/the-parthian-podcasts-a-carnival-of-voices Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we speak to Huw Stephens—BBC radio wales presenter—and director Ian Jones about the upcoming BBC series ‘The Story of Welsh Art’. The series explores the rich history of visual arts in Wales, beginning in the Neolithic period and examining key periods and forms which have shaped Wales’s artistic legacy. We ask Huw and Ian about Welsh art on an international scale, about the richness of Welsh art, and ask why it is so important we get this story now. In the second segment we discuss Rachel Mainwaring’s article ‘Ways of Protest | Exhibition’ and Mary Ann Steeples’ profile of Canadian artist Michelle Wilson in her piece ‘Michelle Wilson: Cleansing the Land’. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Rachel Mainwaring, ‘Ways of Protest | Exhibition’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/ways-of-protest-exhibition/ Mary Ann Steeples, ‘Michelle Wilson: Cleansing the Land | A Profile’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/michelle-wilson-cleansing-the-land-a-profile/ What’s On, Wales? Bringing Africa to Wales Film Festival: For full details, the festival programme and to book tickets, visit: www.chapter.org To register your interest for the workshops and Q&As, visit: www.watch-africa.co.uk Cardiff BookTalk: Octavia Butler’s Kindred https://cardiffbooktalk.org/schedule/ Buzz Magazine’s Workshops: https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/learn/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we’re celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Wales and abroad. We speak to Gareth Smith, PhD student at Cardiff University and contributor to the Wales Arts Review, about the newest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We discuss how the UK Drag Race highlights the intersection of class, gender and sexual identity, how the season has improved its representation of the UK and the Welsh Queen we are rooting for. In the second segment, we chat about the latest drama from Channel 4, It’s a Sin, and we take a look back at the life and works of artist Cedric Morris. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Gareth Smith, ‘TV | RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season Two’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/rupauls-drag-race-uk-season-two/) David Llewellyn, ‘TV | It’s a Sin – First Look – Russell T Davies’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/its-a-sin-first-look-review/ Norena Shopland, ‘LGBT Stories from Wales | Cedric Morris’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/lgbt-stories-from-wales-cedric-morris/ What’s On, Wales? Parthian Books’ Talking Translation: www.talkingtranslation.org/ Jodie Marie’s ‘The Answer’ album release: https://www.jodiemarie.co.uk/ Heddwch Nain/Mamgu (The Peace of Grandmother): Contact Siân Wyn Siencyn at siencyn.tomos@btinternet.com to join the Zoom meetings. Bringing Africa to Wales Film Festival: For full details, the festival programme and to book tickets, visit: www.chapter.org To register your interest for the workshops and Q&As, visit: www.watch-africa.co.uk Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this episode we’re thinking about narrative, from the process of curating an exhibition and the new television series Wandavision, to changing social attitudes towards disability and inclusivity within the Arts. We speak to Sioned Williams - one of the curators of the Amgueddfa Cymru exhibition ‘Becoming Richard Burton’ - about the online exhibition, the pieces that she would like to highlight, and the process of creating a narrative through curation. We also discuss Greg Glover’s article, ‘Disability | Rules of the Playground Do Not Apply’ and Matt Taylor’s article ‘TV | Wandavision | First Impressions’, before highlighting projects and events that you should be looking out for in our ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to the articles discussed: ‘Becoming Richard Burton’ Online Exhibition https://becomingrichardburton.museum.wales/ Greg Glover, Disability | Rules of the Playground Do Not Apply https://www.walesartsreview.org/disability-the-rules-of-the-playground-do-not-apply/ Matt Taylor, TV | Wandavision | First Impressions https://www.walesartsreview.org/tv-wandavision-first-impressions/ What’s on, Wales? Links People Speak Up www.peoplespeakup.co.uk Theatr Clwyd – Memory Café https://www.theatrclwyd.com/event/memory-cafe Dunkie – Working to Design https://dunkie.bandcamp.com/album/working-to-design National Library Wales Petition https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/244641 Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this Christmas special, we speak to Gary Raymond, editor of the Wales Arts Review, critic, novelist and broadcaster, about his new book, ‘How Love Actually Ruined Christmas (or Colourful Narcotics)’. We talk about the film, publishing during a pandemic, and what elements make up a Christmas film. In the second segment, we are joined by friends of the podcast and contributors to the Wales Arts Review for conversations about all things festive—from Christmas comfort films to most hated festive foods. We also catch up with the final 100 Page Turners of Wales category, Crime and Conflict, before giving you an unfortunate glimpse behind the scenes of our podcast recording process with a bumper blooper reel. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to Articles Discussed: Lisa Smithstead, Books | How Love Actually Ruined Christmas by Gary Raymond https://www.walesartsreview.org/books-how-love-actually-ruined-christmas-by-gary-raymond/ Emma Schofield, 100 Page Turners of Wales | Conflict and Crime https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-of-wales-conflict-and-crime__trashed/ The Gone Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the Train https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-gone-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-on-the-train/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) ‘jazzy bells (jingle bells)’ by Dee Yan-Key From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

In this episode, we’re thinking about adaptation, from process and contexts to questions of fidelity. We speak to Siân Owen about her adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for Audible, her career to date, and the benefits of audio books. Next, we discuss Carolyn Percy’s ‘In Defence of Adaptations’ and Gary Raymond’s review of the Netflix series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’. Finally, we let you know what events and projects you should be looking out for in our ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. You can email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode, and you can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to the articles discussed: The Jane Austen Collection Audiobook https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Jane-Austen-Collection-Audiobook/B08JZG61L3 Carolyn Percy, In Defence of Adaptations https://www.walesartsreview.org/in-defence-of-adaptations/ Gary Raymond, TV | The Queen’s Gambit https://www.walesartsreview.org/tv-the-queens-gambit/ ‘What’s on, Wales?’ Links: Support Theatr na nÓg www.theatr-nanog.co.uk/support-us Hwyl yr Ŵyl https://soundcloud.com/theatrnanog/hwyl-yr-wyl/s-nXjsUszeZRM https://youtu.be/6N6vi698yAw Cân Peggy Tickets https://www.theatrsoar.cymru/en/events/can-peggy-virtual-show https://thewelfare.co.uk/Shows/theatr-na-nog-can-pegi/ https://www.awen-wales.com/events/ Rick Allden/ Compacts Monologues https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPyL7Zhwr08L7VJTMU3x0xw/videos MOSTYN & LUMIN: Local 37 https://www.mostyn.org/event/lumin-radio-local-37?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=LUMIN Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we interview Hannah McPake, actor and co-director of Gagglebabble, about her upcoming play ‘Rodney and the Shrieking Sisterhood’—part of the Sherman’s Heart of Cardiff series. McPake tells us about her career journey, Victorian Cardiff’s first police dog, and future projects. We also talk about Esyllt Sear’s piece ‘Is representation of miscarriage getting better?’ which examines representations of miscarriage on screen and an interview with The Mab editors Mark Brown and Eloise Williams. The Mab is an updated retelling of the stories from the Mabinogion for children. Finally, we’ll be letting you know about events across Wales that you’ll definitely want to check out our What’s on, Wales? Segment. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to the articles discussed: Esyllt Sears, ‘Is representation of miscarriage getting better?’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/tv-is-representation-of-miscarriage-getting-better/ Darren Chetty, ‘Interview: The Makers of The Mab’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/interview-the-makers-of-mab/ What’s On, Wales? Theatre Clywd’s series ‘In Conversation’: https://www.theatrclwyd.com/event/in-conversation-with-si%C3%A2n-gibson MOSTYN Gallery in Llandudno https://www.mostyn.org/exhibition/hannah-quinlan-and-rosie-hastings-my-room https://www.mostyn.org/event/queer-not-label Tinshed Theatre Company, Newport https://www.tinshedtheatrecompany.com/copy-of-happenus Creative Call Out: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfohADJiPEIioFyYXkYKJIKFZhCjzVSBLR69A6ClUt_0blPJQ/viewform Sherman Theatre, Cardiff – Advent Calendar https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/performance/theatre/advent-calendar/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)

In this week’s episode, we’re thinking about all things musical. We talk to Oli Richards, member of Silent Forum and founder of Goodparley, about the Welsh music scene, the longing to return to gigs and festivals, and the Welsh Music Prize. We also discuss Bethan Hall’s ‘Sarah Nicolls: 12 Years’ and Holly McElroy’s ‘Talking to Sarah Nicolls’, alongside Rufus Mufasa’s ‘Motherhood, Mayhem and Magic’, thinking about music and environment, and the struggle of juggling creative and familial life. Finally, we explore the 100 Page Turners project’s most recent category: ‘Class and Society’, and introduce our new ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment, highlighting upcoming and ongoing projects and events in Wales. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics that you think we should be talking about. Email us at podcast@walesartsreview.net if you would like your project or event to be featured in the ‘What’s on, Wales?’ segment of our next episode. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod   Links to the articles discussed: Bethan Hall, Music | Sarah Nicolls: 12 Years https://www.walesartsreview.org/music-sarah-nicolls-12-years/ Holly McElroy, Music | Talking to Sarah Nicolls https://www.walesartsreview.org/music-talking-to-sarah-nicolls/ Rufus Mufasa, Rufus Mufasa: Motherhood, Mayhem, and Magic https://www.walesartsreview.org/rufus-mufasa-motherhood-mayhem-and-magic/ 100 Page Turners of Wales | Class and Society https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-of-wales-class-and-society/ What’s On, Wales? Links: Cardiff BookTalk: Shirley Jackson https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-booktalk-shirley-jackson-registration-124238599997 Heart of Cardiff Series: https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/performance/theatre/heart-of-cardiff/ Nawr Magazine: https://nawrmag.wordpress.com/ Where I’m Coming From Featuring Tina Pasotra https://www.eventbrite.com/e/where-im-coming-from-featuring-tina-pasotra-tickets-126554374541 Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we talk to Liam Bell, a postgraduate researcher based at Cardiff University, about definitions of the unheimlich, waste, repression, and the tensions surrounding personal and corporate responsibilities. We also think about Martha O’Brien’s exploration of ‘green economy’, neoliberal capitalism and the entertainment industry, and Nicola Davies’ discussion of her children’s book, The Promise, as well as literature’s radical potential within our current ecological situation. Finally, we talk about the 100 Page Turners project’s most recent category: ‘Politics’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod    Links to the articles discussed:  Liam Bell – Climate Change & Uncanny Environments https://www.walesartsreview.org/climate-change-uncanny-environments/ Martha O’Brien - Ecomusicology | The Hypocrisy of the Music Business https://www.walesartsreview.org/ecomusicology-the-hypocrisy-of-the-music-business/ Nicola Davies - The Promise: How a Children's Book Hopes to Change the World https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-promise-how-a-childrens-book-hopes-to-change-the-world/ 100 Page Turners | Politics https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-politics/   Music:  ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions  From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we talk to Lauren Orme, a BAFTA-shortlisted animator and one of the founds of the Cardiff Animation Festival. Lauren tells us about the animation industry in Wales, how the festival going online has meant a new audience for animation, and the future of the industry in light of coronavirus. We discuss the digital medium and debates around fine art and digital art in Steph Power’s piece ‘The Lumen Prize: Digitally Created Fine Art from Around the World’. We also reminisce over music festivals as we think about the limits of online events in Caragh Medlicott’s review of the End of the Road’s online festival ‘In the Garden of Streaming’. Finally, we talk about the 100 Page Turns project’s most recent category: ‘Life, Death and Other Worlds’. If you would like to attend Cardiff Animation Festival head to https://www.cardiffanimation.com/ Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Steph Power ‘The Lumen Prize: Digitally Created Fine Art from Around the World’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-lumen-prize-digitally-created-fine-art-from-around-the-world/ Caragh Medlicott, ‘End of the Road Festivals Go Digital’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/end-of-the-road-festivals-go-digital/ Wales Arts Review, ‘100 Page Turners | Life, Death and Other Worlds’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-of-wales-life-death-and-other-worlds/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)

In this week’s episode we interview poet and lecturer, Dr Christina Thatcher. We discuss definitions of grief, the interlinking of death and creativity, and how ideas around grief and loss might intersect with broader experiences of living amongst Covid-19. Continuing with our theme of death and creativity, our second segment focuses on two pieces from the Wales Arts Review archive: Nasia Sarwar-Skuse’s ‘Vignette: Snapshot of Grief’ and Rosie Couch’s ‘Eulogy for a New World’, thinking about mothers, anxieties around forgetting, and the timelessness of grief. Finally, we briefly talk about the 100 Page Turners project and the most recent category: ‘Identity’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Nasia Sarwar-Skuse, ‘Vignette: Snapshot of Grief’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/vignette-snapshot-of-grief/ Rosie Couch, ‘Eulogy for a New World’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/new-world-rosie-couch/ Wales Arts Review, ‘100 Page Turners | Identity’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-of-wales-identity/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)

In this bonus episode we speak to Joe Murphy, the Artistic Director at The Sherman Theatre. Joe tells us about his career and vision for The Sherman's future. We chat about recent discussions regarding race and diversity, and Joe gives us insight into the future projects at The Sherman which are entering into this complex discussion. Joe also gives us his view of recent arts funding in Wales and how crucial it is to theatre in Wales. You can find out more about the upcoming events at The Sherman Theatre at https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/homepage/ Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)

In this week’s episode we interview the Artistic Director of the Sherman Theatre, Joe Murphy. He talks about his career, vision for the Sherman’s future projects, and the future of theatre in Wales. Keeping our sights on the stage we discuss Chris Durnall’s piece ‘A Hitchcock Thing: Souvenirs of Killing’ thinking about the relationship between art and grieving. We also discuss Nick Davies’ piece ‘The Future of Theatre in Wales’ thinking about how theatres in Wales react to the pandemic and reduced profits, and the exciting projects and outreach programmes putting the community back in touch with theatres and the arts. Finally, we briefly talk about the 100 Page Turners project and the most recent category: ‘Romance’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Chris Durnall, ‘A Hitchcock Thing: Souvenirs of Killing’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/a-hitchcock-thing-souvenirs-of-a-killing/ Nick Davies, ‘The Future of Arts in Wales’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-future-of-theatre-in-wales/ Wales Arts Review, ‘100 Page Turners | Romance’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-romance/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)

In this week’s episode we interview Cardiff based artist Gweni Llwyd about her artistic practice, creating during lockdown, and the future of the arts in Wales. Continuing the theme of women in the arts in Wales, we discuss Siobhan Denton’s article, ‘Beddoe’s Women | Being Sexy’, thinking about the male gaze and representations of welsh women’s sexuality in contemporary popular culture. We also discuss Kathryn Tann’s article, ‘Women in Translation’, considering the value of immersing ourselves in translated fiction, diverse cultures, and the often overlooked role of the translator. Finally, we briefly talk about the 100 Page Turners project and the most recent category: ‘Family and Friends’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Siobhan Denton, ‘Beddoe’s Women | Being Sexy’ www.walesartsreview.org/women-in-translation/ Kathryn Tann, ‘Women in Translation’ www.walesartsreview.org/comment-in-lo…-short-story/ Wales Arts Review, ‘100 Page Turners | Family and Friends’ www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-family-and-friends/ Gweni Llwyd’s Website www.gwenillwyd.com/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we interview Wales Arts Review contributor Gemma Pearson about her ‘Lockdown Library’ series and what she’s been reading the past couple of months. Continuing on with the story, we discuss Caragh Medlicott’s piece ‘The Solace of the Short Story’ thinking about attention spaces and the short story form. We also discuss Sydney Whiteside’s piece ‘Writing Across Continents: Wales and America’ considering the relationship between geography and selfhood. Finally, we briefly talk about the 100 Page Turners project and the most recent category: ‘Adventure’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Gemma Pearson, ‘The Wales Arts Review Lockdown Library’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-wales-arts-review-lockdown-library/ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-wales-arts-review-lockdown-library-2/ Caragh Medlicott, ‘The Solace of the Short Story’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/comment-in-lockdown-the-solace-of-the-short-story/ Sydney Whiteside, ‘Writing Across Continents: Wales and America’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/writing-across-continents-wales-and-america/ Wales Arts Review, ‘100 Page Turners | Adventure’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-adventure/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this week’s episode we interview associate editor of the Wales Arts Review, Caragh Medlicott about her article ‘Our Waning Tolerance for Celebrity Privilege’, an examination of celebrity privilege, debates around cancel culture, and how celebrities might use their position to enact positive change. We also discuss two pieces concerned with national identity and authenticity: Sarah Younan’s piece ‘Mzungu’, a reflection on Younan’s childhood and living in Kenya published in a new anthology of marginalised voices titled ‘Just So You Know: Essays of Experience’ set to be published by Parthian Books on the 1st of August, and Lisa Sheppard’s piece ‘Multicultural Wales: Charlotte Williams’ Sugar and Slate’, from the Wales Arts Review archive to celebrate the recent appointment of Professor Charlotte Williams as the head of a working group aiming to improve the teaching of BAME history in Wales. Finally, we briefly talk about the 100 Page Turners project and the most recent category, ‘Rule Breakers’. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Caragh Medlicott, ‘Our Waning Tolerance for Celebrity Privilege’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/our-waning-tolerance-for-celebrity-privilege/ Sarah Younan, ‘Mzungu’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/mzungu-by-sarah-younan/ Lisa Sheppard, ‘Multicultural Wales: Charlotte Williams’s Sugar and Slate’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/multicultural-wales-charlotte-williamss-sugar-and-slate/ Wales Arts Review, ‘Rule Breakers | 100 Page Turners’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/rule-breakers-100-page-turners-of-wales/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this episode we interview Dr Emma Schofield about the 100 Page Turners of Wales series, coming of age, and tensions regarding categorisation. We also discuss coming of age and girlhood, with reference to Clémentine Schneidermann and Charlotte James’ photography project ‘It’s Called Ffasiwn’, and Durre Shahwar’s literary vignette ‘The Girl’. Finally, we talk about the future of the arts in Wales.   Remember you can vote in the ‘Wales Book of the Year 2020’ awards at www.walesartsreview.org!     Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod     Links to the articles discussed:  Dr Emma Schofield, ‘New | 100 Page Turners of Wales’  https://www.walesartsreview.org/100-page-turners-of-wales/ Wales Arts Review, ‘Coming of Age | 100 Page Turners of Wales’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/coming-of-age-100-page-turners-of-wales/ Josie Cray, ‘All the Oddities of Wales: Clementine Schneidermann & Charlotte James’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/photography-clementine-schneidermann/   Durre Shahwar, ‘Vignette: The Girl by Durre Shahwar’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-girl-vignett-by-durre-shahwar/ Sian Gwenllian, ‘The Arts Should Not Become Collateral Damage’ https://www.walesartsreview.org/the-arts-should-not-become-collateral-damage/     Music:  ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions  From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org)  CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this bonus episode, we speak to Elaine Clarke, the daughter of Betty Campbell, the first Black headteacher in Wales. Elaine tells us about the Hidden Heroines project which recognised women’s contribution to the community in Wales, and shares stories about her mother and her life, giving back to the community and advocating for people of colour in Butetown and beyond. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

In this episode we interview Cardiff Comic Carnival co-founders Josh Hicks and Ioan Morris about their comics and the art community in Wales. We also discuss the 2016 exhibition at Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth, ‘Hollow: Mining for Stories’ which challenges the museum experience and explore the photographic work of Mark Griffiths who documents his time in lockdown in ‘These Four Walls are Closing In’. Finally, we provide a snippet of our interview with Elaine Clarke, the daughter of Betty Campbell the first Black headteacher in Wales who is set to be commemorated with a statue outside of the new BBC Wales headquarters in Cardiff. Remember you can vote in the ‘Wales Book of the Year 2020’ awards at www.walesartsreview.org! Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to the articles discussed: Josie Cray, ‘The Rise of Wales’s Comic Art Scene’: https://www.walesartsreview.org/interview-the-rise-of-waless-comic-art-scene/ Karen Westendorf, ‘Hollow: Mining for Stories’: https://www.walesartsreview.org/exhibition-hollow/ Mark Griffiths, ‘These Four Walls are Closing In’: https://www.walesartsreview.org/photography-mark-griffiths/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Welcome to the new Wales Arts Review podcast. In this episode, your new hosts – Josie and Rosie – discuss two brilliant articles written for the Wales Arts Review. In the first section, we talk about Shaheen Sutton’s ‘Remembering the Newport Race Riots of 1919’ in relation to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. In the second section of the episode, we chat with Natalie Ann Holborow about her article ‘When a Room of One’s Own Alone Won’t Cut It’, written for the When this is Over: Essays for a World Without Masks series. Tune in for conversation around creative communities, the literary genius, and domestic labour. Follow us on Twitter @WalesArtsPod and send us a tweet if there are any topics or events that you think we should be talking about. You can also leave comments while supporting the podcast at www.ko-fi.com/walesartspod Links to articles discussed: Shaheen Sutton, ‘Remembering the Newport Race Riots of 1919’ – https://www.walesartsreview.org/remembering-the-newport-race-riots-of-1919/ Natalie Ann Holborow, ‘When a Room of One’s Own Alone Won’t Cut It’ – https://www.walesartsreview.org/natalie-ann-holborow-a-room-of-ones-own/ Natalie's website –https://natalieholborow.com/ Further resources: Petition to make black and POC histories compulsory learning in Welsh curriculum – https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/200034 Petition for the removal of a statue of Thomas Picton from City Hall, Cardiff – https://www.change.org/p/cardiff-council-remove-the-statue-of-thomas-picton-at-cardiff-city-hall. Wales Arts Review resource on understanding racism in Wales – https://www.walesartsreview.org/understanding-racism-in-wales-a-resource/ Music: ‘Vienna Beat’ by Blue Dot Sessions From the Free Music Archive (www.freemusicarchive.org) CC by NC (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Gary Raymond reads an excerpt from his most recent novel, The Golden Orphans (Parthian)

Cynan reads from his parabolic short story, The Unbendy Giant.

Poet Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch reads a selection of her work for an exclusive Wales Arts Review session.

Tristan Hughes reads part of the opening story of his new collection Shattercone.

1. Debbie’s 2:45 2. Gate Brondanw 3:21 3. Freak Summer Hailstorm.. 3:27 4. Sarah has fairer hair than Mary 4.00 5. Grey and Green 3:15 6. Shu door bleeps 3 7. Parade of Souls 2.07 8. View from Sychnant Pass 5:27 9. Whispers in the Wind 8 10. Its Misty on the tops 9:20 11. Anglesey 18:17

Darren Chetty reads his popular essay on Max Boyce's Live at Treorchy album.

Welcome to Episode Three of the new Wales Arts Review Podcast, where we discuss the latest pressing issues coming out of the arts in Wales. This episode sees Gary Raymond talk at length with poet and essayist Zoë Brigley, assistant professor in English at Ohio State University, who hails from the south Wales valleys. Brigley has two books out at the moment, her third collection of poetry, Hand & Skull with Bloodaxe, and a first collection of essays, Notes from a Swing State with Parthian Books. The new work marks Brigley as a major voice in Welsh literature, and here she discusses the thematic preoccupations that forged the new work, most pointedly, violence perpetrated against women.As well as that, we have all the news and events from the last four weeks of Welsh arts and culture.The Wales Arts Review Podcast is available via iTunes and Spotify – don’t forget to subscribe on your usual podcast provider and ensure you never miss a minute of the conversation.

Welcome to episode 2 of the new Wales Arts Review podcast, the home for all the best chat on what's going on in arts and culture in Wales. In this new show, Wales Arts Review editor Gary Raymond talks to CEO of Literature Wales Lleucu Siencyn live at the Hay Festival about that organisation's new corporate strategy that will lay out what they intend to do to carry out support, development and promotion of Welsh literature and writers over the coming years.Gary also talks to Wales Arts Review associate editor and writer Durre Shahwar about her recent writer in residence post at the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea, where Durre was tasked with creating written work in response to the Phytopia exhibition. Durre also treats us to a reading of some of the new work that has come out of that residency.Also, we have the latest news from the arts in Wales.The Wales Arts Review Podcast is available via iTune and Spotify – don’t forget to subscribe on your usual podcast provider and ensure you never miss a minute of the conversation.

Welcome to the new series of the Wales Arts Review podcast, the best podcast for all the chat about what's going on in the arts and culture of Wales. In this new format opening show, Wales Arts Review editor Gary Raymond talks to Welsh Assembly Member Bethan Sayed about her role as Chair of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee, and her recent travel to Spain to review the devolved media of the Basque Country.Next up is award-winning novelist Tristan Hughes, who discusses the importance of pre-eminent Welsh writer Emyr Humphreys in this, Humphreys' centenary year. Raymond and Hughes discuss Humphreys' genius, his influence, and why more people are not talking about him during such a rare and significant anniversary year for the country.Raymond discusses two very different types of graffiti with associate editor Nia Edwards-Behi, that of Tryweryn and the Banksy of Port Talbot, and asks if the nationalism of Wales' first "fully devolved generation" is different to that of the older generations.And we have a new short story from poet and novelist Kate North, whose new collection Punch is out this week.The Wales Arts Review Podcast is available via iTune and Spotify - don't forget to subscribe on your usual podcast provider and ensure you never miss a minute of the conversation.

Women's writing in translation is a HUGE world. We're exploring it one small chat at a time. In episode 2, Sophie Baggott from Wales Arts Review talks with the Man Booker International Prize-winning translator Jennifer Croft. Follow us on Twitter (@WalesArtsReview or @sophieb30) and you can find Jennifer at @jenniferlcroft.

Welcome to Wales Arts Review‘s new podcast series with Sophie Baggott, who, over the coming months, will be exploring women’s literature from around the world. BookSHElf is a new series of interviews and reviews delving into the world of translation. In episode 1, Sophie Baggott talks with English PEN’s Translation Manager, Theodora Danek. Theodora joined English PEN in November 2016 to manage the translation programme. She has a passion for language, literature and history, having previously worked as an Editorial Consultant at New Books in German, as Programme Manager at the Austrian Cultural Forum London and as a Museum Educator at the Technisches Museum Vienna. She is an unrepentant European and holds masters degrees in History and Religious Studies from the universities of Vienna and Durham.

In this episode Gary Raymond talks to Craig Austin and Dan Tyte about Tyte's new novel, The Offline Project (Graffeg), a remarkably relevant book that examines the role of social media in our lives.

This episode of the new series of Wales Arts Review's arts and culture podcast, Gary Raymond talks to Graeme Farrow, the Artistic Director of the Wales Millennium Centre. As Cardiff prepares for the Festival of Voice in June, Gary and Graeme discuss tribalism in Wales, a European vision for the Millennium Centre, and mixtapes, in a wide-reaching interviewing.

In a new series of OffScript, Wales Arts Review's art and culture podcast, Gary Raymond talks to a wide range of writers, performers, and practitioners in the arts. In this opening episode, he talks to Wales Arts Review editor, opera and classical music critic, and Chair of Tŷ Cerdd, Steph Power, about their work with emerging composers, music in Wales today, and how organisations need to address the issues of diversity everybody's talking about. This is a new, more relaxed, less formal, series of podcasts, the perfect accompaniment to a busy day, for anybody interested in good chat about art and culture.

Sisters is an all-female, work-in-progress, by British-South Asian and Indian artists, which explores what it means to be a South Asian woman in the UK/Wales and India/Mumbai today. Sisters is a collaboration between National Theatre Wales and Junoon Theatre Mumbai, and is part of India Wales, a major season of artistic collaboration between the two countries to mark the UK-India Year of Culture and is supported by British Council Wales, the Arts Council of Wales and Wales Arts International. In this podcast, our Associate Editor, Durre Shahwar (Community Engagement Associate for Sisters) speaks to some of the cast and creative team members behind the project, including Kully Thiarai (Artistic Director, National Theatre Wales), Sameera Iyengar (Contributing Artist, Junoon),  and Sapan Saran (Writer).

Ahead of the concert at Cadogan Hall, London on Sunday 18th February, composer David Roche talks with Toby Purser, the Conductor and Artistic Director of Orion Orchestra, giving an insight in to the musical process and procedures behind Acoustical Anatomy. "Toby and I had to record our responses to questions at different times in different places owing to busy schedules but it's quite fun to notice the similarity in some of the responses" said David.

Cathryn Summerhayes is one of the UK’s most successful literary agents, born and bred in Cardiff, she is a vociferous champion of Welsh literature. At the Cardiff Book Festival recently, Cathryn interviewed Alys Conran and Rebecca E. John, two of the leading lights of the new generation of Welsh novelists. In this interview, definitely one of the most fascinating in this series of OffScript, our associate editor Durre Shahwar has no problem in drawing out some forthright opinions on the poor standing of Welsh writing in the UK market, literature in the shadow of Brexit, and the role of the short story.

Ballet Cymru have perhaps one of the most inspiring stories of grit and perseverance in the entire landscape of Welsh arts, if not in the whole of the UK. Over thirty years old, run for much of that time as a passion project by founder Darius James and a very small band of itinerant artists, in the last couple of years they have made a new home for themselves in a very impressive studio building on the outskirts of Newport. They have now a national reputation, and it’s one for subverting expectations, of being rooted in, perhaps surprisingly, a working-class ethic. They now have a strong CV of innovative work, eye-catching collaborations with the likes of Cerys Matthews, Georgia Ruth and Catrin Finch, and guest choreographers, not least Tim Podesta who is about to unveil his Shadow Aspect starring principle dancer of the Royal Ballet Mara Galeazzi. Gary Raymond met with Darius James and his Assistant Artistic Director and partner Amy Doughty to talk about Shadow Aspect, about the history of Ballet Cymru, that amazing journey, and about all of the amazing ways they give things back to the community.

Abdul Shayek is the Artistic Director and founder of Fio, a Cardiff-based theatre company that works across the UK and internationally, telling stories that tackle global socio-political topics and bringing them to local audiences. Fio’s mission is to diversify the public arts sector by working creatively with people from a range of different backgrounds, ethnicities, class, experience, religion, age, and so on. Abdul has also worked as a Creative Associate at National Theatre Wales where he developed the democratically elected ‘Assembly’ programme and produced their Research and Development strand amongst other things, he also set up the Youth Arts Network. Wales Arts Review associate editor Durre Shahwar caught up with Abdul amidst rehearsals of their highly acclaimed production, The Mountaintop, which will be touring Wales throughout October 2017, starting with a free Launch and Race Awareness Event in the Sennedd on 2nd October. Here, Abdul and Durre talk about the upcoming tour, diversity in the arts, and Fio’s Artistic Development and Participatory Arts Programmes, tying in with their three working strands: Productions, Projects and People.

Over the last couple of years, in the arts in Wales, the British Council seems to have been playing a much more prominent role – as enabler and facilitator, but also as a body that is encouraging and helping validate much of the work that is being produced in Wales. Alongside what seems to be a pretty fruitful partnership with Wales Arts International, British Council Wales are doing a pretty great job at presenting Welsh art to the world. Much of that success can be traced to the passion and energy of the latest OffScript guest, Rebecca Gould, who took the post of head of arts in Wales for the British Council in 2015. Rebecca has a pretty great theatrical pedigree, coming to the British Council from the Soho Theatre where she was creative producer, after time at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre amongst others – but she is also very much a product of the Welsh theatre scene, and back in the day worked for the Sherman, the New Theatre, Everyman, Cardiff Open Air Theatre. Gary Raymond talks to Rebecca about art, culture, society and of course, Brexit.

Welcome to part 2 of Wales Arts Review at the Edinburgh Fringe – it is all over now and the dust is beginning to settle, but here are a few conversations with some of the Welsh acts up there this year. We speak with Daniel Llewelyn-Williams from the Flying Bridge Theatre Company who was in Edinburgh with Not About Heroes; also we speak to Mr and Mrs Clark about their new one man show, FEAR; and we also have an excerpt of a British Council interview with Eddie Ladd who was in Edingburgh this year with Caitlin which she performs in with Gwyn Emberton, directed by Deborah Light. All of these shows, as with the first part of the podcast, were part of the Wales in Edinburgh programme. And don’t forget you can subscribe to OffScript via iTunes and follow us on Soundcloud – and for all our other stuff about the arts in Wales and beyond – reviews, articles, news, interviews – then you can subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter (link at the bottom of this page) – and you can follow us on Twitter and instagram and like us on facebook. Very easy to find – we’re Wales Arts Review.

In the first of a two part special, Wales Arts Review's OffScript podcast comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where Gary Raymond has been soaking up the atmosphere and talking to as many people as he can pin down for a few minutes. In this episode Gary talks to National Dance Company Wales producer Kate Perridge and gets some advice on how to tackle his first Fringe experience, then goes on to talk with two of NDCWales' dancers backstage, Camille Girardeau and Rob Bridger after their afternoon performance of Folk at the Zoo Southside. He also looks at Alan Harris' new play for Dirty Protest, Sugar Baby, and talks to Neil Docking, writer of the Welsh play that took the Fringe by storm, Revlon Girl.

Welcome to a new series of OffScript, Wales Arts Review’s arts and culture podcast. We’re kicking off the second round of episodes with a bit of international stardom in the form of Neil Hilborn the American slam poet who shot to stardom in 2013 when a performance of his poem “OCD” was viewed over 62 million views online. Well, Neil is on his first tour of the UK and it kicked off in Wrexham where our very own Sophie McKeand, poet and Young Peoples Laureate for Wales, was there to interview him just before his performance. Hilborn talks about some of the most powerful themes in his work, those of mental illness and the stigma attached, how he has dealt with his fame, and also what it’s like to be a liberal Texan in the age of Trump.