Welcome to Ffrinj Queertawe Fringe, a 4-day long celebration of queer life in Swansea.
What you are about to see is a culmination of a year of intergenerational creative workshops for the queer community of Swansea, celebrating the queer culture in our city.
With our participants standing firmly on the front line beside us, we’ve created a really diverse range of events that will showcase the incredible talent that we’ve been working with.
Coming Out
Thank you for joining us for our opening event where we welcome Swansea to a queer space full of joy and pride. This evening’s event will set the stage for Queertawe Fringe, celebrating the full spectrum of queer life across our ugly lovely town.
Order of the evening
- A welcome from Lead Artists Bethan Marlow and Cerian Hedd
- True Colours Choir
- Q&A with film-makers Callum Bruce Phillips and Jayne Rowlands
- Short films screening
- Cabaret performance by Clem Dandy
- Panel discussion with Alisha Ahmed, Rachel Dawson, Cerian Hedd and Norena Shopland. Chaired by Clem Dandy and Bethan Marlow.
- Cabaret performance by Johnny Solstice
QUEER PROM CABARET
Performers:
- Cerian The Clown
- Jesty Quinn
- Anniben
- Jordropper
- Rusty The Clown
- Puzzles the Clown
- Clem Dandy
- Sebastian
- Johnny Solstice
- Games Master Steven
- Beth Ap Coch
- Pan De Moanium
- Redacted
- Lana Del They
- Zachary Rose
- DJ Santes
Runway performed by participants of Queertawe movement workshop, led by CJ Ashen.
CURTAIN UP
Shop local from our room full of craft stalls from local queer artists. Enjoy free live music with your lunch or latte as Queertawe participants and queer musicians from across South Wales perform short sets. Expect a lively response to the theme of “Belonging” as our brilliant young people take to the floor and enjoy hilarious and heart-wrenching scenes, poetry and monologues and sketches from our participants.
Craft Stalls
- Gwneud Gan Mammaeth
- Papurhaus
- Activist Witch Tarot reading
- Primavera
- Mells Angels
- Discoredia
- Mortdraws
- Daughters of Carmilla
- Bag Plastig- Repurposed jewellery
- Tylwyth Teg Treasures
- Green Hart
Open Mic
- Laila Woodward
- Hannah Richards
- Manon
- Lloyd
- Zach
- Alun & Scott
- Aaron
- Rosie Liv
Youth Takeover Participants
- New Heights Performance Academy
- Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company
- Good Vibes
- People Speak Up
- Olchfa Secondary School
- Bloedd
Big thank you to Andy Newbery for attending our Q&A and to all our young people for hosting the event.
Speak The Words
- Years in the Making Part 1 by Adam
- Google is a Gay’s Best Friend by Becca
- Mourn my pride by Becca
- The Ideal Proposal by Zach
- Ode by Zach
- Breaking Through by James, performed by James
- The Vagina (singular) Monologue by Ariana
- Our Fierce Embrace by Carl, performed by Becca
- Global Warning by Carl, performed by Becca
- Dune Heath Swing by Carl, performed by Becca
- Years in the Making part 2 by Adam
From The Queer Heart
- Fear and Loathing in Las Gaydas by Laura
Performed by Laura, Ariana, Bethan, Adam, Steven
- Child of the Sun by James
Performed by James, Steven, Laura, Ariana, Bethan
- The Gay Play by Phil
Performed by Steven, Becca, Katie, Bethan, Adam
- The Queer Baker by Sophie
Performed by Derek & Cassidy
When it Felt Like Home by Thomas Leonard
QUEERS BACK AT THE PALACE
This is huge! With exclusive access to a building that has historically been so important to Swansea’s Queer community; Queers Back at the Palace is a platform for local and emerging talent, in celebration of today’s queer community. It’s going to be emotional folks.
Hosted by Connie Orff
SHOWER THOUGHTS written by Cedar Murano
performed by Thomas, Adam, Ariana, Maya, Cedar
directed by Cerian Hedd
I NEED A HERO written and performed by Frankie Williams
TOO MANY MARSHMALLOWS written and performed by Derek Palmer
WHOSE GAY IS IT ANYWAY
Hosted by Connie Orff
with improv actors-
- Frankie Williams
- Derek Palmer
- Joel Dafydd
- Luke Hereford
SPILLING THE TEA
When it Felt Like Home a performance by Thomas Leonard
Food Sculpture by Leo, Queer Flavours
In collaboration with- Sydney, Lloyd, Sian, Steven, Ash, Carla, Vicky
Food Sculpture Sacrifice performed by Queertawe movement workshop, led by CJ Ashen
Whispering Teacups
written by- Dee, Carl, Adam, Mo, Zach, Menna Siân, Andy Vinstein, Miranda Ballin, Bethan Marlow,
In collaboration with Sparc’s online creative writing group Pencil Breakers.
Immortal Love fantasy story written and read by Aaron
True Colours Choir – MD Sam Hickman
QUEERLY BELOVED
Welcome to the queer nuptials of the year, where the party’s getting started and the guests getting lubricated. There’ll be the usual speeches, gossip and fascinators, only the end of the celebration will be far from predictable. What we do know is that one of the guests will be leaving without a pulse and another will be taking the short trip from our deliciously decadent wedding venue at the Old Swansea Library to Swansea Central Police Station.
Written and Created by Bethan Marlow
In collaboration with Lowri, Phil, Carl, Lindsey
Rebecca Treseder – Murder Mystery Consultant
Performed by Sophie, Mo, Adam, Katie and Steven
THANK YOU
All the participants who have been part of the project along the way.
Partner Orgs: Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company, SwanScene, Swansea Pride, Urban Foundry, Swansea Bay Arts and Health
Funders: Arts Council Wales – Connect and Flourish, SCVS Youthbank, Pride Cymru, Principality Building Society, Swansea Bay Community Cohesion Grant
Locations: The Old Library, UWTSD, Elysium, HQ Urban Kitchen, Tramshed Tech Palace and Volcano
Companies and charities: TIN Wardrobe, Surfability and Karmaseas
Creative team:
- Bethan Marlow – lead artist
- Cerian Hedd – lead artist
- Cassidy Smith – Community Producer
- Jay Smith – Producer
- Sarah Jones – Executive Producer
- Stella Patrick- Head of Marketing
- Katie Jenkins- Project Assistant Online Marketing
- Rhianna Yates – Designer
- Cj Ashen – Movement Director
- Abbi Davies – Stage Manager
- Harvey Evans – Assistant Stage Manager
- Darwin Hennessy – Lighting Technician
- Daniel Jordan- Sound Technician
Guest Facilitators:
- Lee Mengo – Writing, Acting, Directing
- Jesty Quinn – burlesque, clowning
- Jordropper – drag
- Anniben – drag
- Tash John – visual art
- Vivian Ross-Smith – visual art
- Sahar Saki – visual art