DIRTY PROTEST

So thrilled for our friends Theatr Iolo - this is a gorgeous show for young children and shows exactly how our artistic director wishes to wake up - so there's loads in the show for adults too-wit-to-woo!

Owl at Home review – this Edinburgh fringe hoot is a wise choice for children Songs, physical comedy and clever design come together in Theatr Iolo’s adaptation of Arnold Lobel’s offbeat story, aimed at over-fives

This week we are international delegates in Oulu, Northern Finland which is this year's European Capital of Culture, to find out how they developed, delivered and programmed their year of culture. The themes for are Culture Climate Change and PLAY
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇫🇮

After being part of the UK City of Culture bid by leading the Creative Conversations, talking to over 1200 people across the county borough about what they need and want from Wrecsam's UK City of Culture bid which has the theme of PLAY, it's been inspiring to both share our insights and learn from our European colleagues' ways of working.

Oulu is also a city of MARKETS, manufacturing and waterways! We can see there is so much synergy between Wrecsam and Oulu!

Thank you to Wales Arts International Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru Welsh Government for your strategic funding support for us to represent Wales and Wrexham on a global stage, taking Wales to the world through attending the IETM plenary.

Our artistic director Catherine Paskell and artistic associate Natasha Borton are in Oulu all week to build partnerships, connect to new networks, and create sustainable project pathways to connect Wrexham, Wales, the wider UK and our international colleagues.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇰🇿 Last week, for two weeks, we were in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We co-curated our festival of new performance linking Wales, the UK and Kazakhstan with our friends Action Literally.
Here are some of our photographic highlights

Allvalidation Festival 2026
New Performance Festival of Integrated Works
Almaty, Kazakhstan
29 May - 4 June 2026
Co-curated by Dirty Protest Dirty Protest Theatre and Action Literally Действие буквально
Supported by British Council Kazakhstan & britisharts

Guest artists and performances by:

Tower of Babel by Action Literally

A Message for the Future by Crescendorious , Brigitte Aphrodite Quiet Boy

Living Legends (and Dead Ones Too) by Crescendorious

Choo Choo by StammerMouth

AfterGlow by Anna Seymour & Mirabelle Haddon

A World in Line by Emma-Jayne (Jones) Holmes M.A.

Plus workshops, talks and interactive masterclasses

Panel discussion hosted at Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture with the support of British Embassy in Tajikistan to bring delegate Parviz Said of Gender Equality for Inclusive Development & SANO IMPACT HUB based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to share their practice alongside Catherine Paskell of Dirty Protest, Ольга Султанова of Action Literally, Nye Russell-Thompson of StammerMouth, adamdart, chaired by Olga Malysheva of Action Literally

Thank you to all the partners, venues, photographers, participants, audiences and supporters for making this wonderful festival connecting Kazakhstan, Wales and UK

HEAR ALL ABOUT IT! Wrecsam2029

People across Wrexham are being invited to take part in a major community conversation next week.
The free one-night-only event will share the findings gathered through 35 workshops, more than 1,000 conversations, and six months of discussions asking Wrexham what matters from art to sport, nature to nightlife, heritage to hospitality, and the big theme of Play for everyone.

In an evening of immersive performance and participation, hosted by award-winning Wrexham-based theatre company Dirty Protest Theatre, we will explore what people across the County Borough have said they want from culture as Wrexham bids to be UK City of Culture in 2029.

This is our final creative conversation: come and hear what your neighbours from across the county borough have said they want from culture in Wrexham and let us know what you want from Wrecsam2029?

Hear All About It: Wrecsam City of Culture Bid 2029

Monday 18th May 2026
Doors 5:30pm
Event 6pm–8pm
Location:The Butchers Market, Wrexham
Cost: Free | One Night Only

Book on Eventbrite to secure your place. Limited tickets available: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

We’re asking: what do you want from Wrecsam2029 and culture in Wrexham?

We want the real deal. The spirit. The banter. The chaos. The pride. The “only in Wrexham” stories.

We’re throwing open the doors of The Butchers Market for a one‑night‑only immersive community conversation featuring performances from local legends through performance, play and proper hometown energy.

Tickets are free but limited, and must be booked in advance online through Eventbrite.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to influence what happens on your doorstep and tell us what you want to happen for Wrexham to win UK City of Culture 2029.

About DIRTY PROTEST
Dirty Protest Theatre is a Wrexham‑based, award‑winning Welsh performance company known for bold, community‑centred theatre that gets people talking – across Wales and internationally. Since 2007, the company has created new performances, events, festivals, workshops and learning opportunities that tell the stories of Wales that people really want to see, hear and be part of. Dirty Protest’s plays have been toured internationally, published into books, studied at AS/A-Level Drama, and turned into BBC TV Dramas. Come and be part of our next adventure.
If you’ve got specific access needs, drop a line to [email protected] or phone us on 01978 345226

https://www.wrecsam2029.wales/.../hear-all-about-it.../

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

CLYWCH Y CYFAN AMDANO! Wrecsam2029

Mae pobl ledled Wrecsam yn cael eu gwahodd i gymryd rhan mewn sgwrs gymunedol fawr yr wythnos nesaf.

Bydd y digwyddiad un noson yn unig am ddim yn rhannu'r canfyddiadau a gasglwyd trwy 35 o weithdai, mwy na 1,000 o sgyrsiau, a chwe mis o drafodaethau yn gofyn i Wrecsam beth sy'n bwysig o gelf i chwaraeon, natur i fywyd nos, treftadaeth i letygarwch, a thema fawr Chwarae i bawb.

Mewn noson o berfformiad a chyfranogiad trochol, a gynhelir gan y cwmni theatr arobryn Dirty Protest Theatre o Wrecsam, byddwn yn archwilio'r hyn y mae pobl ledled y Fwrdeistref Sirol wedi dweud eu bod yn ei eisiau o ddiwylliant wrth i Wrecsam ymgeisio i fod yn Ddinas Diwylliant y DU yn 2029.

Dyma ein sgwrs greadigol olaf: dewch i glywed yr hyn y mae eich cymdogion o bob cwr o'r fwrdeistref sirol wedi dweud eu bod yn ei eisiau o ddiwylliant yn Wrecsam a gadewch i ni wybod beth rydych chi ei eisiau o Wrecsam2029?

Clywch y Cyfan Amdano: Cais Dinas Diwylliant Wrecsam 2029

Dydd Llun 18fed Mai 2026
Drysau 5:30pm
Digwyddiad 6pm–8pm
Lleoliad: Marchnad y Cigyddion, Wrecsam
Cost: Am Ddim | Un Noson yn Unig

Archebwch ar Eventbrite i sicrhau eich lle. Tocynnau cyfyngedig ar gael: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

Rydym yn gofyn: beth ydych chi ei eisiau gan Wrecsam2029 a diwylliant yn Wrecsam?

Rydym eisiau'r fargen go iawn. Yr ysbryd. Y cellwair. Yr anhrefn. Y balchder. Y straeon "yn Wrecsam yn unig".

Rydym yn agor drysau Marchnad y Cigyddion ar gyfer sgwrs gymunedol ymgolli un noson yn unig yn cynnwys perfformiadau gan chwedlau lleol trwy berfformiadau, chwarae ac egni cartref go iawn.

Mae tocynnau am ddim ond yn gyfyngedig, a rhaid eu harchebu ymlaen llaw ar-lein trwy Eventbrite.

Peidiwch â cholli cyfle i ddylanwadu ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd ar garreg eich drws a dywedwch wrthym beth rydych chi eisiau iddo ddigwydd er mwyn i Wrecsam ennill Dinas Diwylliant y DU 2029.

Ynglŷn â DIRTY PROTEST

Mae Dirty Protest Theatre yn gwmni perfformio Cymreig arobryn sydd wedi'i leoli yn Wrecsam, ac sy'n adnabyddus am theatr feiddgar, gymunedol sy'n cael pobl i siarad - ledled Cymru ac yn rhyngwladol. Ers 2007, mae'r cwmni wedi creu perfformiadau, digwyddiadau, gwyliau, gweithdai a chyfleoedd dysgu newydd sy'n adrodd straeon Cymru y mae pobl wir eisiau eu gweld, eu clywed a bod yn rhan ohonynt. Mae dramâu Dirty Protest wedi teithio'n rhyngwladol, wedi'u cyhoeddi'n lyfrau, wedi'u hastudio ar gyfer Drama Lefel AS/A, ac wedi'u troi'n Ddramâu Teledu BBC. Dewch i fod yn rhan o'n hantur nesaf.

Os oes gennych anghenion mynediad penodol, anfonwch neges at [email protected] neu ffoniwch ni ar 01978 345226

https://www.wrecsam2029.wales/.../hear-all-about-it.../

HEAR ALL ABOUT IT! Wrecsam2029

People across Wrexham are being invited to take part in a major community conversation next week.
The free one-night-only event will share the findings gathered through 35 workshops, more than 1,000 conversations, and six months of discussions asking Wrexham what matters from art to sport, nature to nightlife, heritage to hospitality, and the big theme of Play for everyone.
In an evening of immersive performance and participation, hosted by award-winning Wrexham-based theatre company Dirty Protest Theatre, we will explore what people across the County Borough have said they want from culture as Wrexham bids to be UK City of Culture in 2029.
This is our final creative conversation: come and hear what your neighbours from across the county borough have said they want from culture in Wrexham and let us know what you want from Wrecsam2029?

Hear All About It: Wrecsam City of Culture Bid 2029

Monday 18th May 2026
Doors 5:30pm
Event 6pm–8pm
Location:The Butchers Market, Wrexham
Cost: Free | One Night Only
Book on Eventbrite to secure your place. Limited tickets available: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

We’re asking: what do you want from Wrecsam2029 and culture in Wrexham?
We want the real deal. The spirit. The banter. The chaos. The pride. The “only in Wrexham” stories.

We’re throwing open the doors of The Butchers Market for a one‑night‑only immersive community conversation featuring performances from local legends through performance, play and proper hometown energy.

Tickets are free but limited, and must be booked in advance online through Eventbrite.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to influence what happens on your doorstep and tell us what you want to happen for Wrexham to win UK City of Culture 2029.

About Dirty Protest Theatre

Dirty Protest Theatre is a Wrexham‑based, award‑winning Welsh performance company known for bold, community‑centred theatre that gets people talking – across Wales and internationally. Since 2007, the company has created new performances, events, festivals, workshops and learning opportunities that tell the stories of Wales that people really want to see, hear and be part of. Dirty Protest’s plays have been toured internationally, published into books, studied at AS/A-Level Drama, and turned into BBC TV Dramas. Come and be part of our next adventure.

If you’ve got specific access needs, drop a line to [email protected] or phone us on 01978 345226

https://www.wrecsam2029.wales/en_gb/event/hear-all-about-it-wrecsam2029/

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

CLYWCH Y CYFAN AMDANO! WRECSAM2029

Mae pobl ledled Wrecsam yn cael eu gwahodd i gymryd rhan mewn sgwrs gymunedol fawr yr wythnos nesaf.
Bydd y digwyddiad un noson yn unig am ddim yn rhannu'r canfyddiadau a gasglwyd trwy 35 o weithdai, mwy na 1,000 o sgyrsiau, a chwe mis o drafodaethau yn gofyn i Wrecsam beth sy'n bwysig o gelf i chwaraeon, natur i fywyd nos, treftadaeth i letygarwch, a thema fawr Chwarae i bawb.
Mewn noson o berfformiad a chyfranogiad trochol, a gynhelir gan y cwmni theatr arobryn Dirty Protest Theatre o Wrecsam, byddwn yn archwilio'r hyn y mae pobl ledled y Fwrdeistref Sirol wedi dweud eu bod yn ei eisiau o ddiwylliant wrth i Wrecsam ymgeisio i fod yn Ddinas Diwylliant y DU yn 2029.
Dyma ein sgwrs greadigol olaf: dewch i glywed yr hyn y mae eich cymdogion o bob cwr o'r fwrdeistref sirol wedi dweud eu bod yn ei eisiau o ddiwylliant yn Wrecsam a gadewch i ni wybod beth rydych chi ei eisiau o Wrecsam2029?

Clywch y Cyfan Amdano: Cais Dinas Diwylliant Wrecsam 2029

Dydd Llun 18fed Mai 2026
Drysau 5:30pm
Digwyddiad 6pm–8pm
Lleoliad: Marchnad y Cigyddion, Wrecsam
Cost: Am Ddim | Un Noson yn Unig
Archebwch ar Eventbrite i sicrhau eich lle. Tocynnau cyfyngedig ar gael: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

Rydym yn gofyn: beth ydych chi ei eisiau gan Wrecsam2029 a diwylliant yn Wrecsam?
Rydym eisiau'r fargen go iawn. Yr ysbryd. Y cellwair. Yr anhrefn. Y balchder. Y straeon "yn Wrecsam yn unig".

Rydym yn agor drysau Marchnad y Cigyddion ar gyfer sgwrs gymunedol ymgolli un noson yn unig yn cynnwys perfformiadau gan chwedlau lleol trwy berfformiadau, chwarae ac egni cartref go iawn.

Mae tocynnau am ddim ond yn gyfyngedig, a rhaid eu harchebu ymlaen llaw ar-lein trwy Eventbrite.

Peidiwch â cholli cyfle i ddylanwadu ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd ar garreg eich drws a dywedwch wrthym beth rydych chi eisiau iddo ddigwydd er mwyn i Wrecsam ennill Dinas Diwylliant y DU 2029.

Ynglŷn â Dirty Protest Theatre

Mae Dirty Protest Theatre yn gwmni perfformio Cymreig arobryn sydd wedi'i leoli yn Wrecsam, ac sy'n adnabyddus am theatr feiddgar, gymunedol sy'n cael pobl i siarad - ledled Cymru ac yn rhyngwladol. Ers 2007, mae'r cwmni wedi creu perfformiadau, digwyddiadau, gwyliau, gweithdai a chyfleoedd dysgu newydd sy'n adrodd straeon Cymru y mae pobl wir eisiau eu gweld, eu clywed a bod yn rhan ohonynt. Mae dramâu Dirty Protest wedi teithio'n rhyngwladol, wedi'u cyhoeddi'n lyfrau, wedi'u hastudio ar gyfer Drama Lefel AS/A, ac wedi'u troi'n Ddramâu Teledu BBC. Dewch i fod yn rhan o'n hantur nesaf.

Os oes gennych anghenion mynediad penodol, anfonwch neges at [email protected] neu ffoniwch ni ar 01978 345226

https://www.wrecsam2029.wales/cymraeg/event/hear-all-about-it-wrecsam2029/

We’re asking What do you want from Wrecsam2029?
Rydyn ni'n gofyn Beth ydych chi ei eisiau gan Wrecsam2029?

Date: Monday 18th May 2026
Doors: 5:30pm
Event 6pm–8pm
Location: Wrexham Butchers Market, Wrexham
Cost: Free | One Night Only

Limited tickets available: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

Wrecsam is going all‑in on the Wrecsam2029 UK City of Culture bid, and your voice isn’t just welcome, it’s the headline act.

We’re throwing open the doors of The Butchers Market for a one‑night‑only immersive community conversation featuring performances from local legends through performance, play and proper Wrexham energy.

This is our final creative conversation: come and hear what your neighbours from across the county borough have said they want from culture in Wrexham, and let us know if you agree, or disagree, or want something entirely different for Wrexham as UK City of Culture 2029?

Come help shape the future where every neighbour has culture on their doorstep, every day for Wrecsam2029 and beyond.

If you’ve got specific access needs, drop a line to [email protected].
...

Clywch y Cyfan Amdano: Cais Dinas Diwylliant Wrecsam2029

Dyddiad: Dydd Llun 18fed Mai 2026
Drysau: 5:30pm
Digwyddiad: 6pm–8pm
Lleoliad: Marchnad y Cigyddion, Wrecsam
Cost: Am ddim | Un Noson yn Unig

Archebwch ar eventbrite i sicrhau eich lle.
Tocynnau cyfyngedig ar gael: https://tinyurl.com/mr37dtj8

Rydyn ni'n gofyn Beth ydych chi ei eisiau gan Wrecsam2029?

Rydyn ni’n agor drysau Marchnad y Cigyddion ar gyfer sgwrs gymunedol un noson yn unig yn cynnwys perfformiadau gan chwedlau lleol trwy berfformiadau, chwarae ac egni go iawn Wrecsam.

Os oes gennych anghenion mynediad penodol, anfonwch neges at [email protected].

Making of the Wild Sky | Criação do Céu Selvagem | Creu yr Awyr Wyllt

Time: 5:00pm–5:40pm
Day: Thursday 7 May & Friday 8 May
Location: The Old Wrexham Leader Offices, The Butchers Market, High Street, Wrexham
Cost: Free

Join us for a unique live performance bringing together artists from Wales and Brazil in a collective creation of original poetry, rap and music.

The event features three Brazilian rappers and poets from the mining region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, performing live via Zoom alongside seven Wrexham-based poets, performers and rappers. Together, they have created new original work responding to themes of climate change, connection, and Saudades — the Portuguese feeling of longing, memory and absence.

They are led by professional rapper and MC . Music and beats are composed and produced by ._entah_._ (Wrexham) and Brazilian rapper and MC, whose previous collaboration with Dirty Protest on The Exquisite Co**se connected artists across Wales and Brazil through performance and spoken word.

An international project in English, Welsh and Portuguese produced by Dirty Protest in collaboration with , , , People's Palace Projects (Brasil) and Baobah Produções e Eventoes (Brasil).

A celebration of international collaboration, language, music and resistance at the heart of Wrexham City Centre, and part of

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿What is the role of artists in times of crisis?
🇺🇦 How does an artist find their voice in times of crisis?
🌍How should we use this voice?

Free workshop and new performance event in Newport, South Wales with The Riverfront Newport

📅 Dydd Mawrth 28 Ebrill | Tuesday 28 April
⏰ 1pm discussion and action plan
🕐 6pm solo performance of "Bridges of Voices" by Ukrainian artist Mariia Samoilenko
📍 Riverfront Theatre Newport
💰 Free

Come join Dirty Protest with Ukrainian artist Mariia Samoilenko with support of

First part is a workshop to explore what opportunities this current time of crisis provides for our creative and civic communities, how we can come together, and how we fight the challenges faced by the sector and our communities.

The workshop will culminate in a performance of "Bridges of Voices" a solo performance by Ukrainian actor and author Mariia Samoilenko, developed as part of her independently led R&D project supported by the Nordic Culture Fund (NEMO) and partner arts councils.

Mariia interrogates the question "how do artists find their voice in times of crisis?"

Mariia Samoilenko is a Ukrainian theatre and film actor and creator originally from Kyiv, currently based in Denmark, where she has continued her artistic practice since 2022. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, her work has included theatre projects in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, as well as concert performances across different regions of Denmark.

Working across cultures, her practice combines original text, music, and embodied storytelling.

“Bridges of Voices” is a musical-poetic solo performance that reflects on the formation and transformation of an artist’s voice in today’s world. Moving between personal and collective memory, the work asks: who is the artist today, what drives them to take the stage, and how can one find and reclaim their voice in a reality shaped by war and uncertainty.

Through voice, body, and presence, the monologue listens to reality and transforms it into form. Songs and original text create a unique space where inherited voices, personal experience, and contemporary events intertwine.

🎭 Bridges of Voices by Mariia Samoilenko 🇺🇦
🏠 Ty Pawb 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
📅 Friday 24 April / Ebrill
🕐 Doors @ 18:30
💰Free
🍬 Ukrainian snacks by

Bridges of Voices: the power of singing, music and stories to connect Wales and Ukraine

Before the solo performance "Bridges of Voices" written and performed by Ukrainian artist in Denmark Mariia Samoilenko 🇺🇦 🇩🇰 there will be guest artists sharing their voices to bridge between Wales and our neighbour nations. Languages of the evening include Ukrainian, Danish, Welsh, Portuguese and English.

Artists share their stories, poems and songs to connect across languages and culture during the evening, meet them now 🌻💕:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Iwan Berry
Iwan is a bilingual poet and former journalist who regularly performs in Wrexham as part of the Voicebox Collective. In 2023/2024 he was the Wrex-Slam Champion. He has read at events and open mics across North Wales and the borders, including the 2024 Llandudno Arts Festival and as performed as part of the 2025 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.

🇵🇹 Tom Mandane
Mandane DS is a bilingual (Portuguese-English) performer and songwriter who performs throughout the UK with his own original music which calls into pop, Afro Beats and trap.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧 Jenny Asha Lily Wilde, Hazel Sian, Natasha Borton

Jenny is a North Shropshire / North Wales–based contemporary artist, multi-instrumentalist, and shamanic practitioner.

Hazel is a Welsh singer-songwriter from North Wales, writing and performing in both Welsh and English. She has recently released an EP and a single.

Natasha is a Wrexham-based poet, musician and theatre-maker with a fascination for voice. She won Poetry Wales 2nd Award, Coracle Europe Slam and Erbacce Prize. She is the founder of Voicebox Spoken Word.

📸 by ABphotography, Tim Rooney, Nick Rowe, Oliver Stephen, MusicSportWxm

Bridges of Voices solo performance by Mariia Samoilenko is an independent R&D solo project by Mariia Samoilenko funded by the Nordic Culture Fund (NEMO) and partner Arts Councils of UK and Ireland.