Events

Whitton WI Wall Hangings

Following a visit to the Minerva Centre, Whitton WI members were inspired to create something we felt was worthy of hanging in our local Community Hall.   We were lucky to be supported and guided by a fellow member, Sarah Green, who is an accomplished needle-worker and seamstress. 

Early in 2019 we formed a craft and sewing group to compile a simple but effective hanging inspired by a national Women’s Institute campaign entitled ‘Share the Love’.  Little did we know that this was the start of things to come.

Having enjoyed working together on this first creation, we wanted to continue using our newly learned skills, and this led to producing a bigger wall hanging.   As we had been part of a local Tree Project, this was the inspiration for the second design.

At the end of 2019  we agreed that we needed to commemorate the fact that the WI in Whitton had been established for 95 years.    Looking back through our archives we noted the contributions which members had been part of in the community  and the variety of activities which had been enjoyed

Of course, unknowingly, this third creation was to see us into, and through, a world-wide pandemic and  …. keep us sane  The outcome demonstrates flair and skills in design, artwork, precision cutting, delicate embroidery, graphics, abstract, patchwork, fabric painting, crochet, knitting, machining and quilting!

These wall hangings are ultimately to adorn the large bare wall of our local Community Hall but will only be seen by those who attend events there.  It was felt that a wider audience would appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of these unique creations.    The Bleddfa Centre has been kind enough to offer the public the opportunity to view the wall hangings on display in the Hall Barn from 5^th to 15^th August 2021    (Thursday to Sundays).

WI members will be on hand to answer questions and there will be more information available on the project.

Meditation Session August

This session will be held at Bleddfa in Hall Barn.
Suggested donations of £3 - £5.

Bleddfa meditation at Cascob : After the August 7th session at Bleddfa - and now that the Hall Barn is often needed as a gallery -  meditation sessions will be offered for the foreseeable on the first Saturday each month at Cascob 11am to 12.30. If you are thinking of joining, please be sure to alert hello@bleddfacentre.org in advance, as parking spaces at Cascob are limited, and also so that social distancing can continue to be observed.”

If you know that you can get a lot more out of storytelling but aren’t sure how, or your storytelling has hit a plateau, this course will sort you out. Led by award winning and well-travelled storyteller Michael Harvey we will delve into the nitty-gritty of the practice of storytelling. You will leave with a storytelling toolkit brimming with tried and tested techniques and approaches. If you have a specific project in mind you’ll have a viable and vibrant work-in-progress to take away with you. There are comments from 2019 and other information in the link below…

https://storytellingatbleddfa.com/intensive-performance-course/

Freeing the Storyteller's Voice

With Pauline Down and Michael Harvey

The voice is at the heart of our storytelling practice yet many of us have a pretty meager grasp on how to work with it and develop it. How about being able to find a resonance and authenticity in your storytelling voice and having a range of tried and trusted methods and techniques to build on after the course is over? This is what were offering on the Freeing the Storyteller’s Voice course.

The workshop will equip you with simple and effective techniques and attitudes that will help you tell with resonance and spontaneity, make clear and supple contact with your audience and get more satisfaction and joy from your practice as a storyteller.

This is an experiential course that will transform your performances by giving you the tools to develop your own authentic and embodied storytelling voice in the company of two highly experienced performers and facilitators. We will be working on how we can make our voices clearer and more free and bring the energy and flexibility of your voice into the heart of your storytelling. There will be a mixture of whole group, small group and partner work.

If you have any feeling that your voice may not be ‘good enough’ this is probably the course for you.

Please bring some story material to play with.

If you have any queries at all, just email me.

More information on how to book here: https://storytellingatbleddfa.com/freeing-the-storytellers-voice/

Storytelling and the Body

With Michael Harvey.

Storytelling is all about the words but when we perform we have to drag our bodies on stage with us. We are highly self-conscious of how we look and our own body image and it can be challenging and awkward to stand in the gaze of the audience and be ourselves.

The good news is that it is just this openness that makes storytelling compelling. In this weekend workshop you will learn and apply a number of simple and effective techniques and skills that will allow you to embody your story with your own unique style and tell with authenticity and joy.

This workshop will introduce you to a number of clear, practical and doable techniques to help you have a better experience of being in your body which will in turn help you become more present, playful, clear, confident and authentic in your storytelling. The work is based on the kind of movements we do everyday and when we are telling stories – no back-flips or other challenging moves!

I will be using a combination of Franklin Method as well as other techniques I have picked up along the way, particularly from my time with the Labo experimental storytelling group at La Maison du Conte in Paris, led by Abbi Patrix and in training with with Miranda Tufnell. I have trained as a Franklin Method educator and adapt the exercises and apply them to storytelling. You can find out more about the Franklin Method here.

The Bleddfa Annual Lecture - Horatio Clare - A Revolution in Mental Health 
 

... your invitation to join us at The Bleddfa Centre for a very special evening.

Acclaimed Welsh writer Horatio Clare presents the extraordinary story of how much and how little we know about the mind in difficulty, from insomnia and anxiety to depression and psychosis, and explains how common treatment models are based on fallacies and debunked theories. His new book, Heavy Light, tells the story of a complete breakdown, leading to sectioning in a mental health ward and an investigative journey through healing.
This lecture aims to change the way you think about mental health, examining what really works, what does not, and how we can and must change the way we think and treat distress. 

This will also be a fund-raising supper event, so you can book a table for groups of 6, and your ticket price will include the lecture, your 3 course suppers, plus a complimentary bottle of wine per table.

Please email hello@bleddfacentre to request the menu and book your table for the evening (£280 per table of 6).
 

Supper will be provided by the amazing team from The Cider Barn.

Each table is booked as a group, enabling you to enjoy a fabulous evening with friends whilst helping us raise much-needed funds.

For bookings and enquiries, please contact Emma at hello@bleddfacentre.org 

If you cannot join us in person, we will be offering the opportunity to purchase an online ticket for the live stream during the talk.

There will be a bar available all evening.

The team from The Hours Bookshop, a fabulous indie bookshop and cafe in Brecon, will have a book stall there on the evening for you to buy a signed copy of the book, or you can purchase one directly from their website: www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk

Horatio Clare’s books include Running for the Hills (Somerset Maugham Award), A Single Swallow, Down to the Sea in Ships (Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year), Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot (Branford Boase Award), The Light in the Dark, Orison for a Curlew and Something of his Art: Walking to Lubeck with J S Bach.  
His latest book is Heavy Light: a story of madness, mania and healing. Horatio broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4, notably for From Our Own Correspondent and presents Radio 3’s acclaimed annual Sound Walks series at Christmas. He writes for the Financial Times, the Spectator, Conde Nast Traveller (where he is a contributing editor), and many other papers, websites and magazines. Horatio lectures in non-fiction at the University of Manchester. 

Marches Double Reed Chamber Course
 

October 25^th-27^th The Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit

The The Hall Barn and the adjoining Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene will provide the setting for this intensive chamber music retreat for oboists and bassoonists.

Led by oboist Ruth Watson, bassoonist Oliver Galletta and pianist Jeremy Fisher, the course, which is open to advanced players (a minimum standard of grade 8 and a good standard of sight reading is required) will explore a wealth of ensemble repertoire. Individual master classes on solo repertoire will  also be available plus advice on reeds.

The course will run from 2pm on Monday 25^th to 4pm on Wednesday 27^th. All food and drinks (except breakfast) are included.

Accommodation can be booked locally (a list is available).

Course fee £300

To book a place and for more information please contact Ruth Watson directly on ruthwatsonreeds@gmail.com or 01544 350559

The Devil's Violin presents 

The Beast In Me

Imagine a world where the lines separating humanity and animals have blurred, in which dark forests contain refuge as well as danger, and where blood is not always thicker than water.

The Devil’s Violin is Daniel Morden (story), Oliver Wilson-Dickson (violin) and Sarah Moody (cello). Their new show, The Beast In Me, is a masterfully woven tapestry of stories about our perception of beauty and the value of kindness.

‘In years to come, old friends will turn to one another and reminisce about this evening, reliving the pleasure of when The Devil’s Violin comes to town with their 21^st century sensibilities enhancing the ancient craft of storytelling.’  Avril Silk

‘A scintillating combination of music, sound and story’  The Times 

thedevilsviolin.co.uk/tour-dates

Tickets will be on sale via the Night Our scheme website... dates announced soon