To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 Theatr Brycheiniog has teamed up with Brecon Women’s Festival to host a series of events to celebrate women in the outdoors. The theatre’s programme of events has something for everyone from talks, workshops, days out and live music. Theatr Brycheiniog aims to forge positive visibility for women, celebrate their phenomenal achievements in outdoor adventure and sport, as well as inspiring curiosity, adventure and an appreciation of our natural environment.
From Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 17 The Andrew Lamont Gallery will be exhibiting a collection of art and photography honouring incredible women doing ordinary and extraordinary activities. Visitors will be able to view beautiful and moving, candid photography from Billie Charity and watercolours from Ella Wilding. There will also be a wide variety of photographs on display of women doing extraordinary activities; rock climbing, mountaineering, skydiving, paddle boarding and much more!
On the evening of March 8 there will be an auditorium event of talks and images from some of Wales’ most adventurous and inspirational women who have pushed the boundaries of adventure and exploration. The evening will be hosted and compered by local outdoor enthusiast Juliet Parker Smith. Juliet will be introducing paddle-boarder Sian Sykes and mountain runner Ruth Pickvance. Sian will be discussing her latest adventure; a solo, 1000 km journey around Wales, paddle-boarding through rivers, canals and the ocean. Along the way Sian collected plastic pollution and is working to inspire others to make a pledge against plastic. To support Sian’s mission to reduce single use plastic Theatr Brycheiniog has introduced biodegradable straws in our Waterfront Bar and Cafe and will be offering discounted hot drinks for those who bring their own reusable cups.
Ruth is a former international runner. Curiosity, exploration, challenge and appreciation of the natural world inspire her to write, travel, work abroad and run up VERY big mountains! Ruth will be providing a new take on what adventure is, discussing the process of creating fulfilling and developmental experiences and how this demands curiosity.
On the morning of International Women’s Day, March 8 Julia Blazer of local company, Good Day Out will be bringing her mini donkeys Maverick and Goose to lead a quiet stroll along the canal bank from Theatr Brycheiniog at 11am. The Good Day Out dinky donkeys will be raising money for Brecon Food Bank as they walk - women and children are invited to join them and raise money for this good cause.
If you fancy a slightly longer walk Welsh Women Walking have organised a five-mile walk from the Theatre to the trig point of Pen Y Crug’s Iron Age fort on Saturday, March 9.