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A Time Traveller's Guide to Theatrical Brecon

 

Brecon Little Theatre's unique historical production of "A Time Traveller's Guide to Theatrical Brecon" was created in association with Jayne Gold, and funded by the Heritage Fund and Cadw's #15minute Heritage Grant.

 

Based on the research of Sister Bonaventure, and Jayne's own work - it tells the stories of the people who put Brecon on the theatrcial map. 
 

Thanks to the funding received, Brecon Little Theatre have commissioned a self-guided walking tour of Brecon, taking in the places of theatrical, and historical importance around the town. 

CLICK HERE to download a free map of Brecon's Theatre History
CLICIWCH YMA i'w lawrlwytho yn Gymraeg

We have commissioned, created, and produced a series of short scenes based on Brecon's theatrical past. These were originally performed as part of the live promenade event, which took place in Brecon on 26th & 27th June 2021. The scenes all take place at locations on the map, and the main characters within them are all real people who worked, lived and performed in Brecon over the years.

1. The Former Ursuline Convent

2. 'Theatre Brecon'

3. The Sarah Siddons Pub

4. Golden Lion Coaching Inn

5. The Bell Inn

6. Ship Street

Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) was one of the most prolific actresses of the 18th century and a key player in the emergence of a celebrity culture. She was born in an upstairs room of the Shoulder of Mutton Inn (now renamed The Sarah Siddons pub) on 5th July 1755. Her acting family - parents Sarah and Roger Kemble, and grandfather John Ward - were performing in Brecon at the time. The family continued to have ties to the town; her younger brother Charles was born here and there are many reports that her parents originally wanted her to marry a local Brecon man, rather than fellow actor William Siddons who she married in 1773.

In 1787 the theatre manager John Boles Watson opened Brecon's first purpose-built theatre which remained open until 1871. The building itself was acquired and developed by proprietor and builder Andrew Maund and was adjacent to Maund's New Inn. This permenent theatre space cemented Brecon's prestige and importance as part of the theatre touring scene. For almost a hundred years the theatre produced popular and widely performed plays including Shakespeare, comedies, melodramas and pantomimes. The local people of Brecon were sometimes even involved as writers and performers themselves. 

In 1756 the Gold Lion Inn became the terminus for the first London to Brecon coach route and included stalls for around fifty horses. It was owned by Thomas Longfellow who was also the proprietor of The Bell Inn. It had a large room which hosted performances as well as other popular entertainments such as winter balls. 

John Ward's company of strolling players played at The Bell Inn in Brecon for eight weeks from May-July in 1755. Performances here continued until at least 1789, when notably on 4th December a 'Mrs Hudson' performed a solo entertainment entitled Exhibition of the Times: Or As You Like It. This performance is particularly significant as it is the first example of a surviving playbill for Brecon's theatre and is held in the Burney Collection in the British Library.

'Mrs Hudson' was an actress from London and chose this location to host her solo performance. 

The first recorded surviving evidence of English-speaking theatre being performed in Brecon was in 1699 and appeared in Samuel Owsley's diary. According to revisions made in 1676 to the Brecon rent roll, Samuel Owsley lived on 'Shippe Street' (now Ship Street) and was listed as a "Gent" and "Grocer".

Sister Bonaventure Kelleher (1923-2019) was a dedicated Ursuline nun, teacher and passionate historian of Brecon who specialised in the development of English-speaking theatre in the town in the 18th and 19th centuries. She passed on a large archive of research material to the Brecknock Society and Museum Friends, who alongside the Ursuline Order, are funding the completion of a research PhD at University of Bristol on Brecon's theatre history. Sister Bonaventure's home was surrounded by the historical sites that were the subject of her interest.

 

Written & Directed by Joan Manley

The Company
 

Steve Bradshaw, Harley Matthews, Stephen Thomas, Sophie Williams, Bradley Nathaniel Thomas, Penny Price, Nansi Jones, Charlie Symmons, Gareth Phillips, Bronnie Morgan, Marianne Auer, Ydwena Jones, Maisy Davies, Ness Beecroft, Jo Mills, Tia Borgia, Lucy Field, Ian Milton, Cerys Morgan, Jessica White, Sarah Johnson, Kaye Davies, Suxy O'Sullivan, Sian Drinan, Jacqui Daniell