GWENLLIAN - A storytelling Weekend for Women

Name: GWENLLIAN - A storytelling Weekend for Women
Start: 2024-09-20T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-09-22T17:30:00+01:00
Location: Llandeillo

Schedule

Fri Sep 20 2024 at 07:00 pm to Sun Sep 22 2024 at 05:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Llandeillo | Ammanford, WA

The warrior princess Gwenllian famously led an army against the Normans and paid the highest price. Hers is an extraordinary story of love, rebellion, betrayal, and loss. It is every woman’s story, too, of hope and hearth, striving to find a voice in a male-dominated world, gathering courage for a cause, and finding the warrior within in a time of need.
There is a warrior in every woman, and given the right set of circumstances, she will come powerfully to the fore. Sisters – a long line of them - have chosen or been propelled into situations in which they have gathered an immensity of courage, taken up swords and shields, learned fighting and espionage skills, hurled word-spears or led protests: Boudica, Ethelfleda, Joan of Arc, Nonhelema, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Rosa Parks to name but a few. Perhaps they drew on the tales of mythic warrior women or goddesses to inspire their courage: Sekhmet, Atalanta, Athena, Andraste, Medb, Mulan, Scathach, Morrigan, Cordelia, Gwendolen and others of the vast battalion of mythic and folkloric female fighters.
For most of us, the warrior comes out when we find we must rise and overcome a challenge. Some of us enter the world armed with warrior energy, naturally determined and active; others are moulded into focused, goal-orientated individuals or motivational leaders in the community or workplace. But the warrior is there, slumbering, waiting to be called upon within us all.
During our weekend exploring Gwenllian’s story and exploring the landscape of her rebel court and final battleground, we’ll explore our own relationship with the warrior, weave in other warrior women tales and in bringing the weekend to a close with a retelling of Gwenllian's story and a ceremony to honour the long line of women warriors in our ancestral lines who have fought for freedom, to protect homes and families, to push the boundaries for the rights we enjoy today, and stand in solidarity with those sisters all across the world doing so still.
All women and those identifying as women are welcome to join us on this weekend. There will be coaching on storytelling during the weekend for those of you new to the craft, voice workshops to get us all singing and guidance as we co-create a simple ceremony.
The event will be facilitated by storyteller and historian, Angharad Wynne and is presented by Chwedl, Wales's Storytelling Network for Women, though you don't need to be based in Wales to join in. £75 / Concessions £50 for the weekend. Those coming from further afield will need to arrange accommodation (there's good availability nearby).