Papertrail, in association with Clean Break, will be presenting the world premiere of Siân Owen’s powerful new play, 'A Visit', at YMa, Pontypridd from 30 September until 5 October.
A Visit is a brand new play about crime, justice and childcare that asks - who takes care of the kids when a mum gets sent to prison.
Papertrail and Siân Owen have created a gripping piece of theatre inspired by the real life stories of the women and young people they have worked with.
There are no female prisons in Wales. Families must travel on average 3 to 4 hours outside of Wales to see their relatives in prison, bringing with them young children on this overwhelming experience.
Since 2019 Papertrail and Siân Owen, supported by Clean Break, have met with women and children impacted by maternal imprisonment from Wales and England. They also met with academics and social workers who have worked with families in the criminal justice system.
“Papertrail is a company that stages unheard voices and being a child with a parent in prison is a story rarely told. Our latest play, A Visit, invites the audience to step into the shoes of its characters and imagine how they might feel. We hope that the play generates questions about what happens to kids caught up in this situation. And we also want to shine a light on the particular challenges faced by women and their families in Wales, and the long distances that children have to travel in order to see their mum.”
Cardiff based theatre company, Papertrail stages rarely heard stories and presents them to audiences in engaging ways. Over the last 10 years Papertrail has produced The Container, Day to Go and A Night in the Clink, working alongside communities in the creation of the work.
Writer, Siân Owen (National Theatre’s Under Milk Wood) was inspired to write about the impact this has on Welsh women, and their families, and set the drama in her family’s hometown of Aberdare.
The strong all-female led cast includes Siwan Morris (Gwaith Catref, Wolfblood, Caerdydd, Skins and Theatr Genedlathol productions) and Bethan Mclean (Sherman Theatre & Theatr Soar - The Merthyr Stigmatist & Bwmp & ‘Yr Amgueddfa’ (S4C).
A Visit will be performed at YMa, Pontypridd, South Wales from 30 September – 5 October.
BSL - Claire Anderson & Cathryn Mcshane
All performances except 5 October BSL interpreted & Captioned
Age 12+
Content Warnings: The play contains references to supply of illegal drugs and imprisonment.
Tickets £5-£12
Workshops are also available from July to September in writing and performance and are led by the creatives involved. Two of the workshops are BSL interpreted.
Further information about A Visit and the workshops can be found at papertrail.org
A Visit has been created by Papertrail in association with Clean Break. It has been supported by Arts Council of Wales, National Lottery, Welsh Government, YMa, Artis Community and Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC Arts Development.