Y Gadair Wag |The Empty Chair: Creative poetry commemoration

Y Gadair Wag | The Empty Chairwas a multimedia poetry show commissioned by Literature Wales. It depicted the story of Hedd Wyn, the poet of the Black Chair, and explored the nature of loss, boundaries and identity.

It first toured in 2017, the 100th anniversary of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). A second tour was sponsored in 2019 by Yr Ysgwrn and Cymru’n Cofio Wales Remembers 1914-1918, in partnership with S4C’s Yr Egin centre. The show was written and performed by Ifor ap Glyn, the National Poet of Wales and directed by Ian Rowlands with digital art by Jason Lye-Phillips. Film and experimental techniques were used to effectively bring voices and images to the stage. Eleven venues were visited in Wales, two in Ireland and one in London, and the show was performed to over 1,200 people. ‘A feast for the eyes and ears! A performance which brought the greatness of Hedd Wyn’s life and work to sixth form students – and on a Friday night!’ Head of the Faculty of Languages, Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug

Below left: National Poet of Wales Ifor ap Glyn performing in Y Gadair Wag. © Keith O’Brien Below right: Y Gadair Wag (image of poet Sian Northey). © Keith O’Brien