Refrain

An adaptation of Sean Edwards' play Refrain, a poetic exploration of place, class and politics, performed by his mother Lily Edwards.

In 2019 the artist Sean Edwards represented Wales at the Venice Biennale.

His exhibition, in a de-consecrated church, was a poetic reflection on his childhood growing up on a housing estate in Cardiff.

It consisted of sculpture, video, textiles and photographs.

And, also, every afternoon at 2 o clock: a radio play -- called Refrain -- performed live each day by his mother Lily.

So -- if they timed it right -- as visitors made their way around the old church they would be joined by the presence of Lily -- her unembellished voice, broadcast directly from her council flat in the Welsh capital.

This programme is a reimagining of Refrain, setting the mosaic of memories, quotations and official documents against two different soundworlds -- an estate in Cardiff and the renaissance skyline of Venice.

Readings by Richard Harrington.

Thanks to Paul Heppell, Louise Hobson, Marie-Anne McQuay, Ffion Pritchard, Hadley Taylor, all at National Theatre Wales and Arts Council Wales.

Photo by Adrian Sherratt.

An adaptation of Sean Edwards' play Refrain, performed by his mother Lily Edwards.