NEWPORT Rising festival is ready to rise again - with an array of events kicking off from tomorrow, Tuesday.
Newport Rising is a festival, organised by charity Our Chartist Heritage, which remembers and celebrates the Chartist movement and honours those who fell in the Newport Chartist Rising back in 1839.
The festival, which premiered in 2018, was forced to go virtual last year due to the Covid pandemic, but public events return for the 2022 event.
Although the march - following in the foosteps of the Chartists who marched for our freedom on November 4 1839 - there's an abundance of fun for rebels of all ages.
Here’s what else people can look forward to...
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26
Chartist Redrawn workshops
Get the creative juices flowing with free Chartist Redrawn creative workshops hosted by the creators of Newport Rising graphic novel: Rhys D.W. and Josh Cranton.
- A session for children aged nine to 12 will be held (9am-midday) at Westgate Hotel.
- A session for those aged 14 to 18 will be held from 1pm to 4pm (also at Westgate Hotel).
- An adult session, hosted at Barnabas Arts House, on New Ruperra Street, will be held from 6pm to 9pm.
Book a free space here.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
Banky-style workshops
Make your own ‘Banksy’ style protest art with workshops which will include stencilling and spray painting.
- Workshop at Westgate Hotel for children (10-14) from 9am to midday.
- Workshop at Westgate Hotel for those aged between 14 and 18 from 1pm to 4pm.
- For adults there will be a session at Barnabas Arts House from 6pm to 9pm.
Spaces are free, but limited - book here.
Lecture: 'Rape of the fair country’
It is 63 years since the publication of Alexander Cordell’s Rape of the Fair Country... and Peter Strong (Newport and Gwent Literary Club) will be seeing how it has fared.
Mr Strong is a former history teacher, with links to historical groups, and part of the committee which organises the annual Chartist Convention.
This will be from 6.30pm at Holiday Inn Newport (NP18 2YG) – with a Zoom option, talk only option, and a dinner and talk option. Find out more and book here.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Bullet Holes at the Westgate Hotel
Various talks, by Raymond Stroud and David Osmond, will be between 11am and 3pm at the hotel. They will give research and evidence backing the authenticity of the bullet holes, with the opportunity for people to see the bullet. Register your interest here.
Chartists in Newport: a history in photographs
For the past 40 years, Ian Walker has photographed the visual reminders and commemorations of Chartism in and around Newport. Running concurrently with the talks on the bullet holes, more than 70 of his photos will roll on a looped slideshow, with Mr Walker present on the day. Register your interest here.
Meet the artist: Harry Iles
Harry Iles's Chartist-inspired scultpure will also be on display at Westgate Hotel, before he donates it to Newport Museum and Art Gallery collection in 2022. The sculptor will give informal talks between 11am and 2pm. Register your interest here.
Annual commemoration event
The annual commemoration event at St Woolos Cathedral, on Stow Hill, will take place at 6pm on November 4. It remembers the 22 people who died in the Newport Rising of 1839. Reserve tickets for this free event here.
Book launch
Writer and journalist, Dylan Moore, and the Three Imposters will launch the book Many Rivers To Cross from 7pm at Westgate Hotel. The book features a failed aslylum seeker, a journalist, a sex worker, a lorry driver, a churchgoer, a single mother, a refugee, and a dead man "but such labels disguise the ways their lives are bound up in each other.” Find out more here.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
There might not be a torchlit march this year but there'll be plenty of "fyah" with a reggae party, from 9pm to 3am, at Westgate Hotel, featuring:
- Red Fire Sound
- Uprising
- Ecko Vybz
This event is £8 with a £1.21 fee - book here.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6
Chartist convention
The annual Newport Chartist Convention will be at St Woolos Cathedral from 10am – guest speakers include:
- Professor Joan Allen on Legality and Injustice in the Age of the Chartists, with reference to Regina v Frost in 1840.
- Roger Ball and Mark Steeds on the Rise and Fall of Edward Colston.
- Dave Steele who will look at the Kennington Chartist Meeting of 1848 using the famous photograph of the event.
Contributions will also come from Convention regulars Les James on Zephaniah Williams, and Pete Strong on Henry Vincent and Tolpuddle, while Ray Stroud will pay tribute to David Jones, author of The Last Rising.
There will be stalls with lunch and hot drinks included at the Covid secure event. Tickets are £12 and available here.
Book launch: Hanes yn y Tir/ History Grounded
In her book Hanes yn y Tir/History Grounded Elin Jones takes us on a visual journey through more than 5,000 years of history all over Wales. The book launch will be at Cwtsh, on Stow Hill, from 5pm (doors open at 4.30pm). Book your free place here.
Headliner show
Jack Perrett fronts the Eurekas at the Westgate, headlining the festival weekend, with support from artpop duo 100% Rabbit. Tickets are £5 with the show from 7pm to midnight. Book tickets here.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7
Guided walk to Chartist caves
- Led by Steve Drowley and Richard Mitchley.
- Grade: moderate.
- Meeting point is at Top House pub, Trefil.
- Walkers are advised to wear walking boots, waterproofs and bring water and packed lunch.
- Admission free, but registration required.
- From 11am.
All new theatre
Dirty Protest Presents: It Started With A Spark - six new short plays written for the festival - from 6pm. Tickets are £3 with all proceeds going to Our Chartist Heritage. Book here.
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