Heatwaves, Fawlty Towers & the Future of Welsh Theatre: Pain in the Arts Melts Into Another Week
Heatwaves, Fawlty Towers & the Future of Welsh Theatre: Pain in the Arts Melts Into Another Week
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when two arts journalists attempt to record a podcast in 35‑degree Welsh heat, this week’s Pain in the Arts provides the answer: equipment overheating, tempers fraying, and two hosts slowly liquefying in their chairs.
But despite the heatwave chaos, broadcaster Chris J Birch and writer‑editor Jak Rhys Birch deliver one of their most insightful episodes yet — covering everything from ancient Greek musicals to VR headsets, from culture policy to disabled arts criticism.
It’s sweaty, sharp, and surprisingly profound.
Thespians at the New Theatre: Ancient Greece Meets Mischief Theatre
Jak kicked off the week at the New Theatre for Thespians, the first-ever musical from the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong. Set on a drought‑stricken Greek island, the show follows a group of villagers who accidentally invent theatre while trying to appease the gods.
It’s pun‑heavy, chaotic, and full of the trademark Mischief Theatre charm — but Jak admits it wasn’t his favourite of their productions. Some scenes dragged, and the heat didn’t help. Still, the New Theatre’s air‑conditioning earned a five‑star review of its own.
Fawlty Towers at the Wales Millennium Centre: Nostalgia Done Right
Meanwhile, Chris was at the Wales Millennium Centre for Fawlty Towers, a stage adaptation of three iconic episodes of the classic sitcom.
The verdict? A triumph of nostalgia — and a rare moment where an older demographic got the theatre spotlight.
The “Don’t mention the war” sequence had the audience howling, and Chris describes the experience as “like watching the original sitcom with 1,800 people laughing beside you.” His full five‑star review is now live on The Edit.
Future Commissioners Conference: The Next 10 Years of Welsh Culture
Earlier in the week, Chris travelled to Pontypridd for the Future Commissioners Conference, where arts leaders, researchers and policymakers gathered to discuss the next decade of Welsh culture.
Key themes included:
The need for long‑term, evidence‑based investment
The fragility of Wales’ cultural infrastructure
The importance of regional access
And — crucially — the role of public transport in cultural participation
As Chris discovered, getting to Builth Wells for a midday meeting would have required leaving the night before. If Wales wants a thriving arts ecosystem, it needs trains that arrive on the same day.
Creative Cardiff Showcase: 47 Creatives, One Room
Jak also attended a Creative Cardiff event where 47 creatives pitched ideas, shared projects, and — in a surreal twist — quoted the podcast back at him.
It was a reminder of how much creative energy exists in Cardiff alone, and how much more is happening across Wales that rarely gets seen due to geography, transport, and visibility.
Q&A: Disabled Artists & Criticism — The Conversation We Needed
This week’s first listener question tackled a complex issue: Should critics objectively critique work by disabled artists?
Jak delivered a thoughtful, nuanced response:
Disabled artists should not be shielded from criticism
But criticism must be contextual, informed, and respectful
Not all disabled artists are working within the same artistic frameworks
Curiosity, not judgement, should guide criticism
Critics must understand the purpose of the work before evaluating it
It’s one of the most important discussions the podcast has hosted.
Q&A: Is Known IP Taking Over Theatre?
The second question asked why theatre is increasingly dominated by known IP — from Paul O’Grady plays to TV adaptations.
The answer? Because it sells.
Large theatres need guaranteed audiences. But original work is still being made — just often in smaller venues like Porters, The Other Room, and Shed Theatre.
If audiences want originality, they need to show up for it.
A Week That Defines Welsh Arts
This episode of Pain in the Arts is a perfect snapshot of the sector right now:
Big ideas
Big policy shifts
Big heat
Small venues doing extraordinary work
A country experimenting with the future of storytelling
And two hosts trying not to melt while discussing it all
It’s chaotic, insightful, political, and deeply human — everything Welsh arts should be.
If you want to understand the creative heartbeat of Wales, this episode is essential listening.