Annie, Oxford Museums, Jellyfish & Cadstock: Pain in the Arts Takes a Breath (Sort Of)
Annie, Oxford Museums, Jellyfish & Cadstock: Pain in the Arts Takes a Breath (Sort Of)
Some weeks in Welsh arts feel like a marathon. This one felt more like a marathon with a detour through Oxford, a jellyfish‑infested sea swim, a heatwave, a music festival, and a graduation ceremony. In this week’s episode of Pain in the Arts, broadcaster Chris J Birch and writer‑artist Jak Rhys Birch unpack a week that somehow manages to be both chaotic and charming — the perfect snapshot of summer in the Welsh creative sector.
It’s funny, reflective, and full of the kind of cultural detail you only get from people who live the arts every single day.
Annie at the Wales Millennium Centre: A Classic Done Right
This week began with a trip to the Wales Millennium Centre for Annie, starring Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan. Chris had never seen any version of Annie — not the films, not the stage show — so this was a first.
Jak, on the other hand, grew up with the 1999 Kathy Bates version and arrived fully prepared.
The verdict?
The young Annie was exceptionally talented
The pitch was high enough to summon nearby dogs
Claire Sweeney was a standout
The audience loved it
Jak awarded it four stars on The Edit
And in a lovely full‑circle moment, Claire Sweeney shared the review on Instagram — a reminder of how Welsh arts criticism is increasingly shaping audience choices.
Oxford Museums: Heat, Anthropology & Book Buying
The pair also took a trip to Oxford, where they visited:
The Natural History Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum
Blackwell’s Bookshop
And briefly, the Science Museum (which lasted about 90 seconds)
The Pitt Rivers was the highlight — a labyrinth of global artefacts, curiosities, masks, textiles, and cultural treasures. It was also approximately the temperature of the sun.
Jak bought a handmade Nepalese mask and a shibori‑dyed fan. Chris bought How to Art by Kate Bryan. And both left slightly dehydrated but culturally enriched.
Beach Evenings & Jellyfish: Rest Bay in July
On Friday evening, the duo escaped the heat by heading to Rest Bay in Porthcawl with family and friends.
It was idyllic… until they reached the water.
The sea was full of jellyfish — warm, gelatinous, and far too friendly. Jak bravely waded in with his nephew Max, while Chris stayed on the shoreline, loudly refusing to participate.
It was chaotic, hilarious, and very Welsh.
Cadstock: Local Music, Local Talent, Local Heatstroke
Saturday brought Cadstock, a free community music festival featuring local musicians and one very convincing Ozzy Osbourne tribute act — who gifted Chris one of “Ozzy’s rings.”
Chris hosted the event from 11am to 8pm in 35‑degree heat, keeping the crowd energised between acts while slowly melting into the stage.
It was exhausting, joyful, and a testament to how strong local music scenes can be when communities show up.
Graduation Season: A Full-Circle Moment
The week ended with a personal milestone: the graduation of Jak’s long‑time friend Zoe, who completed her Master’s in Law at the ICC.
It was emotional, celebratory, and a reminder that creative people often have parallel lives — families, careers, responsibilities — and still find ways to return to their passions.
Cardiff is currently full of caps and gowns, and the city feels alive with possibility.
Q&A: How Do You Actually Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Creatives?
One listener asked a question that hits home for many artists:
“You talked about not comparing yourself to others — but how do we do that when the creative industry pits us against each other?”
Jak’s answer is honest and sharp:
The creative industries don’t work like traditional careers.
In law, medicine, engineering, or academia, you climb a ladder:
A‑levels
Degree
Master’s
Qualification
Job
Promotion
But in the arts?
You move sideways. You move backwards. You leap forward. You stall. You restart. You reinvent.
Success is not linear — and comparing yourself to others is a guaranteed way to lose your sense of self.
Authenticity is your only real currency.
Many artists spend early years subconsciously mimicking the “successful version” of themselves — only to realise later that their own voice is the thing that actually works.
Jak’s advice?
Focus on your lane
Celebrate others without internalising their path
Remember that geography, economics, and opportunity vary wildly
And recognise that your timeline is yours alone
It’s one of the most grounded conversations the podcast has had.
A Week That Shows the Heart of Welsh Arts
This episode of Pain in the Arts captures everything that makes the Welsh creative sector special:
Big musicals
Small galleries
Community festivals
Cultural day trips
Family milestones
Honest conversations
And a lot of jellyfish
It’s messy, human, funny, and deeply rooted in the belief that art is not just something we watch — it’s something we live.
If you want to understand the creative heartbeat of Wales, this episode is essential listening