The Melville Centre

Upcoming events at The Melville Centre

Arts & Culture

Poetry, People And Places

An evening celebrating the power of words and imagination. Alex Wharton is a poet, performer, songwriter and Children’s Laureate for Wales 2023-2025. From rap lyrics to relatable poetry books, Alex Wharton’s journey from a Welsh mining town to Children’s Laureate is a testament to the power of creativity. You are guaranteed to leave this event smiling!

Thu 4 Jun20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Community

Living, Dying and Other Messy Human Things

Open Mic and spoken word poetry – bringing together local talent and featuring poets Lily Redwood and Ceri Baker. Lily and Ceri first bonded over caring for a them as they approach the mess and magic of being mortal with honesty, tenderness and a smattering of playfulness. (includes themes of parenthood, sexuality, death and dying) email:  to sign up for the open mic age 16+

Sat 6 Jun20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

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Arts & Culture

Poetry upstairs - Path by Chris Torrance

Path presents Chris Torrance’s own compilation of his later work, finalised in 2017. The characteristically varied and wide-ranging poems in this major new collection can be read as continuations of the Magic Door sequence, crowning 50 years of Torrance’s writing life in rural Wales. ‘The character humanises the landscape, and the landscape gives the character his larger dimension: so that, idiosyncratic and fallible as he is, Torrance’s persona, his consciousness, can stand for each of us: reaching into the real contexts of being human with an energy and grasp that proffer them to his reader, to share. Torrance enlarges and deepens the world for us.’ — John Freeman (Poetry Wales)

Tue 9 Jun20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Community

Gentle Angry Women

On 5 September 1981 a march led by a small group of women arrived at RAF Greenham Common to protest at a decision to place US nuclear cruise missiles at the base. In 2021 a group of young activists recreated the original march from Cardiff to Greenham Common, and they invited women to join them along the way. This film documents their walk, and the impact it had on them. They ask why they hadn’t known about the Greenham Common camps before, and how women’s history is so often overlooked or minimised. One of the three young women, Poppy, will join us at the Melville for a Q&A session. A busload of women from Abergavenny joined the first day of the march in August 2021, from Cardiff to Newport, so expect to see familiar faces on screen. And the white peace doves created by Abergavenny people on their way to the anti-Iraq war demo have a starring role throughout the film.” Trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BYBFEb0KUEJgcdOwuCBDDG_UqY-MyBwO/view?pli=1 contact point: Ann Davison, ,

Sun 28 Jun16:30The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Theatre

John Bevan: Team Player – from Lions to League

A new play by Mari Lloyd “To us, it’s not just a game, it’s who we are. ”It’s 1971. Margaret Thatcher becomes known as the ‘Milk Snatcher’. ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ is nominated for 10 BAFTAs…And the British Lions with 13 Welsh players do something that has never been done before…and never repeated since. They defeat the mighty All Blacks on their own turf in New Zealand. Imagine, like John Bevan, that you are 20 years old, and part of that phenomenal success. How does that feel? And what happens afterwards? Within two years John Bevan leaves Union for League and a new life. What is he searching for? And will he find it? Could ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ inspire change? Or is this the end of a dream. Mari Lloyd’s new solo play explores the triumphs and challenges of three years in the sporting career of Welsh rugby player John Bevan, as it chronicles the Test series in Australia and New Zealand in 1971 and the period which followed in 1973 when John left the success of his rugby union roots to “go north” for a job to play rugby league for Warrington. This is the new production from the team behind the acclaimed, award nominated Still Here named by The Edit as one of ‘The Top 20 Shows We Saw Across Wales’ in 2025. Written by Mari Lloyd | Directed by Julia Stubbs Produced by Still Here Productions in association with 20 South Street and Grey Swan With Scott Gutteridge as John Bevan Critical Acclaim for our previous production “Still Here is not just a play...

Sat 4 Jul20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Community

An Evening with... Bethany Handley

‘Urgent and beautiful, this book shows how our treatment of disability mirrors our treatment of nature. Essential reading’ Katherine May, author of Wintering ‘A passionate call for an inclusive countryside’ Jack Cornish, author of The Lost Paths About Bethany Handley Bethany Handley is an award-winning writer, poet and disability activist from South Wales. Named one of the UK’s ten most influential disabled people in politics, law, and media by the Shaw Trust 2024, she campaigns for disability rights and better access to nature. An ambassador for Country Living’s Access for All, Wales Coast Path, and Ramblers Cymru, her debut poetry pamphlet Cling Film was published by Seren in 2025. Bethany co-edited Beyond / Tu Hwnt, a ground-breaking bilingual anthology of Welsh Deaf and disabled writers. Her work has been featured by BBC One, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 4, the Poetry Foundation, Country Living, The Guardian and more. About My Body is a Meadow Since childhood, Bethany Handley has always felt most at home out in the wilds of the Welsh countryside. This all changed when Bethany became a full-time wheelchair user in her twenties and suddenly found herself padlocked out of the landscapes she belonged to. Today, nearly one in four people are Disabled in the UK. Public rights of way are blocked in 32,000 places across England and Wales. My Body is a Meadow writes into this troubling landscape.

Thu 9 Jul20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Live Music

The Travelling Riverside Blues Show

Join two fine blues musicians and enjoy an evening listening to the sounds and tales of the Mississippi. The simple sound of acoustic guitar and vocal brings the Delta to life, celebrating the power and energy of the bluesmen who created the musical legend. This early raw style – just traditional guitar and vocal – formed the foundation of modern blues music. This show weaves a story of hopes and dreams, hardship and poverty through soulful and passionate music, along with tales bringing those times and people to life. Sit back and enjoy The Travelling Riverside Blues Show on a journey through the Delta. Remi Harris is a Jazz & Blues guitarist from the UK whose playing draws inspiration from artists such as Django Reinhardt, Peter Green, Wes Montgomery, Robert Johnson. From the age of seven he has dedicated himself to a life of guitar playing which has taken him from busking on the streets of his local towns to performing at many prestigious venues and events around the world, including Buckingham Palace, Montreal Jazz Festival, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Jamie Cullum, as well as appearing on national radio and television. “Remi Harris is one of the great guitarists we have in this country, an absolutely extraordinary musician” Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2 “a brilliant guitar player”  Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2 & BBC 6 Music “Brilliant!!!!

Sat 18 Jul20:30The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Community

Around £10

An Evening with... Owen B Lewis

About The Wildfire Hurrier The Wildfire Hurrier, the sequel to The Waterfall Warrior is finally here… Rowan is a Hurrier. As one of the privileged elite and the son of two of the most powerful politicians on Therrhain, he has been fast-tracked onto a Dimensionology team before he is properly qualified. Rowan’s girlfriend Fay is a Warrior. Her race having been decimated by Hurriers, the natural enemies of Warriors, many frown on their relationship. In their previous stint at Wilcroft University, Rowan and Fay managed to fulfil a prophecy and stop the world being destroyed. Now they face new challenges; whilst Rowan is away exploring other worlds, Fay worries about his safety, all whilst keeping a terrifying secret from him. Meanwhile, political tensions brew as an upcoming election threatens to destabilise everything… Event Format: Author talk ‘in conversation’, followed by audience Q&A and book signing. Tickets: £10 ticket only £15 ticket and book Venue: Melville Centre for the Arts, Abergavenny. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. Refunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value.

Fri 7 Aug20:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Live Music

The Nat King Cole Live Experience

Step back in time with The Nat King Cole Live Experience, a heartfelt tribute to the timeless music of the legendary Nat King Cole. This outstanding four-piece ensemble faithfully recreates the distinctive sound of the original Nat King Cole Trio, featuring the classic lineup of piano, double bass, jazz guitar, and lead vocals. Their performance takes audiences on a musical journey from the 1940s through to the 1960s, celebrating Cole’s most loved songs including “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Route 66,” “Nature Boy,” “Mona Lisa,” “Unforgettable,” “Let There Be Love,” and “L-O-V-E.” The musicians—Mark Sambell (piano), Mike Frost (guitar), Bill Fletcher (double bass), and Mark Stevens (vocals)—are highly respected figures on the South Wales jazz scene, renowned for their exceptional skill and artistry. Based in Cardiff and Penarth, they bring authenticity, warmth, and effortless charm to every performance. Nat King Cole remains one of the most celebrated singers and jazz musicians of the 20th century. His music continues to inspire listeners of all ages—truly “kids from 1 to 92.” As he sings in his hit “The Christmas song”.

Sat 15 Aug20:30The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Community

Readings & Music in aid of FLOW

Supporting people facing mental health challenges, including those affected by PTSD, bereavement, war, and other trauma. FLOW provides a safe and welcoming space where individuals can share their feelings and experiences through poetry, stories, letters, and lyrics. Members are encouraged to read and support one another’s writing, creating a community built on understanding and shared expression. Participation is free through the FLOW website, where contributors can upload their work for others to read and comment on, with some pieces even finding their way into published collections. Tonight’s readings celebrate the power of words to heal, connect, and give voice to experience. We thank you for joining us. Mac Macdonald CEO Forces Literary Organisation Worldwide

Sat 7 Nov19:00The Melville Centre

via The Melville Centre

Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.