Who we are:
The Bards of Gorseth Ynyswitrin
David Reakes ::
Current Holder of the Bardic Chair as of St. Dunstan's day 2009. Holder
of the Crown 2008-9. David is a trained actor who, after 15 years of
successfully bouncing around in the back of various Transit Vans and on
the front of various stages, decided that that kind of life wasn't very
conducive to bringing up a family. So he and his wife (Angela, another
actor) decided that if they didn't want to have to move to the work any
more they could at least move the work to them, and in doing so set up
their own theatre company in Glastonbury. Tor Theatre
specializes in schools and community projects in Somerset and the
surrounding counties. More arty projects are planned for the near future.
Watch this space...
David is also a part-time Community Play Ranger in Bath. This involves standing (and running and jumping) around in parks in sun, rain and snow facilitating good old fashioned out door, "risky" play for 5 to 13 year-olds in economically deprived areas. Which is nowhere near as horrid as it sounds. Honest.
He plays cricket (left arm over, right hand bat) for the worst team in Somerset.
He and his wife moved to Glastonbury nearly five years ago after falling in love with the levels while touring Shakespeare. They have since added Arthur (son) and Morris (cat) to the family and are expecting Kid B in September. They can see Wells from their bedroom window which is kinda bizarre as David's Great Grandfather was the mayor...
David writes "stories that rhyme a bit" and is dedicated to spreading the word about the word. He also records music with Vegetables At Last. David's winning piece Little Golden Children is available to read here along with some other pieces such as The Meeting Of Souls.
Tony Atkinson ::
Deputy Bard.
Check out the piece with which Tony won the crown 9° = 2° Magus.
Dearbhaile Bradley
:: Elder Bard. Holder of the Chair from 2007-8. Dearbhaile is a
graduate of the Community Arts Facilitation programme and Master Classes
in Writing at the Playhouse,
Derry. It was whilst living in Derry, that she began to develop a
reputation as a poet with frequent (and sometimes paid!) readings and
interviews on Radio Foyle. She moved to Glastonbury five years ago and
first came to the notice of the creative community here with her play
'The Descent of Inanna' which played to a packed house, Samhain 2004. She
now runs a fortnightly writing group 'The Odd Thursdays' in the AshTat Centre in Glastonbury and offers
day courses in creative development (details available from
goodwillpatterns.co.uk. She is currently writing a (non-fiction)
book and a collection of her poetry will be available through local
bookshops by Autumn 2007. Dearbhaile is available for bookings, both as
bard and as a tutor in creative writing.
Merlin of the Woods
:: Musician. Holder of the Crown from 2007-8.
Merlin's crowning piece was Naw Morwynion.
Tim Hall :: Elder
Bard. Tim was the first holder of the Chair, having been chaired on 17th
June (St Hervé's day) 2005. Tim has honed his skills over the last
19 years as part of Silver on the Tree
and is also credited with being the founder of the Avalonian Free
State Choir and Bassplayer / vocalist with Invisible
Opera. He has dedicated a large part of his life to the
restoration of the Carolling tradition, creating teaching and performing
the Carols
at Winter
Solstice and Beltaine. Many examples of Tim's work are available at
his home page, He has
also graced us with some thoughts on Bardism
and the complete text to 'The Ravens', Tim's
winning entry at the Bardic Trials on St Dunstan's Day
2006.
Shamus Joy :: Herald
Bard and Honorary Elder Bard. Shamus instigated the Sacred
Soapbox - a kind of alternative speaker's Corner and Bardic
Forum. Shamus also designed and made our Deputy Bards
Crown.
Tony Thompson ::
Chair of Gorseth Committee.
Chaz Heritage ::
Secretary and Chief Scribe to the Gorsedd.
Dreow Bennet ::
Maenarc of Avalon. Musician.
Lydia Lyte :: Lydia
is our current Sword Bearer and drummer with Silver on the
Tree.
Jo Waterworth ::
Current holder of the Tim Sebastion Memorial Trophy and previously acted
as Judge at the Bardic Trials 2006, Jo Waterworth (aka Rainbow Jo) is a
published poet and writer who has lived in or around Glastonbury for over
20 years. She runs a monthly group 'poetry@speakingtree', a fortnightly
writing group for women, and is a regular reader at the Café Piano
poetry meetings in Wells. She is also a founder (and current) member of
the Avalonian Free State Choir, a stalwart caroller twice a year, and has
been known to sing in smaller a capella groups. When not working as a
writer, a life model, or in a local bookshop, she volunteers at the
Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury and is renowned for dressing up and having
fun. Her grandmother called her a bohemian, her mother said she was
'different', but some locals consider her to be eminently sensible. Judge
for yourself.
Oshia Drury :: One
of Glastonbury's finest vocalists, worked with Tim Hall, Lydia Lyte, Viv
Andreae and Dreow Bennett in Silver on the Tree for the last 20 years as
well as working with Jana Runnalls, Nick Harrison and being a founding
member of the Avalonian Free State Choir. She is a regular favourite at
the Glastonbury Goddess Conference and is a regular Bardic Trials
Judge.
Viv Andreae ::
Musician and singer, worked with Tim Hall, Lydia Lyte, Oshia Drury and
Dreow Bennett in Silver on the Tree.
Petra Cook :: Musician.
Jamuna Jivana :: Poet.
Theo Simon :: Holder of the Tim Sebastion Memorial
Trophy 2008-9. Songwriter with Seize the Day. Theo writes
incredibly moving and inspirational protest songs and has used his gift
to support many environmental campaigns across the world.
Sonia Guinnessy
:: Beautifully enchanting singer songwriter. Faery Queen Video.
Songs of
Magic and Love Album Review.
Raga Richie :: Oblate.
Willow Seeger ::
Musician.
Brian Conquer :: Musician.
Yanni :: Poet. Lady of Avalon.
Mikhaela ::
Musician.
Ezmerelda Sanger
:: Storyteller.
Stella Joy ::
Musician.
Moyra Lynch :: Poet/Storyteller.
Amanda Gazidis
:: Poet.
Daru McAleece ::
Poet / Storyteller. Bard of the Borders.
Karen Smith ::
Poet.
Nathan Lewis
Williams :: Musician. Nathan has been one of the main organisers
of Gorseth events since the Order's inception in 2005. Nathan is a
multi-faceted musician based in Glastonbury, with 20 years plus
experience of gigging, teaching and recording music, as well as
presenting talks, lectures and workshops on various musical and esoteric
subjects. Nathan sings in English and Welsh and plays traditional and
original music on various stringed instruments, including guitar,
bouzouki, piano and bass. As well as gigging regularly, he currently
works professionally in schools and in Glastonbury town as a teacher of
music theory, guitar, bass, piano etc, and also as occasional sound
engineer for various folk and festival bands.
In recent years Nathan has been active in promoting and playing acoustic music and organising various festival stages and musical and 'bardic' events. He has performed traditional and original music in English and Welsh with Inter-Celtic dance bands such as Dragonsfly, The Green Angels and The Resonators, and accompanied and collaborated with folk singers including Catrin O'Neill, Sarah Curtis and Emma Pickerill. He established the popular Fabulous Furry Folk Club at Glastonbury Assembly Rooms, which hosted over 50 weekly open sessions and 16 full scale concerts and seasonal bardic events over a two year period, culminating at Winter Solstice 2008. Nathan is currently involved in organising the musical programme for the Glastonbury May Festival, which has blossomed over the last few years into a week-long arts festival. For more information, see Nathan's Home Page.
Yohanna van Fessem:: Poet.
Sheena Johnstone :: Dancer.
Seano :: Poet.
In loving memory
For their tutelage, inspiration and guidance.
Tim Woodman Sebastion
Ray Kerley
Ritchie Bond
Alison Collyer
Jaqueline Memory Patterson
John Michell
