"Forbidden Lives and A History of Women in Men's Clothes" Norena Shopland

The Riverfront Theatre, Kingsway, Newport, NP20 1HG
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Sunday 22nd March 12:00 - 13:00

About "Forbidden Lives and A History of Women in Men's Clothes" Norena Shopland

Norena will discuss the difficulties, discoveries and amazing stories that have, for centuries, been hidden

Forbidden Lives is a fascinating collection of portraits and discussions that charts the changing LGBT history of Wales, a neglected part of Welsh history in great need of positive revision. A History of Women in Men's Clothes, the story of the women who defied social convention to live their lives as they chose.

Norena Shopland is an author/historian specialising in the history of sexual orientation and gender identity. Her Forbidden Lives: LGBT stories from Wales (2017) is the first entirely historical work on Welsh LGBTQ+ history. Queering Glamorgan and A Practical Guide to Searching LGBTQIA Historical Records (Routledge, 2020) have become very popular as toolkits to aid people in research. A History of Women in Men’s Clothes (2021) explores gender fluidity. In 2021, the Welsh Government commissioned Shopland to deliver LGBTQ+ training to local libraries, museums, and archives in Wales, an outcome of which is The Welsh County LGBTQ+ Timeline Collection. She is a member of the International Committee on LGBTQ+ History Months. Shopland researches and writes Welsh history including, The Welsh Gold King, and Women in Welsh Coal Mining, a topic so popular over 80 talks have been delivered. For two years, Shopland has a monthly Welsh history column with Nation Cymru.

This event is part of the Newport Festival of Words, 20th - 22nd March 2026.

Website https://www.newportwordfest.co.uk/