Idle Talk: Wales's Oral Tradition

Available for over a year

You’re invited to an open mic in the Middle Ages. Carys Eleri MCs a night of comedy and spoken word from Dafydd ap Gwilym, Taliesin and more, as she explores Wales's oral tradition. In the Middle Ages, Welsh oral storytellers - or 'cyfarwyddiaid' - were essential workers. Even the Welsh verb 'ymddiddan' (“to converse”) originally meant “to entertain each other.” How did this tradition begin? And does it still survive today? Comedian and writer Carys Eleri is putting on a medieval open mic, with iconic Welsh poets brought back to life by comedians Priya Hall, Leila Navabi and Jake Sawyers. Carys is joined by Eurig Salisbury, a poet and lecturer who has grown up with Wales's oral tradition; historian Sara Huws, whose nain was a storyteller; and National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa, who is keeping spoken word alive in Cardiff communities today. Produced by Alice McKee