Pain in the Arts

The Edit Wales

Pain in the Arts is the unapologetically honest podcast from Welsh creatives Chris & Jak. Each week they dive into the glorious mess of the arts sector with irreverent humour, lived experience, and questionable advice. Featuring our Weekly Questions segment, guest voice notes, theatre rants, and the glamorous mundanity of creative life. If you’ve ever been told your work is “too niche,” this is your backstage pass to solidarity and satire.

  1. TEDx, Rocky Horror & Pride Week Chaos — What a Week

    3d ago

    TEDx, Rocky Horror & Pride Week Chaos — What a Week

    Fresh from TEDxButeStreet — literally an hour after leaving the Senedd — Chris and Jak dive into one of the busiest, most meaningful weeks they’ve had in Welsh arts. This episode covers: • TEDxButeStreet: mentoring, organising, and platforming Welsh voices • Rocky Horror at the New Theatre • A deconsecrated church photo call • Barry Pride and the realities of grassroots organising • Queer Icons cabaret • Why UK art is still too London‑centric • How to decentralise culture and support Welsh creatives Warm, honest, political, and full of community spirit — this is Pain in the Arts at its best. Support the show

    50 min
  2. Exclusively on YouTube & Spotify from Next Week - Dawn French, Prue Leith & Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    May 28

    Exclusively on YouTube & Spotify from Next Week - Dawn French, Prue Leith & Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    From Next Week - Available on YouTube & Spotify Exclusively Welcome back to Pain in the Arts — the podcast about the arts and creative industries in Wales, hosted by broadcaster Chris J Birch and artist‑writer‑editor Jak Rhys Birch. This week’s episode is recorded from the car, somewhere between Hay Festival and home, after the busiest eight‑day stretch we’ve had in ages. Here’s what we’ve been up to: 🌿 Hay Festival Highlights   • Chris saw Dawn French in conversation with Richard Coles • Chris also attended a Writers Room session with Francis Bickmore (Canongate) • Jak saw Hugh Bonneville and Danny Robins • Today: Ian Hislop, Adrian Edmondson, Ben Elton, Prue Leith & Alan Davies 🎭 Cabaret Cardiff: Buffy the Vampire Slayer   A chaotic, camp, joyful evening. 🌞 The Most British Bank Holiday Ever   Garden centre → garden wandering → tea → existential dread. 🎸 Sunny Afternoons at the Wales Millennium Centre   A mid‑week musical pick‑me‑up. 🎙️ Q&A This Week  1️⃣ How do digital artists differentiate their work from AI?  2️⃣ Does Wales need more festivals like Hay — and how do you start one? 🎨 Jak Teaches Chris Something Interesting   A weekly fact worth clipping — from ballet shoes to Buffy studies. 📅 The Week Ahead   • The Enormous Crocodile at the New Theatre • Feast On Festival • Back to Hay Festival • Waitress at WMC • Rocky Horror at the New Theatre If you love Welsh arts, creative chaos, and two slightly sunburnt men trying to podcast in a moving vehicle — this one’s for you. Support the show

    54 min
  3. Ballet, Banksy & Bank Holidays: Our Wildest Week in Welsh Arts

    May 21

    Ballet, Banksy & Bank Holidays: Our Wildest Week in Welsh Arts

    This week on Pain in the Arts:  We’ve had the busiest eight days in Welsh arts we’ve ever experienced — from ballet to Banksy, from London summits to Roath Gallery Weekend, from Choir of Man to a 10‑year photography project that floored us. Chris heads to London for the Business of the Arts Summit, Jak speaks at Cardiff University, we hit six galleries in one day, and we still find time to celebrate a birthday and review multiple shows. We also answer your listener questions, including: • What are the next steps after leaving creative education? • Should you start an arts Instagram for free tickets? • How do you pick a creative hobby without fear of being “bad” at it? It’s a big one. Grab a cuppa. Support the show

    57 min
  4. Roath, Rothko & Ridiculous MLMs

    May 14

    Roath, Rothko & Ridiculous MLMs

    This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into one of the funniest, busiest and most chaotic weeks the Welsh arts scene has thrown at them yet. They head to Cabaret Cardiff for Dyke Systems Ltd, the debut production from new theatre company Fagpacket — a razor‑sharp MLM‑themed comedy that turns out to be one of the best shows they’ve ever seen at Cabaret. From perfect timing to unhinged characters, the pair break down why this grassroots production deserves national attention. Jak also reviews Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (“The Trocs”), a gloriously camp, technically brilliant ballet performed entirely by male dancers in traditionally female roles. Meanwhile, Roath prepares for Roath Gallery Weekend, with more than a dozen independent galleries opening their doors for a three‑day celebration of local art. The pair also look ahead to Cherry Vine at Cabaret, the Arts Professional Summit in London, and a packed month of creative events. This week’s listener questions explore: • What’s the easiest art form to start as a hobby — especially if you’re scared you’ll be bad at it?  • If you start an arts Instagram page, will theatres automatically give you free tickets? (Spoiler: absolutely not.) Warm, witty and full of sector insight, this episode celebrates the joy of grassroots creativity — and the reality of navigating Wales’ arts ecosystem. Support the show

    50 min
  5. Scripts, Scams & Sculptural Selves

    May 7

    Scripts, Scams & Sculptural Selves

    This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into a brilliantly chaotic mix of insurance fraud stories, unstable art exhibitions, election‑day energy, and the newly released Rainbow Wales book. From bank‑holiday burnout to the realities of reviewing theatre, the pair explore the pressures, politics and pleasures of working in the Welsh arts sector. They discuss the expectations placed on reviewers, the rise of content‑creator demands in theatre marketing, and the awkward truth that some venues only want positive reviews. There’s also a look ahead to Double Indemnity at the New Theatre, the Unstable Arts exhibition preview, and Chris’ upcoming hosting of the Rainbow Wales book talk with Emily Garside. This week’s listener questions ask: • If you could be immortalised in any art form, what would it be?  • Should you delay becoming a full‑time artist because of the Senedd election? Warm, witty and full of sector insight, this episode blends humour with honesty — and captures the creative pulse of Wales right now. Support the show

    38 min
  6. Bath Weekends, Bad Theatre & Big Funding Fears

    Apr 30

    Bath Weekends, Bad Theatre & Big Funding Fears

    This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into a gloriously chaotic mix of musical parody, Cold War theatre, Welsh film premieres, and the big question of how future generations will remember the art we’re making today. Jack heads to Friends: The Musical Parody with his family — a show that takes affectionate aim at the iconic sitcom — while Chris endures a flatter‑than‑expected production of The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. Meanwhile, Cabaret Cardiff continues its reign as the city’s most eclectic arts hub, hosting everything from jazz to burlesque to magic. The pair also attend the Madfabulous film premiere with the Iris Prize, celebrate Welsh storytelling on the big screen, and explore the stunning Swansea Grand Theatre. This week’s listener questions tackle two big topics: • Where is all the funding — and are there hidden pots creatives don’t know about?  • How will our current era of art be remembered by future generations? Warm, witty and full of sector insight, this episode captures the pulse of Welsh arts right now. Support the show

    45 min
  7. Michael Sheen, Major Grants & the Future of Welsh Theatre

    Apr 23

    Michael Sheen, Major Grants & the Future of Welsh Theatre

    This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into circus chaos, community celebrations, new tattoos, and the surprisingly dangerous temptation of food in paintings. They also tackle two big sector questions: Should you sack a bad member of staff in a tiny gallery? and Does Wales really need another training school? The episode opens with a deep dive into the heated debate around Arts Council Wales funding for Michael Sheen’s new theatre company — exploring the fears, the facts, and the potential impact on Wales’ creative ecosystem. From there, the pair head to NoFit State’s Carnation in Barry, discuss the Bro Radio Community Awards, and share their latest tattoo adventure. Warm, witty and full of sharp cultural insight, this episode blends humour with hard truths about the realities of running creative spaces in Wales. Support the show

    47 min
  8. Elitism, Exhibitions & Evolving Artists

    Apr 16

    Elitism, Exhibitions & Evolving Artists

    This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into community‑driven exhibitions, chaotic but charming audiences, and the ongoing frustrations around arts funding in Wales. From a powerful, people‑focused exhibition at the University of South Wales to a run of eclectic nights at Cabaret, the pair explore how creativity continues to bring communities together — even as funding structures crumble around them. They also tackle two big questions: • Are we drifting back toward elitism in the arts?  • How do you refresh a creative business after 20+ years? Expect sharp insights, warm humour, and a candid look at how the arts sector is shifting — from who gets to make art, to who gets to access it, to how creatives can keep their work alive in a changing world. Support the show

    54 min
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About

Pain in the Arts is the unapologetically honest podcast from Welsh creatives Chris & Jak. Each week they dive into the glorious mess of the arts sector with irreverent humour, lived experience, and questionable advice. Featuring our Weekly Questions segment, guest voice notes, theatre rants, and the glamorous mundanity of creative life. If you’ve ever been told your work is “too niche,” this is your backstage pass to solidarity and satire.

Information

  • Creator
    The Edit Wales
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Edit Wales / Pain in the Arts
  • Show Website
    Pain in the Arts