Latest news with #Madfabulous
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Embarrassing ancestor goes from a 'bit of a giggle' to an icon
One ancestor has a statue on a massive column commemorating his life. The other has a few photos stuck in a not hard to imagine which one the family of the time was keener to remember. However, as a musical celebrating the man in the bathroom makes clear, sometimes you have to play the long game - or as the show's title says, How to Win Against the bathroom photos depict Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey, a man who bankrupted his family and died young far from home, after a few short years of splashing his aristocratic forebears' cash on extravagant and outrageous self-produced shows in Edwardian Britain, appearing in women's dresses and costumes literally made of 120 years after his death a play and the film Madfabulous, inspired by his life, is putting him firmly back in the spotlight, but what does the current generation of his family make of the man who was once relegated to a toilet? Alex, 8th Marquess of Anglesey, says Henry is now viewed with affection by himself and other family members, as time and changing attitudes have cast his exploits in a more understanding Henry married his cousin, their marriage was apparently never consummated and his wife later filed for annulment. Was he gay? No conclusive evidence either way, but it's hard not to imagine he was somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum of sexualities. Alex says he first came to know of Henry through those bathroom photos. "The one I particularly remember was him dressed up as Boadicea with big Edwardian moustaches."[It was] a bit of a giggle. His existence wasn't denied but he wasn't a major part of the family heritage."He was viewed as the black sheep of the family, this eccentric, weird bloke who we knew about and thought he sounded quite funny."When I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, homosexuality was still illegal. He wasn't necessarily gay actually, he was probably asexual, but that whole kind of thing of an alternative sexuality was certainly not generally in most circles accepted."That personal sexual liberation of the 1960s, and then more recently of course with LGBTQ identities, he has become a bit of an icon, and attitudes towards him have definitely changed." Alex says because not much is known about Henry - his own diaries and letters were seemingly destroyed by the family after his death and most of the stories about him were told in sensationalist press reports - his life has become an opportunity for creatives to fill in many blanks with their own was an only child who was left motherless at a very young age and was raised for the first years of his life in Paris by relatives, where he was exposed to the theatrical world of the then his father reclaimed him and he was sent to live at Plas Newydd on Anglesey, and his life followed the pattern of education at Eton and an affiliation with the military typical of his on the death of the 4th Marquess in 1898, Henry inherited the title, the lands and the money, and proceeded to live as he renamed Plas Newydd Anglesey Castle, converted the chapel to a performance space he called the Gaiety Theatre, and put on seemingly spectacular shows with elaborate and jaw-droppingly expensive costumes and props, inviting both notables and the local people in for free to witness his ran through most of a fortune that in today's money has been estimated at about £60m and was bankrupted, leaving a shadow of his inheritance. Estranged from his wife, he moved to Monte Carlo and died aged 29. 'It's a pity he spent all the money' And that is where Alex's branch of the family comes in. As he acknowledges, it is only because of Henry's lack of issue that he now holds the title of 8th Marquess, as it fell to Henry's cousin, Alex's grandfather, on his does he make of Henry, from the perspective of the 21st Century? While acknowledging the loss of the fortune - "it's a pity he spent all the money", he laughs, while clarifying he didn't actually quite spend it all."He wasn't totally unique. He was part of a culture, although a minority culture, people like Oscar Wilde in this country and [Marcel] Proust in France, where he initially grew up."That early 20th Century artistic, sexual liberation stuff was going on there in a minority world."He wasn't unique in that sense or even in the context of the English aristocracy - you know the empire-building, soldierly stuff wasn't the only side of the aristocracy," he says, with a nod to another Henry Paget, this time the one on the column, 1st Marquess of Anglesey and veteran of the Battle of Trafalgar, who lost his leg fighting alongside the Duke of to Henry's father being a "playboy who certainly did not take any aristocratic responsibility, noblesse oblige stuff, very seriously at all", Henry can be viewed perhaps in a grand tradition of eccentric and hedonistic aristocrats, albeit one who stepped further outside the boundaries than was considered acceptable. It was this sense of exclusion that spoke to How to Win Against History creator Seiriol Davies when they first came across the photos of Henry during a visit to Plas Newydd - which was been owned by the National Trust for half a century - as a the midst of "marvelling at all the pomp", the playwright and actor from Anglesey was struck by the contrast between the lionisation of the 1st Marquess and his heirs and "the little laminated photocopy of some pictures of [Henry] Blu-tacked on the wall next to the toilet."It said he was a very silly man who wasted all the family's money doing very silly plays."A little bell of proto-queer indignation rang in my tummy, and because I believe in swift and decisive action, decided to make a musical about it 25 years later."They describe Henry as "mesmerising, fabulous, glamorous and totally out of his time, but also kind of lost". As an only child without a mother, Alex agrees one interpretation of Henry's outlandish behaviour could be as a sort of search for connection. "Maybe this was one way of creating an identity, which he certainly did."I do think he's a fascinating character no doubt about it, and his whole persona does fit in with David Bowie and that sort of thing. There's some truth in those kinds of connections and 'he was the inventor of the selfie' idea, which comes into the film or the musical."Seiriol calls their loose interpretation of Henry's life "a screwball, riot comedy camp-o-rama but it has at its centre someone who doesn't even have his internal life because it's been eradicated."In this fiction that we're making about a character which is a bit like Henry in some ways - and this is not trying to be the truth about him - within our story he's constantly trying to find connection, find acceptance; trying to get someone to see him as him." "I think probably my grandfather's generation were pretty seriously embarrassed by him," said Alex."His existence was not denied but it's all summed up by the fact there were these photographs of him - but they were in the bathroom. They weren't portraits in the main room."And now? "We're happy to celebrate his rather weird, to some degree not happy, but to some degree rather extraordinary and marvellous life."
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- The Guardian
Anglesey adventure: exploring the treasures of Ynys Môn
In 1826, the opening of Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge connected mainland Wales to the island of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) for the very first time. The bridge was critical to creating a fast road link to the port of Holyhead and so improving communication links between London and Dublin. Today, motoring tourists take advantage of Telford's vision every day (albeit linking up with the A55 North Wales Expressway) as they head to Holyhead to board ferries to Ireland. But in doing so, they bypass the many meandering, slow lane charms that dot the coastline of Ynys Môn. This National Trust waterfront mansion dates back to the 16th century and sits amid 68 hectares (169 acres) of ornate gardens, woodland and parkland. It is perhaps most famous for one of its later owners, Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, whose flamboyant approach to life – including converting the family chapel into what he called the Gaiety theatre – was the stuff of scandal in stuffy Victorian Wales. His life will soon be brought to the big screen in a new film, Madfabulous. Just south of Plas Newydd is Tide cafe, located at Halen Môn – Anglesey Sea Salt. It is open for drinks and snacks year-round (10.30am-2.30pm). While there, you can pick up some of Halen Môn's much lauded sea salt. About 12 miles south of Amlwch lies Red Wharf Bay, a large sandy inlet that, at low tide, extends for 10 square miles. The Wales Coast Path hugs the bay, providing a panoramic view of the coast; it also offers the chance to explore Llanddona beach, which, in the 18th century was said to be controlled by a group of vicious outlaws known as the witches of Llanddona, who terrorised the local community. Returning to the top of the bay, the Ship Inn, The Old Boathouse or The Tavern on the Bay are good pit stops for a drink and food overlooking the sea. Penmon Point is the eastern tip of Ynys Môn, and one of its oldest and most holy sites. It is a wild headland offering views of Trwyn Du lighthouse and Ynys Seiriol, an island that, in the fifth century, provided solitude and sanctuary for its namesake saint. Today it's better known as Puffin Island because, up until the late 19th century, it was a breeding haven for the birds. Penmon Point is a favourite destination for walkers, birdwatchers and nature lovers, and offers views (on clear days) of Y Gogarth (the Great Orme headland). Two formidable white stone cottages face the sea at the tip of the point, while behind them sits the Pilot House cafe, serving food, drinks and cocktails indoors and in a colourful garden. For a more formal dining experience, head to Beaumaris and eat at Harry's Bistro, located in Henllys Hall golf club, or continue to Menai Bridge to explore the international cuisine of Freckled Angel or the tasting menu at Sosban & the Old Butchers – both located just a short distance from Telford's famous suspension bridge. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Llanddwyn (also known as Newborough), near the island's southern tip, is perhaps Ynys Môn's best-known beach because of its views of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Llŷn peninsula. However, I'd recommend heading north a few miles, over the Malltraeth cob (a causeway built by Telford), and on to the village of Aberffraw. Here you walk down the banks of the Ffraw to Traeth Mawr, a stunning wide sandy beach fit for a king. Rightly so. In the late 13th century, Aberffraw was the most important place in all of Wales – the seat of power for the princes of Gwynedd, Wales's dominant royal family. Venture a little farther north to Rhosneigr, an equally attractive stretch of coast once famed for both piracy and wreckers, who lured ships on to the jagged rocks near the Crigyll river. Today, Rhosneigr is better known for its culinary scene than its smuggling. The Oystercatcher is a restaurant and bar located in the dunes not far from the two main beaches. In the warmer months, the Zapatismo food truck serves Mexican fare. On the north coast of Anglesey lies a place so otherworldly that you won't be surprised to discover it's been a location for Doctor Who. This is Mynydd Parys, but its nickname is Copper Mountain because, for about 4,000 years, it was mined for valuable copper ore. In the 18th century, Mynydd Parys became the largest copper ore exporter in the world – much of it being sent by ship from the nearby port of Amlwch to copperworks in the Swansea valley. Today, the mines are closed and the scorched red, gold and brown alien landscape has been transformed into a series of dramatic and (dare I say) awe-inspiring walking trails. After a hike at Mynydd Parys, I like to head to Skye's creperie in Amlwch Harbour for great pancakes, brunch and even sushi. Matthew Yeomans explored the coastal fringes of Ynys Môn for his new book, Seascape: Notes from a Changing Coastline (University of Wales Press, £18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Will promoting Welsh film locations encourage more visitors?
Ask people why they come to Wales, and mountains and beaches in general might feature highly in their two campaigns focusing on Welsh film and TV could give fans of the big screen more reasons to cross Offa's you want to walk on the exact beach where a dragon landed, Visit Wales and Visit Britain's international promotion of high-profile UK filming locations could be just the thing to draw in visitors to see the House of the Dragon filming site, one of many used in the HBO Game of Thrones prequel across north Wales. And while you're there, you could nip along to Plas Newydd country house on Anglesey, setting for new release Madfabulous which is coming out this tells the story of the flamboyant Henry Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, starring Treorchy's Callum Scott Howells of It's a Sin Victorian eccentric equally scandalised and delighted society with his penchant for dressing up in outrageous costumes, putting on plays for local people and bankrupting his estate before his untimely death aged 29. Visit Wales is using the GB-wide promo video as a launching point to highlight other Welsh sites from series such as Sex Education, shot at the former University of South Wales campus in Caerleon, in Newport county, St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life on the outskirts of Cardiff, and Gavin and Stacey in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Meanwhile Film Hub Wales has compiled a database of films with a Welsh link being released this year, with the aim of promoting the films both to distributors and the audience and highlighting different areas of Wales in the Made in Wales online guide signposts all film releases in 2025 with a star, location, or production team from manager Toki Allison says: "We're all about amplifying Welsh-connected films. So once a film has reached that point where it's going out for distribution or heading into festivals we like to pick it up and make sure that it's getting into cinemas. "There's a couple of heavy hitters coming out this year. Mr Burton which is coming from Severn Screen and is obviously the story of Richard Burton, and about his childhood life, school life and the mentor that he had."He took on the name of Philip Burton, so we're really excited to see that one coming out. That's got Welsh director Marc Evans attached to it as well and Aneurin Barnard's in it and Aimee-Ffion Edwards."Then we've got Madfabulous which is a really exciting film about Henry Cyril Paget. He was the fifth Marquess of Anglesey and was a really flamboyant character."Then there's Havoc, Welsh director Gareth Evans's next feature which sees Tom Hardy and Forest Whittaker in a big criminal action adventure so I guess that will be really fun for people." The filming for Havoc saw areas in Cardiff, Swansea and Barry stand in for the US, with Swansea's Guildhall transformed into a US police stars were both spotted enjoying time off in such places as Tenby, Pembrokeshire and Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, with Whittaker posting his enjoyment of the country on social a slightly sideways take on film fame, Visit Wales has also highlighted the pivotal role played by an aqueduct in the animated Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the latest in the classic Aardman stop motion series featuring a hapless inventor and his long-suffering dog, which aired on Christmas Day in the filmmakers have acknowledged they were heavily influenced by the Unesco world heritage aqueduct at Pontcysyllte in Denbighshire when designing their own version for the climactic scene in the film. Back down in south Wales, later this year the town of Port Talbot will take centre stage on the big screen as the backdrop to Mr story tells the tale of Philip Burton, the teacher who took a young lad named Richard Jenkins under his wing during World War Two after seeing beyond the "wayward schoolboy" to the natural talent for acting he famously took on Mr Burton's surname and went on to become one of the world's most famous leading men in the post-war further west, rural Carmarthenshire will stand in for Long Island, New York, in the upcoming thriller The Man in the Basement starring Willem Dafoe, which is also set for release this year. The house above the titular basement looks every inch an all-American clapboard residence, but was actually built by a returnee from Pennsylvania towards the end of the 19th Welsh film should not just be associated with physical places visitors can see in the country, Film Hub Wales aim of the Made in Wales project is also to raise awareness of films set or filmed outside the country made by Welsh filmmakers or involving Welsh is highlighting films such as Satu: Year of the Rabbits by Powys-raised Joshua Trigg, which is entirely shot and set in Laos and tells the story of a young boy abandoned at birth who goes in search of his mother, and the relationship he forges with a young aspiring journalist who accompanies him along the way. Another is Brides, made by Welsh production company ie ie Productions, which follows two teen girls who leave the country covertly, heading for Syria and the prospect of very different lives to the ones they are leaving Allison says: "We're just really keen for people to recognise what Welsh film is, beyond the stereotypes and people's impressions of what that is."There's some really beautiful international storytelling. There's very different narratives coming out of Wales."We're a very diverse country and we want that to be reflected in what people understand Welsh connected film to be."
