Pianoforte – The Story of Mary Frost
Our new play Pianoforte is inspired by the book Mary Frost, Wife, Mother, Chartist by Sylvia Mason.
You can buy the book from Amazon – click here
Or from the following locations in Newport:
Newport Rising Shop, Commercial Street
Gallery 57, Upper Dock Street
St Woolos Cathedral Book Shop, Stow Hill (2 – 4pm)
Mary Frost was a woman at the centre of the 1839 Newport Rising. A former Mayoress and wife of John Frost, citizens and shop owners in Newport. However, Mary, as a 19th century lady, was obliged to stay in the background, her life hidden and largely undocumented. This play aims to shed light on the life of a significant woman in the history of Newport and share this story with the people of the city as well as touring this important story across Wales and beyond in the future.
We are extremely grateful to Newport Council for supporting us with a Shared Prosperity Fund grant for this project.
The first performance took place at The John Frost School in Newport in November 2025.
The play will be touring in Spring 2026.
Sylvia Mason, David Osmond, Melinda Drowley, David Mayer, David Daniel, Newport Rising Festival (Our Chartist Heritage), Dame Rosemary Butler, Newport Women’s Forum, Underwood Community Centre, John Frost School, Iain Glover, Mark Tucker, Friends of John Frost School, James Clarke, Jayne Thomas, Caroline Hay, The Singing Club (Duke’s Yard), Newport Museum & Art Gallery, Nicole Garnon Gallery 57,
Liz Kayll, Emily Ward, Val & Alex Gill, Gareth & Anya Seymour, The Royal Ballet and Opera, London.
Dilys Morgan…Clare Drewett
Mary Frost…Adele Cordner
John Frost…David Constant
Lord Chief Justice Tindal…Steve Saunders
Government Clerk…Graeme Johnson
Chartist Crowds…The Singing Club
(Duke’s Yard)
Director…Clare Drewett
Assistant Directors…Alison Gerrard, Becky Phillips, Adele Cordner
Movement Coach…David Constant
Choreography…Becky Phillips
Set Design & Build…Linda Ward,
Graeme Johnson, Steve Saunders
Sound & Lighting Design…Rob Ollerton
Costume Design…Becky Phillips
Marketing…Pete Smithies and Michael Cordner
Original music composed and played by Helen Woods, recorded at Ty Cerdd Studio,
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
