This monologue concerns the grave of Louisa Maud Evans (1882-1896) in Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff. Louisa lost her life at the age of 14½ performing a parachute jump from a hot air balloon in perilous weather conditions as part of the 1896 Cardiff Industrial and Maritime Exhibition. Her marble grave was paid for by public subscription. This monologue was recorded in 2015 using binaural technology in the recently restored Mortuary Chapels in Cathays Cemetery.

This recording is part of the Graveyard Voices project which was a part of the 2015 Being Human Festival. Being Human is the UK’s only national festival of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the British Academy and the Wellcome Trust. The Graveyard Voices project at the University of South Wales (led by Prof Richard Hand with staff and students in drama and music) won a grant from the AHRC to take part in the Festival.

PERFORMER: Allie Downing. MUSIC COMPOSER/PERFORMER: Robert Smith of Wonderbrass