Gwenno
Gwenno Saunders has been working as a professional musician and producer for over 25 years and has released 2 EPs, 4 solo full-length albums, and 2 full-length albums with the indie-pop group The Pipettes.
As a songwriter and producer she has won numerous prizes including The Welsh Music Prize 2015 for her debut solo album Y Dydd Olaf and has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize 2022 for her third album Tresor. In 2019 she created a new score for Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (Welsh National Theatre) and was commissioned to create a new live score for the Cornish film BAIT (directed by Mark Jenkin) which was performed at the BFI Southbank in March 2020 and was scheduled to be performed at SXSW Film Festival, Austin TX in March 2020 before the COVID pandemic. Gwenno is also a festival curator, CAM 15 + 18 and Festival of Voice, both with the Wales Millennium Centre.
Prior to her solo work, Gwenno was a principal dancer in Lord of the Dance and a chorus line dancer in Riverdance, the former of which led to her taking on the lead role at the New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas between 1998-2000. She has also toured extensively with both throughout Europe and the UK.
In 2001 Gwenno released her first Welsh, Cornish and English language EP ‘Mor Hud’ (Magical Sea) on Welsh record label ‘Recordiau SAIN’ followed by ‘Vodya’ (Leaving) in 2002, again in her three spoken languages. She won the popular vote at the Liet International song contest in the Netherlands in 2003 for her song ‘Vodya’. In 2004 Gwenno joined Brighton, England indie-pop band The Pipettes as a singer. The band released their debut album ‘We are the Pipettes’ in the UK, Europe, the US, Japan and Australia and toured extensively, playing SXSW Music Festival, Austin TX in 2006 prior to releasing their debut album on US label Cherrytree/ Interscope. The band had a top 10 album in the charts in Japan and a #2 single chart placement.
In 2016 Gwenno released her debut Welsh language solo album ‘Y Dydd Olaf’ (The Final Day) on Heavenly Recordings. She played SXSW Music Festival, Austin TX and embarked on a promotional tour of the East Coast of the US in 2016 and played the Moogfest in Durham, N. Carolina the same year. In 2018 Gwenno released her second, Cornish language solo album ‘Le Kov’ (The Place of Memory) on Heavenly Recordings. She toured Europe and the UK supporting Suede, Manic Street Preachers, and Ben Howard. In 2022 Gwenno released her third album, in Cornish and Welsh ‘Tresor’ (Treasure) on Heavenly Recordings which was shortlisted for that year’s Mercury Music Prize.
In 2025 Gwenno released her fourth solo album, in English, Cornish, and Welsh ‘Utopia’ on Heavenly Recordings.
Approx. 1h 30m (no interval)
From: £12.00 - £48.00
Minack Theatre
Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JU
01736 810181
[email protected]
First visit to the Minack
Read these helpful tips to help you prepare for your visit
You can find out all about our current events and storytelling shows on our What's On pages.
If you have any questions about booking please don't hesitate to contact our Box Office team. The box office is open for telephone bookings daily from 10am - 4pm. Call 01736 810181.
For our top tips for watching a performance see our FAQs.
Ticket prices vary depending on the performance and where you choose to sit. For most events children aged 15 or under are half price.
If a show appears as SOLD OUT there are no more tickets available. We do not operate waiting lists for tickets.
When you make your booking you will receive a confirmation message through by email with your tickets.
Digital tickets will also be sent shortly before the date of your performance via text and you will receive an information email about your visit.
See our full list of FAQS here. If you are still unsure please contact us.
The Minack is not like other theatres. Our seating is on either grass or concrete terraces. If the performance staging permits, a few tickets are available for members of the audience to sit on the stage.
Our auditorium is very steep and there are a lot of steps. If you are unsure about where to sit, please phone and we'll be very happy to help you. You can also check out the photos below to see the view from various parts of the auditorium.
We have an accessible balcony for those with limited mobility. If you have other seating requirements, please phone to discuss your needs.
An induction loop is available on the grass terraces and in the accessible balcony.
If you have a group booking, it is helpful if you all arrive together so that we can seat you next to each other.
If this is your first visit to the Minack take a look at our handy tips for your visit, they'll help you to prepare yourself!
There are also example views from seating areas below - although please note there will be audience members in front of you!
If you have special access requirements visit our Accessibility page or contact us with your questions.
Read our full booking terms and conditions here.
