Mattie Watkins in costume for the National Pageant of Wales, 1909. Pageants were theatrical events that re-enacted historical events and legends from Welsh history. Over 5,000 people took part in this production, which included local participants with notable figures from society, such as the Marchioness of Bute taking one of the lead roles as Dame Wales, Lord Tredegar as Owain Glyndŵr, and the Lord Mayor as Hywel Dda.