Dylan Thomas Centre events brochure

21643-09 Dylan Programme E:Layout 1 22/4/09 10:05

2 May - August 2009

Dylan Thomas CentreProgrammeMay – August 2009Welcome to our packed Summer programme.We have all the regular slots, plus the return of lunchtimetheatre, a new series of Friday ‘Artlunches’, ‘Sound &Fury ‘ events featuring words &music, and lots of excitingone-off events. See you there!

If you wish to receive our email updates and reminders please [email protected] Please note also that from time to time events takeplace that are not in our printed programme.

The best ways to be kept informed of these are by being on our email list, andvisiting our website – www.dylanthomas.com

Friday 1May 7.30pm

A Reading by Dr. Kynpham Sing NongkynrihOne of India’s leading poets, Kynpham appeared in Swansea in1995 on a tour of poets from the Khasi region organised by NigelJenkins for the UK Year of Literature. Nigel, whose travel bookKhasia in Gwalia won the 1996 Welsh Book of the Year, willintroduce Kynpham, who is a poet, story writer and translator,writes in both Khasi and English and whose work has been widelypublished and translated.

Tickets: Full Price £3-00 Concessions £2-10 Swansea PTL £1-20

Saturday 2May 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime TheatreBrief Encounter by Noel CowardA rare opportunity to see a stage adaptation by AdrianMetcalfe ofCoward’s piece, made famous of course by the film version starringLeslie Howard and Celia Johnson. A Tour de Force production inassociation with Theatre of the Dales, this production reprises themuch lauded pairing of Adrian and Sonia Beck, fresh from their Lord& Lady Macbeth in Fluellen’s recent production! Directed by DavidRobertson, and featuring the music of Rachmaninoff performed by RobMarshall, who alsoappeared with Adrian in the recent production of Warmley, based on the life of Daniel Jones.

Tickets: Full Price £5 Concessions £4

Dr. Kynpham


3Literature Programme

Thursday 7May 7.00pm

BooklaunchGower in History : Myth, People, Landscape by Paul FerrisPeople and episodes illuminate the past in Paul Ferris’s newbook ‘Gower in History : Myth, People, Landscape,’ which rangesfrom the Red Lady and the Hanged Man to a germ-warfareexperiment on the sands. Appropriately for the biographer ofboth Dylan and Caitlin Thomas, it even has a bit about Dylan.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY and wine.

Friday 8 May 1pm

Art for LunchThe first of a new monthly series of short talks on a wide range ofarts topics which you can squeeze into your lunch-hour, beginningwith:

THE ARTS OF HAITIAN VODOU by Phil Cope. Writer, photographerand cultural crusader, Phil is also the chairperson of The HaitiFund. Come and see, handle and hear about the uses of vodoudolls, pre-Collombian piet tonneres (thunder stones), religious

sculptures, beaded flags, poems and stories in vodou ceremonies.

Tickets: OONNLLYY ££55--0000 IINNCCLLUUDDIINNGG ssoouupp && ssaannddwwiicchh ffrroomm oouurr BBooookksshhoopp//CCaafféé!!

Friday 8 May 7.30pm

A Celebration in poetry and music of the life of Letitia Anne RhysSwansea poet and writer (1937-2008). Speakers and readers will include many of Letitia’s friends and colleaguesincluding Stuart Jones, Ceri Thomas and translator Annest Wiliam.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY, a glass of wine and nibbles

Wednesday 13 May 7.30pm

On the Edge - presented by Michael Kelligan - Look Who’sTalking Now!New & existing work from the playwrights of Wales continues withA Pair of Cardiff Pants! A new double bill from acclaimed Merthyrpainter, composer and playwright Alan Osborne.

Tickets: £3-00

Letitia Anne Rhys

Alan Osborne


4 May - August 2009

Thursday 14 May 7pm

Booklaunch - ChimeraAnthology of MA Student writing from Trinity College Carmarthen Chimera - a two headed monster or a fire breathing serpent?Genetic splicing or an unrealisable dream? A word that is tangibleor ethereal? Chimera - a word that means one thing or everything? Chimera takes the reader on a journey through time, space, fantasyand reality on an exploration which incorporates every aspect ofchimera, both imagined and real, in the minds of its authors.A collection of pieces by writers of all ages, many nationalities, butonly one gender, Chimera draws upon and illustrates the wide and varying experiencesof its women authors and creates new perspectives of a fascinating subject.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY and wine.

Friday 15 May 7pm

Sound & Fury! a new occasional series of events combining words with music andother artforms: Stuff Happens! Presented by Graham Isaac

Poetry, music and video-art from across Swansea and beyond. Arapid-fire night featuring the best of poetry from all corners – fromthe ivory tower to street-level, readers known from ‘the Crunch’,Junkbox, the Dylan Thomas Centre, Framework Social, SwanseaUniversity and many other places. Featuring sound-biteperformances from Graham Isaac, Peter Read, Simone MansellBroome, John Goodby, Adel Guemar, David Woolley, Alan

Kellermann and others. Bringing all Swansea’s poets and poetries together, withbookstalls, music and video

Supported by the Dylan Thomas Centre and The South Bank Centre’s Poetry LibraryGlobal Poetry System project.

Tickets: FFRREEEE EENNTTRRYY && aallll BBrraaiinnss bboottttlleedd bbeeeerr ££22..0000!!!!


Sound & Fury! a new occasional series of events combiningwords with music and other artforms: Sea Holly - A Sense of PlaceSea Holly (Seren Books), a novel by Robert Minhinnick, wasshortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, 2008.Tonight we present a multimedia treatment of Sea Holly, with film,image, live music, reading and chorus. If you enjoy funfairs, sanddunes, gambling, booze, and above all, mystery, this is for you.

A Seren Books, Sustainable Wales and Welsh Books Councilcollaboration, in association with the Dylan Thomas Centre.Tickets: £4-00 Concessions £2-80 Swansea PTL £1-60 Robert Minhinnick



Thursday 21 May 7.30pm

Poets in the Bookshop – with Martin Daws‘New wave beat poetry with a musicality that rolls out arhythmical ribbon of resonant rhetoric’ (Edinburgh Fringe review2008). North Wales–based Martin Daws was inspired to poetry bythe New York slam poetry scene in the 1990s, and was runner upto Swansea’s Peter Read in 2008’s John Tripp Award for SpokenPoetry. Plus usual open mic session.


Friday 22 May 7.30pm

I Like that Stuff! – A Celebration event for Adrian MitchellAn evening of poetry and music to celebrate the life of one ofBritain’s finest and most inspirational poetry performers and agreat friend of Swansea, poet and playwright Adrian Mitchell whosadly died earlier this year. Taking part will be a host of his Swanseafriends including Nigel Jenkins and David Woolley and hopefullyAdrian’s widow Celia. With music from Brian Breeze and friends.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY and a glass of wine.

Saturday 23 May 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime Theatre John Tripp’s Tragic Cabaret written andperformed by Peter ReadRenowned for his portrayals of Dylan Thomas, Swansea’s Peter Read now tacklesanother of Wales’ infamous poets. Part of a new, combative generation of Welsh poetswriting in English in the 1960s, John Tripp was, like Dylan, something of a tragi-comicfigure, with a great propensity for getting into scrapes. This one-man show wascommissioned by Academi, and premiered in Cardiff earlier this year.



Science CaféLow Impact Development: High Impact Responses to Climate Change andSustainability, with Dr. Larch MaxeyTickets: FREE ENTRY

1 – 6 June

Swansea Bay Film FestivalSwansea’s annual feast of films long and short from all overthe world. For full details see www.swanseafilmfestival.com

Adrian Mitchell

Martin Daws


6 May - August 2009

Tuesday 9 June 7.30pm

The Dylan Thomas Prize WinnersRachel Trezise and Nam LeAfter two successful £60,000 awards in 2006 and 2008we welcome the two winners – both short storywriters – Rhondda’s Rachel Trezise who won withFresh Apples, and Vietnamese-born Nam Le whoseThe Boat won last year. Both have gone from strengthto strength since winning, with Rachel about to publish her new book with Harper Collins.


Wednesday 10 June 7.30pm

On the Edge - presented by Michael Kelligan - LookWho’s Talking Now! New & existing work from the playwrights of Wales continues withThe Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll & Mr.Hyde as told to Carl Jung by aninmate of the Broadmoor Asylum by Mark Ryan.

Tickets: £3-00

Thursday 11 June 7.30pmPoems of Sight and Flight – Chris KinseyIn association with Greyhound Rescue Wales and Gower BirdHospital, BBC Wildlife Poet of the Year 2008, Chris Kinsey,presents a collection of ‘hound and bird poems’from hercollections Kung Fu Lullabies and Houndlove. All proceeds go toGRW & the Bird Hospital.

Tickets: Full Price £5-00 Concessions £4-00

Friday 12 June 1pm

Art for Lunch - Some Welsh Narrative Artists – Keith BaylissAn informal, illustrated talk by Swansea artist KeithBayliss, exploring the work of Wales based artists

whose work displays apersonal poetic narrative,including Tony Goble, WilliamBrown and Clive Hicks-Jenkins.

Tickets: OONNLLYY ££55--0000IINNCCLLUUDDIINNGG ssoouupp && ssaannddwwiicchhffrroomm oouurr BBooookksshhoopp//CCaafféé!!

Chris Kinsey

MarkRyan

Rachel Trezise Nam Le



Friday 12 June 7.30pm

Sound & Fury! Holy Wells: Wales, On the Road with PhilCope and FfynnonWriter and photographer Phil Cope gives an illustrated talk andreading of poems that accompany his book of stunning images ofWelsh Holy Wells. He will beaccompanied by the criticallyacclaimed Welsh bandFfynnon, who will also performa full music set in the secondhalf of the evening.

Tickets: Full Price £9-00, Concessions £7-00

Tuesday 16 June 7.30pmRough Diamonds 09 #1Want to change your appearance? Your lifestyle? Yourentire world view? Come along to Rough Diamonds 09,the showcase for new drama from Swansea University’semerging playwrights! This two-night programmefeatures plays looking at life from the viewpoint of apair of ambitious Swansea Jacks who want to open anart-and-wine bar, a young doctor who gets lost andfinds herself in Fiji, and a jaded football terrace stewardwho just wants to get home without being thumped This is the third year that SwanseaUniversity’s Creative and Media programme has joined forces with the Dylan ThomasCentre in the presentation of extracts from the works of graduating MA students. Thelast two showing have been acclaimed by enthusiastic audiences and some of theworks shown have gone on to have full-length professional productions. The works areperformed script-in-hand by members of Swansea's Fluellen Theatre Company, anddirected by playwright D J Britton, lecturer in dramatic writing at Swansea University.This year’s writers include Jude Brazier, Rebecca Carrington, Sarah Elliot, CatrinHowell, Louise Hinchen, Angela Hughes, Glynis Judge, Vanessa Macdonald, AndrewMiles, Matt Williams, Rachel Williams, and Casey Westlake, plus some surprise guests.

Tickets: £3 (Student Concession £2)

Friday 19 June 7.00pm

A Seventh Quarry Poetry ReadingWith August Bover from Catalonia and Kristine Doll from USA.The latest in an occasional series of readings presented by TheSeventh Quarry magazine, in association with Cross-CulturalCommunications, New York, by its editor Swansea poet PeterThabit Jones. With music from singer-songwriter Terry Clarke.Tickets: FREE ENTRY

“Ffynnon has a haunting way of updatingthe traditional songs ... the old songsmaintain their dignity.”

The New York Times, 2003

“Spine-tinglingly exquisite jazz-soakedCeltic folk music, combining thetraditional and the innovative.”

BBC Radio 2.

Kristine DollAugust Bover


8 May - August 2009

Saturday 20 June 1pmSaturday Lunchtime Theatre - The Vice by Luigi PirandelloPirandello`s first play. A fascinating piece in which a manconfronts his wife when he discovers her affair with his lawyer.


Tuesday 23 June 7.30pmLaunch of Nu: Fiction and Stuff The new Parthian venture, Nu: Fiction and Stuff, has a doubleobjective. Firstly, Nu seeks to give a platform for young writersof a new generation to showcase their talent in a qualitypublication, with the aim of reaching as wide an audience aspossible. Secondly, Nu aims to inspire and motivate aspiringwriters to pursue their ideas and ambition. A new generation ofwriters will bring about a generation of new writing, and it ishoped that Nu will provide an important stimulus to thatprocess of generation. Contributors include Swansea writers

Alan Kellermann, Susie Wild and Rebecca John as well as a photo essay by JonathanMorris, whose exhibition Castle Square is currently in the Dylan Thomas Centre’sCorridor Gallery.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY and wine

Thursday 25 June 7.30pm

Poets in the Bookshop – with Ivy AlvarezGuest poet Ivy Alvarez was born in the Philippines, grew up inTasmania and now lives in Cardiff. Her work has been widelypublished and performed, and she has held several residenciesand won a variety of awards. Her latest full collection is Mortal(Red Morning Press). Plus usual open mic session.Tickets: Full Price £4-00 Concessions £2-80 Swansea PTL £1-60

Saturday 27 June 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime Theatre - The Duck Variations by David MametA superb, gentle comedy from American writer David Mamet inwhich two elderly men discuss ducks, law, friendship and deathTickets: Full Price £5 Concessions £4

Tuesday 30 June 7.30pmRough Diamonds 09 #1See page 7 for detailsTickets: £3 (Student Concession £2)

Ivy Alvarez



Thursday 2 July 7.30pm

Sound & Fury! A feast of poetry and music with Welshpoets Samantha Wynne Rhydderch – (mostrecent collection Not in These Shoes(Picador) ; Damian Walford Davies – (Suit of Lights appeared from Seren in 2009),and Tiffany Atkinson – her latest collectionis Kink and Particle (Seren). With musicfrom Dylan Fowler – Dylan is an acclaimedguitarist and composer, who hascollaborated with both Richard and DannyThompson, as well as musicians fromTurkey, Finland and eastern Europe –“music with heart and soul …adetermination to ignore recognisedboundaries” (BBC) A co-production with Cegin Productions


Friday 10 July 1pm

Art for Lunch - Directing Shakespeare by Peter Richards Peter Richards, Artistic Director of Fluellen Theatre Company, has been a Theatre Directorfor thirty seven years, during which time he has gained a considerable practical knowledgeof Shakespeare`s life and plays in directing productions throughout Europe. He discussesthe challenges of translating Shakespearean text to the stage and how our attitudes to hisplays have changed through the years.

Tickets: OONNLLYY ££55--0000 IINNCCLLUUDDIINNGG ssoouupp && ssaannddwwiicchh ffrroomm oouurr BBooookksshhoopp//CCaafféé!!

Thursday 16 July 7.30pm

Poets in the Bookshop – Cynthia KramanGuest poet this month is New York poet Cynthia Kraman – amedievalist with a doctorate from University of London andformer punk rocker with Seattle band Chinas Comidas! Herlatest volume of poetry is The Touch from Bowery Books – “a superb, extraordinary, shocking, unflinching, charming,hilarious, perfect gem-cut book” (Bob Holman). Plus usualopen mic session.

Tickets: Full Price £4-00, Concessions £2-80, Swansea PTL £1-60

DamianWalfordDavies

DylanFowler

TiffanyAtkinson

SamanthaWynneRhyderch


10 May - August 2009

Saturday 18 July 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime Theatre - Warmley with Adrian Metcalfe and Rob MarshallAnother chance to see Adrian’s warm and moving portrayal of Dylan Thomas’ great boyhoodfriend, Swansea composer DDaanniieell JJoonneess. Jones reminisces in later life over early days, thesetting up of the ‘Warmley Broadcasting Corporation’, Dylan’s success, and the ultimatesadness of his early death. With original work by Jones played by Swansea pianist Rob.


Saturday 25 July 1pmSaturday Lunchtime Theatre - John Tripp’s Tragic Cabaret written and performed by Peter ReadFor details see page 5.Tickets: Full Price £5 Concessions £4

Saturday 1 & Saturday 8 August 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime Theatre - A Beast, an Angel and aMadman presented by Fluellen Theatre CompanyThe return of Fluellen`s popular whistle-stop tour of the life and work of DylanThomas, incorporating the words of Dylan and those who knew him with live music byharpist Delyth Jenkins.


Saturday 15 & Saturday 29 August 1pm

Saturday Lunchtime Theatre - Dylan Thomas in America starring Peter ReadAfter more than 100 performances, Peter Read returns with hisextraordinary, hilarious and moving portrayal of Dylan’s slow demisethrough a series of trips to the USA. Adapted by Gwynne Edwards fromDylan’s own wonderful words, this show has received 5 star reviews at theEdinburgh Festival, and played in London and New York.


Saturday 22 August 1pm

One State of Happiness: Dylan Thomas and Laugharnepresented by Fluellen Theatre Company2009 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Dylan Thomas`s move tothe Boathouse at Laugharne. One State Of Happiness is ajourney through the last years of his life at Laugharne in the words of Dylan, his friendsand his family. Its title is taken from a letter Dylan wrote to his benefactress and ownerof the Boathouse, Margaret Taylor, in which he describes Laugharne as “the pubbedand churched, shopped, gulled, and estuaried one state of happiness”.


PeterRead



Other Events, Courses, Workshops etc...There are regular events throughout May & June at Pontardawe Arts Centre, includingmonthly guest poet/open mic sessions on 2nd Thursdays, and a Literature Day on 31May featuring Robert Minhinnick , Lynne Barrett-Lee & others. For Full details contactPontardawe Arts Centre � 01792 863722 or � [email protected]

There is a full season of Monday evening events from May to September at the DylanThomas Boathouse in Laugharne to celebrate 60 years since Dylan & Caitlin Thomasmoved into the Boathouse. These include Aeronwy Thomas, Dame Joan Bakewell, DicJones, Gillian Clarke and Catrin Dafydd. For full details contact � 01994 232726 or � [email protected] or see www.dylanthomasboathouse.com

Cardigan Events – Word Up!At the Castle Café in Cardigan every first Thursday, withguest poet & open mic. Email � [email protected] or � 01559 370517. Also workshops and courses at The Ceridwen Centre – see www.ceridwencentre.co.uk

Friday May 8 6.30pm - Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea

University of North Carolina Wilmington USA presents Dylan ThomasExchange students from the University present a performance of poems, short stories,love letters and drama extracts of Dylan’s work that has inspired them during their time inSwansea. Their performance will concentrate on the sheer musicality of Dylan’s writing.

Tickets: FREE ENTRY

Saturday May 9 10am – 4pm – Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea

Performer’s Day – for poets, singers, actors and teachers.Rona Campbell offers a day to ‘breathe life into your performance’ with breathing andprojection excercises, and covering health, posture, presentation and teaching without pain!

Tickets: £30 – To book or for more details contact Rona on � 01978 312790, 07758617660 or � [email protected]

28 – 30 May - Oriel Gallery of Contemporary Art, Salem Chapel, Bell Bank, Hay on Wye

Hay Poetry Jamboree!Fitting around the main Festival, an alternative feast of ‘experimental’ poetry, featuringJohn James, Wendy Mulford, Peter Finch, Zoe Skoulding, John Goodby, DavidGreenslade and others. For full details � [email protected]

Saturday/Sunday 6 & 7 June – Dylan Thomas Centre, SwanseaWriting Poetry for Page & Stage with Peter Read and Rona CampbellPeter has won the John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry, has had seven plays performedprofessionally and published two collections of poetry. Arvon prize-winning poet Rona’swork has been praised by Ted Hughes and performed by Placido Domingo. She is aprofessional opera singer and runs classes on the use of the voice.

Tickets: £60 – To book or for more details contact Peter on � 07931 614180


12 May - August 2009

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Whilst all effort is made to ensure that the details of this programme are accurate, the City and County of Swansea reserve the right to alter any part of the programme without notice.

The Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR� 01792 463980 � www.dylanthomas.com � www.dylan-thomas-books.com � [email protected]

Corridor Exhibitions at theDylan Thomas Centre...6 May – 7 June

Communion Mixed media drawings onpaper by Penny Hallas

9 June – 5 July

Castle SquarePhotographs by Jonathan MorrisFeatured in Parthian’s Nu - anthology of new writing fromWales launched at Dylan Thomas Centre on 23 June. Jonathan says: “Not only have I photographed the youths inSwansea Castle Square, but I’ve also shot more intimate, moreconsidered pictures while visiting their homes. It has also beenone of my goals to show that other,more intimate, side of theyouths who use Castle Square to the public, since there isalways a negative slant to what youths do in the city centre. Myoverall aim is to be critical but positive in representing them”.

7 July – 2 August

The Holy Wells of CornwallA photographic journey by Phil Cope.

4 August – 6 September

John Uzzell Edwards – New PaintingsThis one-man show is an exhibition of the latest paintings in JohnUzzell Edwards’s ‘Welsh Quilt Series’. Paintings from this series havebeen widely exhibited. ‘So why am I now fascinated by Welshquilts and blankets? As a boy growing upin the Rhymney Valley, I was brought upusing them, but only lately I’ve becomeamazed by their structure, the variety ofmaterials and the choice of colours. Quilts

have been made in Wales since the late 18th century, they arepart of the artistic expression of our forbearers, and thereforea very important part of our Welsh culture’.

STOP PRESS!

Wednesday 3 June 7pm Dylan Thomas Centre -

Cardigan poet Simone Mansell Broome launches

her new collection Juice of the Lemon.

FREE ENTRY & REFRESHMENTS www.simonemb.com

Photographs: Ivy Alvarez – Rachel Duncan (Australia); 15 May – Zara Bird Wood; Adian Mitchell – David Sillitoe;Rachel Trezise – Huw John; Nam Le – Dylan Thomas Prize Ltd.


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