Llanelli author’s novel revived as a digital storytelling series for Carmarthenshire Theatres

A Llanelli author’s heart-warming tale of overcoming struggle to follow your dreams will be brought to the attention of a whole new audience as it has been chosen as the subject of a new series of streamed storytelling as part of Carmarthenshire Theatre’s digital season.

Farewell Innocence is a semi-biographical novel by William Glynne-Jones and inspired by the late author’s experience of working at the Glanmor Foundry in the Llanelli as a young man in the late 1920s through to the early 40s. The novel has been abridged by local author and broadcaster, Alun Gibbard, who will present the readings as part of the series. Seven 10-minute episodes will be streamed online on Wednesdays and Sundays from November 25^th until December 16^th and will be free for audiences to enjoy.

Discussing the reasons why Farewell Innocence was chosen as his subject of an adaption for an online series, Alun Gibbard said: “The first reason has to be the story. If that’s no good, then other reasons don’t count! It’s a sort of coming of age story, in that 15-year-old Ieuan Morgan is taken from school by his mother because she’s found a job for him in the steel works. The family need the extra income. From day one in the foundry, Ieuan’s life changes and the story follows those changes which happen on so many different levels, from the romantic to the political and everything in-between.”

This narrative, according to Alun Gibbard, has an extra significance because the story is based on the novel’s author William Glynne-Jones’ own life experience, as he explains: “Knowing that the story in Farewell Innocence is based on the living experience of the author gives it an extra warmth and vitality as well as the harsh realisation that life actually was like that.”

But Alun Gibbard also notes that the novel has an even wider significance because of its place in the broader catalogue of writing about Wales in English. “There are plenty of books about coal and the communities it created, but hardly any about the steel and tin communities in South Wales. Farewell Innocence, and its sequel, Ride the White Stallion, are exceptions. They are therefore very important in making sure that the story of those communities are not forgotten.”

Register for your free ticket to watch, Farewell Innocence – streamed storytelling, on the Carmarthenshire Theatre’s website www.theatrausirgar.co.uk and you will be sent a link to watch the episodes as they are broadcast. The whole series will be available to view until the end of January, so audiences can register and catch up at any time. The series will also be released on DVD, copies of which will be available to loan from Carmarthenshire Libraries in the New Year.