CREATIVE young writers inspired by a Dylan Thomas story about a strange meeting with a 19th century rugby player are hoping their own tales will get an airing ahead of the World Cup.
Swansea’s Young Writers Squad is a group of youngsters aged between 10 and 16 who meet twice a term at the Dylan Thomas Centre for free creative writing workshops.
In their latest get-together, they joined forces with the Welsh Rugby Union and rugby-playing writer Sion Tomos Owen to come up with their own tales, inspired by Dylan’s story about a strange encounter with a man who played for Aberavon in 1898.
Jo Furber, Literature Officer at Swansea Council, said: “The Writer’s Squad is a great opportunity for young people to develop their literacy and creative writing skills among like-minded friends with a little bit of help from us.
“We all know Dylan Thomas began developing his writing style when he was still at school and many of his best-loved stories feature moments and places from his childhood.
“What’s great about the Young Writers Squad is that it offers young people the opportunity to develop their own creative writing style which they’ll be able to make the most of in school and in later life. Some may even be inspired to become full-time writers themselves later on.”
Cllr Robert Francis Davies, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “As a council which invests in the cultural heritage of our city and communities, we work closely with other organisations and volunteers to help our young people make the most of their interests and enthusiasms.
“The Dylan Thomas Centre and last year’s centenary celebrations have been making sure the greatest English language writer our country’s produced remains an inspiration for future generations of writers.”
Work the squad has done at their most recent sessions on two Saturday mornings this summer is expected to be published in a booklet and online in coming weeks to coincide with the Rugby World Cup, part of which is being staged in Wales.
Ms Furber said The Young Writers Squad sessions are a crucial part of the Centre’s learning and outreach programme, which aims to increase opportunities for local residents to engage with literature and bring the work of Dylan Thomas to new audiences.
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