Dylan Thomas Festival Opening Events and First Showing of Dylan Drawings

Oct. 27, 2010 - PRLog -- Drawings by Dylan Thomas and Dodie Masterman.

Previously unseen drawings by Dylan Thomas and Dodie Masterman will be on show for the first time during this year’s Dylan Thomas Festival. Artist and illustrator Dodie Masterman first met Dylan Thomas in Swansea during the war. By coincidence, they ran into each other again in Washington in 1950, when Dylan was on his first American lecture tour. They produced a series of drawings together and individually in one of Dodie’s sketchbooks, which are now displayed in the Dylan Thomas Centre’s exhibition. The drawings have been kindly loaned to the Dylan Thomas Centre by Fairless Masterman, and are accompanied by a recording of Dodie’s reminiscences of her friendship with Dylan.

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Wednesday 27 October  7pm  Festival Opening Mandela: The Story of a Universal Hero -  Peter Hain

Nelson Mandela is renowned for his tireless crusade against racial inequality, outspoken social criticism, values of freedom and his anti-apartheid campaigning, making him an international hero. As a personal friend of Nelson Mandela, Peter Hain has managed to capture the humanity, humility and passion of a man so publicly revered, in this inspirational biography. Peter will officially open the festival, and then discuss the book.

Full Price £6-00  Concessions £4-20  Swansea PTL £2-40

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Wednesday 27 October  9pm   The Dylan Thomas Jazz Suite

The Jen Wilson Ensemble launch its new CD of Twelve Poems: The Dylan Thomas Jazz Suite. Funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the new recording celebrates Jen's 50th Year in Jazz! The Suite was commissioned by the Centre and premiered in 2003. Jen will be on piano, Margot Morgan vocals, Paula Gardiner doublebass, Mark O'Connor drums, Cris Haines trumpet and flugelhorn, Chris Ryan on saxes and clarinet.

Full Price £6-00  Concessions £4-20  Swansea PTL £2-40

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Thursday 28 October  7.30pm  Sir Andrew Motion on Edward Thomas

Former Poet Laureate, and acclaimed biographer, Sir Andrew Motion talks about his love of the work of Edward Thomas, who lost his life at the end of World War One. “Edward Thomas was the first poet who spoke to me directly, and has become the poet I hold closer than any other. I relish the chance to spend an evening sharing his work with others.”  Sir Andrew will read works by Thomas, and from his latest collection, The Cinder Path.

Full Price £10-00 Concessions £7-00

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Friday 29 October 7.30pm   Gwyneth Lewis and Damian Furniss

A double-bill of poetry from Cardiff’s multi-talented Gwyneth Lewis, and a highly talented new voice in Exeter’s Damian Furniss. Gwyneth Lewis was the National Poet of Wales 2005-06, the first to be awarded the laureateship. She has published seven books of poetry in both Welsh and English, the most recent being A Hospital Odyssey (Bloodaxe, 2010). She has also published two books of non-fiction, Sunbathing in the Rain: A Cheerful Book on Depression and Two in a Boat. Damian Furniss lives and works in Exeter, where he co-hosts a radio arts show and writes. Chocolate Che (Shearsman) is his first full collection after twenty years of writing, and a poem from the book is selected for this year’s Forward Prize Anthology.

Full Price £6-00 Concessions £4-20 Swansea PTL £2-40

The Festival runs until 9 November. Please see www.dylanthomas.com for the full programme, or contact the Centre on 01792 463980.

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