DT100 brochure

D T 1 0 0 E v E n T P RO G R A M M EJune 2013 Edition

I’m delighted to introduce this Events Programme which gives an update of all the events taking place to mark the centenary of one of Wales’ most important writers.

The Welsh Government is leading on this high-profile festival to mark the centenary in 2014 of Dylan Thomas’ birth along with its funding partners, detailed on page 8 of this programme.

The events outlined in this programme will help contribute to a fitting legacy for Dylan’s life and work, but I also hope they will resurrect a passion for literature and inspire people of all ages to connect more actively with our rich cultural heritage. In the spirit of Dylan, it is an opportunity to showcase Wales as a land of artistic excellence to an international audience and to raise further the iconic status of this great literary figure. The listing is not exclusive or exhaustive, and further editions will be produced as the centenary year progresses.

DT100 promises to be a truly memorable, compelling and inspiring celebration.

I n T R O D u c T I O n

From the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport

E D W I n A H A R T M B E O s t j A M

Current Patrons

HRH THE PRIncE Of WAlEs(Royal Patron)

HAnnAH EllIs(Honorary Patron, Dylan Thomas’ granddaughter)

Ambassadors

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Dylan Thomas was Wales’ greatest poet and writer. His work enriched the English language and is still widely read and performed around the world to this day, resonating with an international audience through its universal themes and lyrical beauty. 2014 marks the centenary of Dylan’s birth in a small house in Swansea and, in celebration, a number of high-profile and innovative events will be staged across the world under the banner of the DT100 festival. The multitude and variety of events will prove a fitting tribute to Dylan, acting as a catalyst for revitalising interest in his work, and introducing him to a brand new audience. Within DT100 there will be new television and radio productions, film projects, book publications, academic initiatives, original productions in theatre, music and the arts, and a range of new internet-based initiatives. The festival will bring many friends and fans of Dylan’s work to swansea, laugharne and new Quay to experience for themselves the Welsh places that inspired his writings. There will be events in locations significant to Dylan’s life – in London, Oxford and America – and the British Council has embraced his legacy with its ‘starless and bible-black’ series of international events in Argentina, Australia, canada, India and the usA throughout 2014. Dylan’s writings reflect the unique community, landscape and distinctive character of Wales and its people, and visitors from all corners of the globe will be warmly welcomed. The Welsh Government presents here the interim programme of DT100 events that will begin later this year and stretch across the following 15 months. We believe they combine to offer a worthy celebration of the talents of this son of Wales, and provide a fitting legacy that will ensure Dylan Thomas’ writing does not go gentle into that good night. B A c k G R O u n D

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the dylan thomas boathouse & touring Writing shed

sir peter blake exhibition:llareggub

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art across the city

under milk Wood(livE)

dylan thomas 2014

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The Boathouse in laugharne, as part of the centenary celebrations, will host a variety of high profile events and intimate readings at the venue throughout the Festival. Look out for Dylan’s writing shed as it tours the country.www.dylanthomasboathouse.com

Peter Blake illustrates Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood. This major body of works is the culmination of a 25-year project and goes on show for the first time. Blake is passionate about Under Milk Wood and listens to it repeatedly in his studio. This show includes pencil portraits of each of the 60 characters in the cast, a series of watercolours of the dream sequences and a group of collages depicting the fictional village of Llareggub. www.museumwales.ac.uk/cy/cardiff

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Within the swansea-based biennial event, using Dylan Thomas and his legacy as its central inspiration, three artists and three writers will work together with schools, community groups and online participants to create artworks that reference Dylan Thomas and the River Tawe, under the umbrella title of the ‘DT100 Tawe Mega Poem’.www.locwsinternational.com

A unique global event with a mix of live broadcast, film and performance. A distinguished Welsh cast will engage with Owen sheers’ abridged 60-minute version of the work in a new transatlantic live-linked event, with characters and voices working together from various locations from laugharne to new york.www.nationaltheatrewales.org

A year-long large scale arts festival with the Dylan Thomas festival (27 Oct - 09 Nov 2014) as its focal point. www.dylanthomas.com

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dylan thomas season

under milk WoodAN OPERA

the dylan Weekends

a dylan odyssey

return Journey

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Programming to be broadcast on the Welsh and uk television network will include independent documentary commissions and a BBc documentary, Dylan from the Archive (working title). Dylan-themed material will be included in existing factual, arts and news programmes, and BBc Radio Wales, Radio 3 and Radio 4 will carry a range of related programmes. www.bbc.co.uk/wales

By john Metcalf in association with companion star and Le Chien qui Chante. Premiere and performances at Taliesin Arts centre, swansea (03-05 April), then touring to Aberystwyth Arts centre (08-09 Apr), sherman cymru, cardiff (11-12 Apr), Galeri, caernarfon (15 Apr) and Theatr colwyn, colwyn Bay (17 Apr).www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk

Three weekends to celebrate Dylan Thomas’ life and work, themed to echo Dylan’s favourite art forms. They are intended to be the kind of event Dylan himself would have enjoyed.

• Weekend #1: Poetry and Biography, curated by Patti smith and simon Armitage (11-13 April 2014)

• Weekend #2: comedy and Radio, curated by Robin Ince and simon Maconie (19-21 September 2014)

• Weekend #3: Music and film, curated by Richard james and Euros child (26-28 September 2014)

www.thelaugharneweekend.com

A series of literary tourism events linked to Dylan Thomas in Wales, Oxford and new york. Trips and stays will include kayaking, pony trap rides, jazz music, Beat poetry and will involve contemporary writers such as Owen sheers and Gillian clarke.www.literaturewales.org

A promenade performance of Dylan’s swansea-based text, developing a trail starting from Castle Square and ending in Cwmdonkin Park.www.lighthouse-theatre.co.uk

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14dylan thomas exhibition

the dylanathon

bedazzled - a Welshman inneW york

site-specificvisual art

lleisiau / voices

my frienddylan thomas

adventures in theskin trade

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The Library will feature a major, large-scale exhibition of its recently compiled archive of Dylan Thomas material. The exhibition will include a selection of unique personal items, alongside visiting items from the united states, including Dylan’s notebook Poems, providing a private view of Dylan’s world. Other elements will feed content into the main exhibition.www.llgc.org.uk

A photo-marathon celebrating the life and work of Dylan Thomas, with themes from his writing providing the cues.www.dylanthomasbirthplace.com

A series of installation and performance-based events and encounters in swansea, cardiff and other locations, using the settings provided by disused pubs and bars.www.ffotogallery.org

A partnership between writers and visual artists, which will include a site-specific, Laugharne component and culminating in an overview exhibition at Oriel Myrddin. led by artist and curator of the project, Craig Wood.www.orielmyrddingallery.co.uk

A live and mediated presentation by professionals and amateurs celebrating the history of vocal and oral traditions, and imagining future incarnations of the voices of Wales, both in Welsh in English. Presented at chapter with live streaming from Brown’s Hotel in laugharne and the chelsea Hotel in new york.www.chapter.org

A mini-festival of events encompassing the many musical responses to Thomas’ work from his lifetime to the present day.www.bangor.ac.uk/music

Performances during the last two weeks in september and early October.www.theatriolo.com

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dylan events

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a child’schristmas in Wales

10 - year anniversary

public symposium

a child’schristmas in Wales

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This annual festival includes three Dylan events: The Music in the Words at Brangwyn Hall with members of Ensemble cymru (08 Oct). The Wales premiere of A Dylan Thomas Trilogy by john corigliano at the Brangwyn Hall (11 Oct). The world premiere of karl jenkins’ Three images from Dylan Thomas with the Russian national Philharmonic Orchestra at Brangwyn Hall (18 Oct).www.swanseafestival.org

The Dylan Thomas festival will provide the focus for DT100, and will include high profile events to mark the 100th anniversary of Dylan’s birth. The events of the Dylan Thomas festival will form the centrepiece of the year-long celebrations over an intensive two-week period.www.dylanthomas.com

Adapted by Michael Bogdanov. Gala Opening (01 nov), followed by performances (04-08 nov) at swansea Grand Theatre.Box office: 01792 475 715 | www.swanseagrand.co.uk

Wales Millennium centre: 10-year anniversary, including Dylan Thomas-related educational activity.www.wmc.org.uk

www.llgc.org.uk

Wales/uk Tour during the weeks of:

November 10th - Torch Theatre, Milford Haven and Aberystwyth Arts centre.November 17th - venue cymru, llandudno.November 24th - new Theatre, cardiff.December 1st - The coliseum, Aberdare and Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon.December 10th - Theatr Hafren, newton.

Additional dates to be added to tour. www.walestheatrecompany.com

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank the key organisations involved for their support of DT100, as listed at www.dt100.info. special thanks are also due to: Jeff Towns, chairman of the Dylan Thomas society; the family of Nora Summers (1892-1948) in recognition and acknowledgement of her iconic photograph of Dylan Thomas that serves as the inspiration for the centenary logo; David Higham Associates, literary agents for Dylan Thomas, for their advice and continued support; and the Dylan Thomas Trust for their commitment to DT100.

T H A n k s TO . . .

usEful cOnTAcTswww.discovercarmarthenshire.com (Tourism & visitor enquiries)www.discoverceredigion.co.uk (Tourism & visitor enquiries)www.visitpembrokeshire.com (Tourism & visitor enquiries)www.traveltrade.visitwales.com (Travel trade enquiries)www.britishcouncil.org/wales (international event enquiries)www.dylanthomas100.org (DT100 Festival official website)www.dylanthomas.com (Dylan Thomas Centre)www.dt100.info (PR & Media enquiries)www.visitwales.com (Tourism & visitor enquiries)www.visitswanseabay.com (Tourism & visitor enquiries)

@dylanthomas_100

future editions of this programme of events will be published in autumn 2013, winter 2014 and spring 2014. updates will be provided on confirmed event dates, educational projects, DT100 Ambassadors, international events, and the official DT100 website, which will provide all festival-related information and access to digital applications.