List of Writers - Further information

THE R.S. THOMAS POETRY READING COMPETITION ENTRY FORM 

ENGLISH SECTION- SUNDAY 20 JULY 2008

Prize £100

Surname……………………..

Forename………………….

Address…………………………………………..

 ………………………………………………………

Postcode………………….. Phone……………….

e mail………………………………………………..

The competition starts at 11am
(lunch break 1-2pm)

I wish to book one 5 minute slot to read my poems @ £5.00   yes/no
Please state preferred time…………………….

I enclose a cheque made out to ’Apse Appeal,
St Michaels Church’ for……………………………….

Please post to Mrs Joy Neal, Llwyncelyn, Glandyfi, Machynlleth SY20 8SS.

For enquiries: email: joyneal@btinternet.com  
or phone 01654 781203

Please enclose sae for confirmation.

Judges: Byron Rogers & Tony Brown
Sponsors: The Book People
     
Conditions

1. Poets have up to 5 minutes in which to read their poem(s). Poets do not have to read for the whole of this time. 

2. The 5 minutes will be counted on a stopwatch and will begin from the moment the poet steps into the performance area.

3. Poets will be subtly informed when four and a half minutes are up, that they have only 30 seconds left.

4. Poets do not have to use all of the time allocated but it does include any introductions they want to make to their work.

5. Poets will be told when 5 minutes have passed and will be asked to leave the performance area.

6. Any poet who exceeds 5 minutes will be disqualified from the competition.

7. Poets must perform poems which are in English, their own work and unpublished or published.

8. The first prize is a cheque for £100. There are no other cash prizes.

9. Judges are looking for a combination of the quality of the performance and the quality of the poems read. The Judges decision is final.

R S Thomas: A Continuing Legacy

The poet, RS Thomas was born in 1913 and died in 2000. During his long life he became a more controversial figure than most parish priests in Wales and he was passionate about many things. His inspiration came from the countryside and the people around him.

Thomas was vicar of St Michael’s Church, Eglwysfach, near Machynlleth from 1954 – 1967 during one of his most creative periods. Since his death the Byron Rogers’ biography, ‘The Man who went into the West’, winner of the James Tait Black Prize, has received much acclaim and was made into a documentary film in 2007 by BBC Wales.

Therefore, building on the recent surge of interest in RS Thomas, this unconventional and patriotic Welsh poet, the parishioners have decided to hold an R S Thomas Poetry Festival on 19 and 20 July 2008 in the church, place a plaque in his memory in the church porch and to hold a Book Fair in the ‘Iron Room’ nearby. The Festival will be divided into three sections.
The finals of the Schools Competition will take place at 11 am on Saturday 19 July and is sponsored by Y Lolfa. The Welsh Poetry Reading competition will start at 2pm, also on 19 July will be sponsored by the Welsh Book Council with a £100 prize in book tokens.

Another reason for the Festival is to raise funds to replace the apse of the church roof. St Michael’s is listed by CADW as a scarce example of an early C19 church that retains much Regency character. The Chancel, or apse, was added in 1913.