Other Literary Competitions
R.S. Thomas Festival Competitions
As part of the R.S. Thomas Poetry Festival, to be held on 19 and 20 July 2008 at Eglwysfach near Machynlleth, three new bilingual competitions have been launched. They are aimed at children and young adults aged 7 to 19 from Ceredigion, Montgomery, Meirionydd and Dwyfor, as well as adults who wish to competitively perform their work at Thomas’ St. Michael’s Church in Eglwysfach. The deadline for entry forms for all three competitions is 21 June 2008.
The Bilingual Children’s Poetry Competition
The Bilingual Children’s Poetry Competition is aimed at children and young adults from Ceredigion, Montgomery, Meirionydd and Dwyfor. The competition will be organised in two sections; Junior (for children aged between 7 to 11 years) and Senior (for ages 12 to 19 years). Entrants can submit up to three poems at a cost of £1 each, for the chance to win prizes of £20, £15 and £10, as well as book prizes from Y Lolfa. Judges will select four finalists in each section, in Welsh and in English, to give readings of their poems in the Church on Saturday 19 July starting at 11am, after which the winners will be announced.
Entries will be inspired by one of several alternative R.S. Thomas poems, as listed below. Although these poems are in English since R.S. Thomas did not write poetry in Welsh, Welsh entries can develop them as they choose. The intention is to provide an opportunity for entrants to learn more about R.S. Thomas’ life and work, and to be encouraged into writing poetry in the future.
The Junior Section
Themes: either from Thomas’ poem ‘This is the village’ (from The Small Window) or from ‘The flies walk upon the roof top’ (from Study).
Judge: (Bilingual) Dr Gwendraeth Morgan
For a printable version of the entry form click here
The Senior Section
Themes: either from Thomas’ poem ‘In Wales there are jewels to gather’ (from The Small Window) or ‘We met under a shower of bird-notes’ (from A Marriage).
Judges: (Cymraeg) Prifardd Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan and (English) Mrs Wendy Crockett
For a printable version of the entry form click here
The Welsh Poetry Reading Competition
The Welsh Poetry Reading Competition will start at 2pm, also on 19 July, and will be open to anyone reciting their own published or unpublished poems in Welsh for a pre-booked five minute slot at £5 each. This competition will be sponsored by the Welsh Book Council with a £100 prize in book tokens. The judge will be looking for a combination of the quality of the performance and the quality of the poems read.
Judges: Rev. Rhidian Jones and Professor G.A. Williams
For a printable version of the entry form click here
The English Poetry Reading Competition
The English Poetry Reading Competition will be held on Sunday 20 July from 11am, and will follow a similar format to the Welsh Poetry Reading Competition. This competition will be sponsored by The Book People with a £100 prize in book tokens. The judges will be looking for a combination of the quality of the performance and the quality of the poems read.
Judges: Byron Rogers and Tony Brown.
For a printable version of the entry form click here
For hard copies of entry forms, or for more information about the competitions and the festival itself contact Joy Neal by email joyneal@btinternet.com, telephone: 01654 781203 or post at Llwyncelyn, Glandyfi, Machynlleth SY20 8SS.