What’s On

Rhondda Heritage Park: Rhys Davies Exhibition - A display of works by the most distinguished prose-writer ever to be produced by the Rhondda. Display arranged by the Rhys Davies Trust. 9.00 am - 4.00 pm at Rhondda Heritage Park, Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Free Admission. For details contact: 01443 682036 or e-mail: reception@rhonddaheritagepark.com

Tape Community Music and Film: A series of creative writing workshops covering the skills needed for the production of an Ezine with Jill Tunstall. 10.30 am at the Community Music Centre, Colwyn Bay. For further details contact Juliet Greenwood on 01248 602567 / juliet@tapemusicandfilm.co.uk  Supported by Academi

India Centre, Cardiff: Poetry reading of the works of Kavi Sammelan by Gajender Solanki, Mahendra Ajnabi, Laxmi Shanker Bajpayee, and Sashi Tewari, 7.00 pm, India Centre, Cardiff. Supported by Academi.

Chapter:  Deborah Withers - Adventures in Kate Bush and Theory.  Drawing on elements of feminism, queer theory, post-colonial theory and fairy tales, Deborah Withers uses the music, film, video and dance of Kate Bush to explore ideas of subjectivity and the body. This performance/lecture includes material from Withers’ new book, and attempts to unravel the mystery and complexity of key themes in Kate Bush’s art, from her debut ‘Wuthering Heights’ to her most recent album ‘Aerial’. Withers’ acclaimed work breaks down boundaries between the academic and popular, presenting theoretical interpretations that are lively, engaging and funny, Tickets at £4 - £6, 8.00 pm, Chapter Arts Gallery, Cardiff. For more information, visit www.chapter.org.

Camden Poetry: A chance to hear talented small press poets read at open mics and submit work for the annual anthology in support of the cold weather shelters. Doors open 6.30 for 7pm, 88 Tavistock Place, WC1 H9RT, Tubes: Russell Square or Kings Cross. All proceeds to cold weather shelters. 

National Association of Writers' Groups: 2010 Annual Writers' Conference, a weekend conference held at Collingwood College, University of Durham. For further details contact Wendy O'brien on wendy.obrien99@googlemail.com

Beyond the Border: Saturday lunch hour storytelling with Daniel Morden and Oli Wilson Dickson. 'The Green Man of No Man's Land' is a delightful combination of music, sound and story. These long- forgotten tales are brought to life again thanks to Daniel's scintillating storytelling and Oli's fantastic fiddling. Expect moments of high drama and low comedy! 'The Green Man of No Man's Land' was commissioned by Festival at the Edge 2007. Free Admission, 12.00 pm at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. For details contact the Millennium Centre on: 029 2063 4637 or go to: www.wmc.org.uk

The Dylan Thomas Centre: Lunchtime Theatre – ‘Something Unspoken’ by Tennessee Williams. Fluellen Theatre Company present Tennessee Williams’s 'Something Unspoken'. Cornelia Scott wishes to realise her lifetime ambition: to be named president of The Daughters of the Confederation. But in the tense hours before the announcement something threatens – something unspoken. Tennessee Williams is the great poet of twentieth century American theatre, and the script-in-hand performance of this intriguing play will be preceded by a talk about his life and work. 1pm, The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, All Tickets: £5. Please contact the Dylan Thomas Centre on 01792 463980 for more information and tickets.

On the Border: Presents Gwyneth Lewis and Philip Gross, 7.30 pm at The Drill Hall, Chepstow. Tickets - £12 (£10 concs) Please visit www.poetryontheborder.org for updates and further information. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

The Big Fuss: 'Sex, Wales, Anarchy' one day festival of music, art, performance and spoken word. Performances from Mab Jones, Patrick Jones, Gillian Brightmore, Mao Jones, Jack Passcoe, Nick Fisk and Sue Hamblen. From 1 pm at Cardiff Coal Exchange. Tickets cost £10 - £15. For further information contact David Lee at thebigfuss@hotmail.co.uk or on 07501 455309. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

The Celtic Learners Network: 'Traditional and Invented Forms of Poetry' with Ivy Alvarez. Straightjacketed by the sestina? Hamstrung by haikus? What about spicing up your sonnets? For those hungry to discover new poetic forms and eager to tackle the classics, this is the series of workshops for you. Suitable for all levels. 4 Saturday Schools starting 4th September, £35, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm, Cardiff Arts Institute. For more information visit http://www.celticlearnersnetwork.org.uk

IWA: Coffee Shop Debates - 'Stieg Larsson is the Tolstoy of our Age' with Ifor Thomas. "Tolstoy is widely regarded as the greatest novelist however his time has come and he must give way to a writer who not only resonates with contemporary readers wrestling with internet communications, the stresses of modern living, the challenges of swapping SIM cards; but who also deals with the big issues of life - getting a tattoo, killing a monster, caring for a sick friend or relative, moving large amounts of money through internet accounts. This writer is Steig Larsson, who has created in Lisabeth Sander a true hero for our age. She has the strict moral code of a Tolstoy character, the tendency to anarchy of Tolstoy himself and the stories Steig creates take us the heart of the Swedish, no any supposed sophisticated European so-called-democracy, state's duplicity." 6.30 pm in the Theatre Foyer, Chapter Arts Centre , Canton, Cardiff. Free entry. Limited space call 029 2066 0820 to register, or e-mail: emmabrennan@iwa.org.uk

Writing and Printmaking Workshop: Foliage - Evening workshop for 4 weeks with Sarah Jackman and Kara Seaman. Building on a long and successful tradition of combining text with printmaking, novelist Sarah Jackman and Kara Seaman, an experienced and popular Swansea-based printmaker, work together to lead a series of nature inspired workshops. Each workshop is ideal for beginners as well as more experienced printmakers who wish to explore the possibility of a larger text and image project. Participants will build a close relationship between the two art forms around the theme to produce a small number of original prints. Participants of this third writing and printmaking course will discuss examples in visual arts and literature which take Plants as their inspiration or focus. Encouraged to produce a piece of their own text alongside photographic images and flat objects such as stems and leaves and dried flowers using the cyanotype technique. Cost: Full member: £55 Ordinary Member: £60 Non-member: £70. From 6.00 pm to 8.15 pm, workshops take place at Swansea Print Workshop, 19a Clarence Street, Swansea. SA1 3QR. Please contact Sarah for further details or to book on: sarah_jackman@hotmail.com or phone 07941 432 883. For further details go to: www.swanseaprintworkshop.org.uk

The Celtic Learners Network: 'Language and Imagery in Poetry' with Ivy Alvarez. Respond to intriguing writing prompts and triggers that focus on imagery and language to create new work and take your poems in an exciting, new direction. Suitable for all levels. 4 week course starting Wednesday 8th September, £35, 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm, Cardiff Arts Institute. For more information visit http://www.celticlearnersnetwork.org.uk

Neath Port Talbot Libraries: Discussion and talk with Sarah Jackman on her writing. 6.30 pm at Briton Ferry Library. Tickets £1.50. For further information contact Paul Doyle at p.a.doyle@npt.gov.uk or on 01639 860000. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

Pembrokeshire Libraries: Local studies workshops with Phil Carradice focusing on stories about the history of Haverfordwest. Haverfordwest Library, all day. For more information contact George Edwards at george.edwards@pembrokeshire.gov.uk. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

Aberdare Poetry Society: R.S. Thomas poetry event with Byron Rogers. Cynon Valley Gallery & Museum Aberdare at 7.15 pm. Entry £3. For more information, please contact Aeron Elias at aeron.elias@mypostoffice.co.uk. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).  

Kaleidoscopic: The first festival in the UK to examine and discuss the history, process and business of adaptations across multiplatform including film, television, radio, and multimedia How do you turn a novel into a computer game? A graphic novel to a film? Or a poem into an opera? Kaleidoscopic is a new festival that will examine how a creative idea can be reshaped and adapted into various art forms through a programme of panel sessions, Master classes, and workshops. Taking place at Glyndŵr University and Wrexham Library, Wrexham, the festival will be open to members of the general public and will feature renowned industry professionals talking about the creative process and business of adapting ideas for film, TV, radio, and multimedia. For details contact info@kaleidoscopicfest.org

Kaleidoscopic 2010: Support for Writers event - Regardless if you’re established or up and coming, the life of a writer can be a solitary profession so sometimes it’s good to know who to turn to when you need support or advice. To help point you in the right direction the festival has assembled a panel of speakers from supporting bodies in Wales and the UK including Keith Potter (Head of Production and Development from the Film Agency for Wales), Suzanne Bell (Literary Manager at from Everyman Theatre), and Hollie Aldridge (Literature Officer - Academi). Held in Wrexham as part of the Kaleidoscopic 2010 festival. For further details contact info@kaleidoscopicfest.org

Gomer Press: The launch of Not Quite White by Simon Thirsk, 7.00 pm at the Queens Hall Gallery, Narberth. For details contact Lowri Walters on lowriwalters@gomer.co.uk

The Riverfront: Winter Sessions - Open Mic Night with a Boutique Market, From 5.00 pm in the Foyer and Cafe Bar at The Riverfront, Newport. For details e-mail the.riverfront@newport.gov.uk 0r ring  01633 656757

David Thorpe, Elen Caldecott and Val Tyler will be reading and answering questions at a special literature and story telling night to be held at Carad, East St, Rhyader, LD65ER. For more information, contact David on 01597 810192 or http://www.davidthorpe.info/im/rhayader-childrens-literature.jpg.

Poetry Picnic 2010: Poetry Picnic, as part of the Porlock Literature Festival, with Guest poet Harriet Tarlo. In the garden of the Visitor Centre and Porlock Village Hall, near Minehead. For details e-mail tilla.b@virgin.net

Poets At the Castle: Writing poetry with Paul Henry. 1 pm - 5 pm at Subud Hall, Brecon. Tickets cost £15. For further information contact Amanda Lloyd at epona66@hotmail.com or by telephoning 07984 859905. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

Chapter: Cardiff Shakespeare Readers - Coriolanus. Cardiff Shakespeare Readers get together every month to experience the works of Shakespeare spoken aloud. All are welcome to attend and read. Please bring a copy of the script if you have one. £3 (on the door), 6.30pm, Chapter, Cardiff. For more information, visit www.chapter.org.

Norwegian Church:  'Roald Dahl Day Celebrations' at the Norwegian Church. Come along for a fun day of activities for children and celebrate Roald Dahl's birthday. Activities will include face painting with Joanne Weston www.crazyfacesfacepainting.co.uk, balloon artistry with Dr Bob www.drbobsballoons.co.uk, storytelling with Waterstones www.waterstones.com, arts & crafts workshop with Caroline Deacon & an ice cream workshop with Mario's ice cream www.mariosicecream.com. Waffle stall with Cardiff Catering www.cardiffcatering.co.uk. Events will be held inside the Norwegian Church main hall and gallery, Cardiff Bay, 11.30 am - 4.30 pm, Free Entry, although some events will incur a small participation fee.

Red Poets: Launching 'Red Poets' issue 16, with readings from many contributors and open mic. 7.30 pm at Old Orleans, Cardiff. Entry £4 - with a free copy of the magazine. For further details contact Mike Jenkins on mjenkins1927@gmail.com

Torfaen Open Mic: Mab Jones is the speaker for September’s Open Mic. (Can be seen on YouTube). Bring along a new piece or one you have read before, or just come along for the fun. Don't forget there are always slots available for open mic enthusiasts, 7.30, Panteg House, Griffithstown.  Entry Fee.  For more information, contact Margaret Gurney on 01495 753629.  Supported by Academi.

Cinnamon Press: Launch of 'My Only Ever Oedipal Complaint' by Omar Sabbagh. There will be a couple of opportunities to hear Omar launch the book in London, beginning with a joint reading at Lumen on together with Sheila Hillier reading from 'A Quechua Confession Manual', Doors open 6.30 for 7pm, 88 Tavistock Place, WC1 H9RT.  Tubes: Russell Square or Kings Cross. Poets from the floor also welcome for open mic.

Chapter: On The Edge. Michael Kelligan continues his 'Deadlier Than The Male' season of plays written and directed by women with two script-held performances directed by Gilly Adams. 'Talking To Wordsworth' -Gillian Clarke is the current National Poet of Wales and this beautifully written play is based on her experiences of reading poetry in schools, hospitals and day care centres. The play was first broadcast by BBC Wales from the stage of the Sherman Theatre.  'Wishful Thinking' - A revival of Hijinx Theatre’s highly-charged play, featuring music, song… and shopping in Tesco. Both of these plays appear in Transitions, a Parthian publication edited by Phil Clark. £4 (on the door), 8.00 pm, Chapter, Cardiff. For more information, visit www.chapter.org.

Pontardawe Arts Centre: Pomes penyeach session with Patrick Jones. Evening event. For further information contact Angie Dickinson on 01792 860355 or visit www.npt.gov.uk/theatres. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

The Celtic Learners Network: 'Autobiography in Poetry' with Ivy Alvarez. Tuesday's lecture- Want to engage the reader in your life story? How do you keep them turning the page and wanting more? Including a fun writing exercise, find out how to avoid the writing pitfalls with this lunchtime lecture. Thursday lecture  - This lunchtime lecture looks at using autobiography in poetry, how it has been used in the past and where it is heading now. Including an intriguing writing exercise, learn how to incorporate autobiography in your own poetry, £10, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm, Cardiff Arts Institute. For more information visit http://www.celticlearnersnetwork.org.uk

The Dylan Thomas Centre: On the Edge – ‘Talking to Wordsworth’ by Gillian Clarke. Gillian Clarke is the much acclaimed National Poet of Wales, and we’re delighted to be staging a rehearsed reading of Talking to Wordsworth, which will be introduced by Gillian herself. It will be preceded by a revival of Highjinx Theatre’s Wishful Thinking. 7.30pm, The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, All Tickets: £4. Please contact the Dylan Thomas Centre on 01792 463980 for more information and tickets.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Councils: 'Open Mike Night' with Gemma June Howell, 7.30 pm, at the Imperial Hotel in Merthyr Tydfil. For more information contact Gus Payne on 01685 725382 or gus.payne@merthyr.gov.uk. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

Abergavenny Food Festival: Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke. Bees, honey and food-inspired poetry are all on the menu as Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke read and discuss their work, 7.30pm Angel Hotel Ballroom. Tickets are £9.00 and can be purchased by phoning the Box Office on 01873 85080. For more information, or to buy tickets online visit www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com. Supported by Academi.

Llanhilleth Institute: Open Mic.  An opportunity to perform your poems, or songs or display your photography or artwork. Show us your creative side. For more information, contact Meg Gurney on 01495 753629 or on mrsm.gurney@sky.com  or visit www.communigate.co.uk/gwent/llanhillethopenmic.

The Dylan Thomas Centre: ‘Bright Young Things’. Rising literary stars Tyler Keevil, Will Gritten and Susie Wild read from their debut collections from Parthian Books, and discuss their work with Parthian fiction editor, Lucy Llewellyn, 7pm, The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. Free entry and wine, in association with Parthian Books. For more information, visit http://www.brightyoungthings.info/ 

Academi Literary Bus Tours 2010: Lynette Roberts in Carmarthenshire. Departure point: National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Departure time 7.30 am. Ticket price: £45.00 per person / per tour Or £42.00 per person / per tour for Academi Members & Associates. Fee includes tea/coffee, lunch, coach travel and lectures/talks. No other discounts are available. To book or for more information contact Academi on 029 2047 2266 / post@academi.org

Honno: Book Signing with Judith Barrow. Your chance to meet fascinating author Judith Barrow and get your copy of this gritty and moving WWII saga, 1.00 pm at Waterstones, Swansea. For more information, visit http://www.honno.co.uk/dangos.php?ISBN=9781906784058

Abergavenny Food Festival: 'A really Welsh Sunday Lunch' with Gillian Clarke. 'A really welsh sunday lunch' or 'cinio cymraeg dydd sul' with the really welsh company, ancre hill estates and everyone's favourite butcher Brian George of Talgarth, in celebration of local welsh food, wine and poetry. Gillian Clarke, the national poet of wales, will be reciting her poetry and unveiling one of her newest works, 12.30pm The Bell, Skenfrith, Tickets are £25.00 and can be purchased by phoning the Box Office on 01873 85080. For more information, or to buy tickets online visit www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com. Supported by Academi.

Disability Arts Cymru:  Creative writing workshop for young disabled aspiring writers with Kaite O'Reilly, 11am, Glyndwr University, Wrexam.  For more information, contact Sara Mackay on 02920 55 1040.  Supported by Academi.

Rhondda Heritage Park: Cordell Festival - Join us in celebrating the works of the renowned author Alexander Cordell (1917 - 1997) in particular 'The Sweet and Bitter Earth' as we commemorate the Centenary of the Tonypandy Riots of 1910. 11.00 am at Rhondda Heritage Park, Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Free event featuring music, theatre, tours, welsh crafts and food, plus lots more. For details contact 01443 682036 or e-mail reception@rhonddaheritagepark.com

Caffe Vista: An evening of poetry and music. Join Tenby-born performance poet Simone Mansell Broome and guitarists Richard Ellin and Paul Uden for an evening of verbal and musical entertainment. 7.30 pm at Caffe Vista, Tenby, Pembrokeshire.Tickets £6.00. For more information please visit the Tenby Arts Festival website at http://www.tenbyartsfest.co.uk. Supported by Academi.

Classical Education Forum: Poetry of the First World War. Poets have often experience mixed emotions about war. As well as celebrating deeds of glory and valour, they also acknowledged the human misery and suffering that war entails. Come and discuss some of the best war poems by Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen and Isaac Rosenberg. Thursdays, 9.30 am - 11.30 am, £62.00, Thornhill Centre, Cardiff. For more information, visit www.classicaleducationforum.co.uk

Cardiff Arts Institute: The Artist's Way - A series of workshops exploring various aspects of creativity developed from Julia Cameron's bestselling book, continuing for 10 weeks. Fee - £6.00 per session. 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm at the Cardiff Arts Institute, 29 Park Place, Cardiff. For further details, contact: g.brightmore@sky.com

Story Telling at Milgi’s Yurt: Guest storyteller - Guto Dafis, Guest musician - Syren (Swedish dance music featuring Jon Mills on melodeon), 8.00 pm, Milgi Lounge, 213 City Road, Cardiff, Free entry, contributions in the hat. If anyone in the audience would like to do a story or a couple of songs or tunes, please arrive early and speak to David or Guto. For more information, visit www.milgilounge.com or www.myspace.com/milgilounge

Peacock Vein ScriptShop: 'Script Writing Workshop' with Alan Harris, as part of the script cafe, 7.30 pm, Pontardawe Arts Centre.  For further details contact Emily Hinshelwood at emily@pantyrywen.wanadoo.co.uk or on 01269 822230. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events). 

Classical Education Forum: A Good Read. Each term a different novel will be read, discussed and analysed. The three novels for the year are Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca', Kazuo Ishiguro's'When We Were Orphans' and Nancy Mitford's 'Love in a Cold Climate'. Tuesdays, 9.30 am – 11.30 am, 30 weeks but enrol each term £62.00, Thornhill Centre, Cardiff. For more information, visit www.classicaleducationforum.co.uk

The Celtic Learners Network: 'Welsh Epic Literature' with Ceri Lane. The enchanting Mabinogion shall be examined in depth where we shall encounter King Arthur, Welsh Emperors and an array of magical beings. What was the purpose of these stories and what can they tell us about the culture and society of the ancient Celts? No previous knowledge assumed, all texts in translation. 5 week course starting 21st September, £45, 10.00 am - 12.00 pm, Cardiff Arts Institute. For more information visit http://www.celticlearnersnetwork.org.uk

Cardiff University Creative Writing Course: Creative Writing at the Museum. There will be an opportunity to go behind the scenes at the museum to discover the collections and exhibitions, and you will be encouraged to write dramatic monologues, poetry and prose pieces on what you have seen. For more information, call 02920 870 000 or visit www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn