National Poet of Wales and Poet Laureate visit NLW

The National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, and the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy will give a rare presentation together at the National Library of Wales on Saturday 27 November 2010.

The event is part of a series of poetry reading sessions organised by the Academi with the National Poet of Wales. The tour is organised by Academi in partnership with venues and festivals in the four corners of Wales.

Two sell-out events in Abergavenny and Skenfrith opened the tour in September, and since then Gillian Clarke has called at Betws y Coed and Builth Wells.  The National Poet will be heading west next, with events at Carmarthen, Aberystwyth and Swansea to end the tour.

On Thursday 25 November, Gillian will be joined by Menna Elfyn in a bilingual event at the Halliwell Centre, at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen.  Menna Elfyn is an award-winning poet and playwright. Author of over twenty books of poetry, children’s novels and educational books, numerous stage, radio and television plays, she has also written libretti for US and UK composers. Menna is Director of the Masters Programme in Creative Writing at University of Wales Trinity Saint David and is Literary Fellow at Swansea University. Menna has translated into Welsh many of Gillian's poems written as National Poet.

Then on to Aberyswyth on Saturday 27 November, when Y Drwm at the National Library provides the stage for two national poets.  The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will read alongside Gillian Clarke.  Carol Ann Duffy began in the role of Poet Laureate in 2009, the first woman and the first Scots person to hold the office. She is one of the most popular poets in Britain, and her performances at festivals and events are sell-outs. The Guardian newspaper says: “In the world of British poetry, Carol Ann Duffy is a superstar”.

Finally, an evening at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea on Friday 10 December with Carol Ann Duffy to wrap up this autumn tour.

Gillian Clarke has been National Poet of Wales since 2008. Her poetry is studied at almost every school in Britain, and she has performed her work in front of hundreds of thousands of young people at the popular GCSE Poetry Live! tours.  The National Poet of Wales is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and administered by Academi.

Gillian Clarke explains her vision for the tour: “Tour of the troubadours! The phrase has a Medieval ring that gives me a little romantic kick, though my horse is a car and the old cart tracks are the A-roads and M4 that take me criss-crossing my country over the borders of language.  I'm leaving home a few days at a time, gigging with some of my favourite poets. I chose them because they're all fine poets, brilliant readers and communicators.”


Editor's Notes

National Poet of Wales The post of National Poet of Wales was established in May 2005 by Academi – the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Writers. The post is supported by the Arts Council of Wales. Gwyneth Lewis was the first National Poet for Wales in 2005, followed by Professor Gwyn Thomas in 2006. Gillian Clarke is the third poet to take up the post.

The Academi is the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Authors. The Academi runs events, courses, competitions, including the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, with the support of Cardiff Council and offering a First Prize of £5000, conferences, tours by authors, lectures, international exchanges, events for schools, readings, literary performances and festivals. Academi is also responsible for the National Poet of Wales project and the Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Academi is pleased to be the recipient of an Arts Council of Wales Beacon Company Award 2008 - 2010.  

Further Information
Sion Jobbins, 01970 632902 post@llgc.org.uk