19 June 2014

S4C programmes and characters join in the fun at Dinefwr Festival

This year for the first time those attending the Dinefwr Literature Festival will also get a taste of S4C's programmes and characters.

The three day festival held at the Dinefwr Park and Castle near Llandeilo boasts an array of sessions and events, from interviews with renowned poets and writers to live music sessions and even yoga lessons. And this year S4C is also on the line up.

On Saturday, 21 June at 10.30am in the cinema room festival goers can enjoy a screening of Rhwng Gwên Nos Sadwrn a Gwg y Sul, a special documentary about the late poet Iwan Llwyd. The programme combines archive footage of Iwan reading his poems with new interviews with his friends and family, looking back over his life and work, in celebration.

Following the screening Cenwyn Edwards will be chatting to producer Michael Bayley Hughes, and one of the programme's contributors, Myrddin ap Dafydd, who shared his fond memories of Iwan as a friend and a poet.

Then on Sunday, 23 June a special session on Y Gwyll/Hinterland will be held in the eating room. The S4C detective series proved incredibly popular in Wales and beyond when it was broadcast on S4C last year, and here's a chance to hear Gwawr Martha Lloyd, S4C's Drama Commissioner, along with series producers Ed Thomas and Gethin Scourfield, as they discuss the response to the series and the plans for the up and coming second series.

Both of the afore-mentioned discussions will take place in Welsh but there will be a simultaneous translation service available.

There will also be a special showing of Gerallt in the festival's cinema room. The documentary which won the main prize at the Celtic Media Festival this year is a unique docu-film which lets us into this private poet's personal world, revealing what makes him both laugh and cry.

Without forgetting the little ones of course. On Saturday 21 June the popular pirate from S4C's Cyw Service Ben Dant will host two sessions for younger children. At 10.30am and again at 2.0p0m in the Old Washroom Ben Dant will be playing the knock the coconut game, singing his pirate songs and of course, looking for treasure. Keep an eye out for Superted and Sali Mali as well; they will both be at the festival so grab the chance to snap a picture with them.

Catrin Hughes Roberts, Head of Partnerships for S4C said:

"It's great to have this opportunity to work with Literature Wales as they host the Dinefwr Literature Festival for the second time. It's fantastic to be able to share some of S4C's literary and creative content with the audience and to share some of the stories about creating and writing some of S4C's recent successes such as Y Gwyll. With Ben Dant and the Cyw characters attending as well we're proud to be able to offer something for the whole family."

For the full timetable of events and for more information about the festival visit http://www.dinefwrliteraturefestival.co.uk