Culture

Two-woman collaboration wins Eisteddfod Playwright’s Medal

06 Aug 2026 3 minute read

Melda Lois Griffiths and Mirain Alaw Jones were awarded the National Eisteddfod Playwright’s Medal

Nation.Cymru staff

Two friends who play rugby together have won this year’s National Eisteddfod Playwright’s Medal with a drama exploring womanhood and the challenges facing women in contemporary Wales.

Melda Lois Griffiths and Mirain Alaw Jones were awarded the medal for Cwch Gwenyn, which they entered under the pseudonym Ymlaen.

The result was announced during a ceremony at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las in north Pembrokeshire.

The pair met through the Welsh Society at Cardiff University and later joined the women’s team at Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd.

The club’s motto, “Ymlaen”, provided their competition pseudonym, while the writers describe Cwch Gwenyn as a tribute to their friendship and their rugby team.

Judges praised the winning work as a “humorous, realistic and meaningful drama” which explores the experiences of women from different backgrounds, ages and sexualities.

They said: “The concept is strong and timely, with a clear structure and believable characters, particularly Gog and Bica.

“The characters are well developed, and their journeys are clear throughout the play. The use of physical theatre on the rugby field is effective, highlighting the contrast between the excitement of the game and the tensions within it.”

The judges said the script offered creative possibilities for a director and had “strong potential as a finished play”.

They did, however, note similarities with the television programme Amdani, saying it would be important for the writers to ensure their own voice continued to emerge as the work was developed.

They concluded: “We are pleased to announce that Cwch Gwenyn demonstrated the strongest potential in the competition.”

Proposal

The Playwright’s Medal competition asked entrants either to submit a detailed proposal containing a story outline, characters and examples of dialogue, or a draft of a complete play lasting between 30 and 45 minutes.

A group of Welsh theatre companies and producers worked with the Eisteddfod on this year’s competition.

They include Frân Wen, Theatr Bara Caws, Theatr Clwyd, Theatr Cymru, Sherman Theatre, Torch Theatre and Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch. Freelance theatre practitioners Leo Drayton and Nia Morais were also on the judging panel.

As well as the £3,000 prize, Griffiths and Jones will receive a commission to develop the script further.

They will also be offered opportunities including placements, meetings with theatre companies, networking and career guidance.

Doctorate

Griffiths was brought up in the Llanuwchllyn area and attended Ysgol OM Edwards and Ysgol y Berwyn before moving to Cardiff.

She has a doctorate in psychology and works in public health in a behavioural science unit. She is also a musician and writes in her spare time.

Jones is originally from Capel Seion in the Gwendraeth Valley and also now lives in Cardiff.

A graduate of Cardiff University’s School of Welsh, she works as a script editor on the long-running Welsh-language television series Pobol y Cwm.

Both women said they were grateful for the support of their families, partners, friends and fellow members of their rugby club.

The medal was presented in memory of Eiryth and Urien Wiliam by their children Hywel, Sioned and Steffan Wiliam, with the £3,000 prize donated by Cware ac Olew Trefigin.

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