Winner of Drama Prize at Eisteddfod T gets commissioned by S4C
The winner of the Drama Prize at Eisteddfod T has also won a commission from S4C.
It has been announced today Rhiannon Lloyd Williams from Cardiff came in first, and a film of her winning play will feature on Hansh, the Welsh language channel’s digital platform.
This is as a result of the ‘Young Playwrights Scheme’, which is a new partnership between Eisteddfod yr Urdd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and S4C.
Rhiannon will also spend a year as Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Young Playwright in Residence – the first young playwright to fill this new role.
As well as being mentored by the Theatr Genedlaethol team, she will also get the opportunity to be mentored by S4C’s Drama Commissioner and work with some of their recent script writers.
She was revealed as the winner in a special ceremony that was broadcast live on S4C and BBC Radio Cymru from the Urdd’s Residential Centre in Llangrannog with the judge, Elgan Rhys, and the other finalists.
Competitors had to to pen a play or monologue suitable for performance on screen or stage for no more than two actors, and no longer than 5 minutes.
Rhiannon was born in Bristol and raised in Cardiff, and she is currently working as part of the marketing and promotions team at S4C,
She studied Welsh at Bangor University and graduated in 2017. Her latest work can be seen in the following publications Can Curiad (Gwasg y Bwthyn, 2021), Adref (Cara, 2020), and Byw yn fy Nghroen (Y Lolfa, 2019).
Delyth Evans from Silian near Lampeter came in second place and Martha Grug Ifan from Llangynnwr, near Carmarthen, came in third.
‘Wonderfully varied’
According to Elgan Rhys, 38 entries were received, and the competition was “wonderfully varied”.
“Here is a collection of young voices with so much to say,” said Elgan Rhys.
“It was very difficult to judge, but there are three who submitted complete pieces of work, that were rich in content, with clear, important and extremely timely stories to share with the world.
“They also showed early signs of experimenting with the style of their work.”
According to the judge the top three entries were a “breath of fresh air” and there are several memorable lines from the winning work by Rhiannon ‘Help(u)’.
In his adjudication Elgan Rhys says: “Help(u) is skilfully written and instantly ignites the imagination with a piece that feels as though it has absorbed all the social and political challenges of the past year, creating a new story about the complexity of the relationship between two friends who don’t share the same privileges.”
The Eisteddfod T Drama Ceremony is sponsored by the University of South Wales and Rhiannon receives a specially created award by sculptor Ann Catrin Evans.
Eisteddfod T is on its third day of broadcasting after a busy and successful first two days. Results for all competitions so far can be found on s4c.cymru/urdd
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Why are all writers on s4c dramas women?? Where are the men?