Writers from Wales

Synopsis

Writers working in the English language in Wales talk about influences on their work and show examples of their writing, providing inspiration for students to create their own work in each of the featured genres.

Series

English Programme, The

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Notes

Broadcast on Channel 4 in 5 weekly parts from 15/5/99

Documentation

Accompanying notes available free online at www.channel4.com/secondary

Subjects

English language and literature

Keywords

drama in English; poetry; prose in English; Wales; writing skills; Television drama; Welsh writers

Distribution Formats

Type

VHS

Format

PAL

Price

£19.99 together

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

5 x 20 minutes

Year

2004

Sections

Title

Film and Television: Lucy Gough and Ed Thomas

Synopsis

Television: Lucy Gough discusses writing the soap Hollyoaks as part of a team, and the writer’s responsibility to the teenage audience.
Film: Ed Thomas discusses his film House of America, and Welsh identity.

Duration

20 mins

Title

Prose: Mike Jenkins and Catherine Fisher

Synopsis

The short story: Mike Jenkins discusses his book of interconnected stories ‘Wanting to Belong’ and his use of Merthyr dialect.
The novel: Catherine Fisher discusses ‘Belin’s Hill’ and her use of myth and landscape

Duration

20 mins

Title

Poetry: Gillian Clarke and Labbi Siffre

Synopsis

Labi Siffre reads and discusses his ‘confrontational’ poems and the courage needed to write honestly.
Gillian Clarke talks about the genesis of her poems and their relationship to nature and the Welsh tradition.

Duration

20 mins

Title

Factual writing: Peter Morgan and Robert Minhinick

Synopsis

Television journalism: Peter Morgan examines how writing for a television news programme differs from writing for a newspaper, the role of the war correspondent, and the ‘impartiality’ of journalism.
The essay: Robert Minhinnick discusses the partiality of his essays, his writing methods, and the environmental issues which concern him in ‘Watching the Fire Eater’.

Duration

20 mins

Title

Theatre: Frank Vickery and Ian Rowlands

Synopsis

Frank Vickery discusses his play ‘A Night on the Tiles’, the nature of his ‘tragicomedy’, and the special relationship he has with his valley audience.
Ian Rowlands discusses his monologue ‘Marriage of Convenience’, the importance for him of being brought up with the Welsh language, and the power of the live theatre.

Duration

20 mins

Distributor

Name

4 Learning

Notes

Channel 4 Learning has now closed. This used to be the educational broadcasting arm of Channel 4. The online shop sold educational DVDs and CD-ROMs for use in primary and secondary schools.