BBC's Dylan Thomas season unveiled
A high-profile season marking the centenary of Dylan Thomas’s birth is unveiled today by BBC Wales.
Published: 20 March 2014
In one of the most ambitious seasons in a decade, the broadcaster will present a kaleidoscope of programmes across television, radio and online, featuring talent as diverse as writer Andrew Davies, actor Tom Hollander, and poets Benjamin Zephaniah, Owen Sheers, Gwyneth Lewis and Menna Elfyn. The genres include drama, factual, music and debate.
The broadcaster has also announced that tickets have been released for its Laugharne Live radio festival in the grounds of Laugharne Castle, May 2-5, where audiences can join the conversation about Dylan with Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 6 Music, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru.
Television highlights
BBC One Wales and BBC Two introduce a brand new single drama, A Poet In New York. Set in New York and Laugharne, it explores how Dylan, the creator of some of the most memorable lines in the English language, died in a smog-ridden New York on a November day in 1953, age 39. Tom Hollander plays the lead role in Andrew Davies’s drama, directed by Aisling Walsh.
In collaboration with National Theatre Wales, Under Milk Wood is a contemporary presentation of Dylan Thomas’s famous ‘play for voices’ featuring an array of Welsh acting talent, broadcast on BBC One Wales in May.
In A Poet On The Estate: Townhill Does Dylan, performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah, is keen to show how poetry can turn people’s lives around. On BBC One Wales in April, he asks whether Dylan Thomas can do for poetry what The Choir did for music.
The season also includes a range of documentaries which offer insights into the poet’s life and work.
Radio at Laugharne Live
BBC Cymru Wales’s radio stations are at the heart of the Laugharne Live festival. BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru will be joining forces with BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 6 music to remember Dylan at a radio festival in the BBC marquee at Laugharne Castle, May 2-5. Together they will broadcast a rich mix of live and recorded shows celebrating the life, work and legacy of Dylan Thomas. A limited number of tickets for some of the radio events are available at bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas.
Online
bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas is the digital home of the Dylan Thomas season, providing a place for discovery, where Dylan’s work will be brought to life. With exclusive clips, interviews, archive and galleries, this is the place to catch up on all Dylan Thomas-related programmes via BBC iPlayer across this centenary year.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales says: "For BBC Cymru Wales, this is an anniversary with a special resonance. Dylan was not only a writer and poet, but also a remarkable broadcaster. Fostered and championed by the BBC, he became a dazzling radio poet. His broadcasts and recordings took his voice and his ideas far beyond his homeland, and he used the compelling intimacy of the medium to conjure extraordinary images and characters that seduced millions of listeners."
Hannah Ellis, granddaughter of Dylan Thomas says, “My grandfather had one hundred and forty five separate engagements with the BBC, which included writing scripts, reading poetry and stories, acting and appearing on panel shows. His wit and charisma was loved by all while his rich voice filled the living rooms of people around the world. I’m looking forward to seeing the diverse range of newly-commissioned programmes in the season as well as the Laugharne Live festival. I’m sure the season will introduce his work to a new generation and will keep his legacy alive”.
SM2
Notes to Editors:
Television programmes
A Poet In New York, BBC One Wales, April: BBC One Wales and BBC Two introduce a brand new single drama, A Poet In New York. Set in New York and Laugharne, it explores how Dylan, the creator of some of the most memorable lines in the English language, died in a smog-ridden New York on a November day in 1953, age 39. Tom Hollander plays the lead role in Andrew Davies’s drama, directed by Aisling Walsh.
A Poet On The Estate: Townhill Does Dylan, BBC One Wales, April: Performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah, is keen to show how poetry can turn people’s life around. On BBC One Wales in April, he asks whether Dylan Thomas can do for poetry what The Choir did for music.
Under Milk Wood, BBC One Wales, May: In collaboration with National Theatre Wales, Under Milk Wood is a contemporary presentation of Dylan Thomas’ famous ‘play for voices’ featuring a host of Welsh stars, broadcast on BBC One Wales in May.
Weatherman Walking: Dylan’s Walks, BBC One Wales, April: Derek Brockway’s Weatherman Walking series returns to BBC One Wales in April, with two programmes dedicated to the landscapes where Dylan lived and worked.
Dylan The Poet, BBC Two Wales, May: Owen Sheers will give viewers an accessible but in-depth look at a writer who, for too long, has been more famous for his life than for his work.
Welsh Greats – Dylan Thomas, BBC One Wales, April: Dylan Thomas’s old friends and experts tell the story of the Swansea lad who became a global icon - the schoolboy who filled secret notebooks with poems that would one day be read around the world. The programme looks beyond the image of Dylan as a hard-drinking, promiscuous bohemian to rediscover the artist within.
A Poet At War, BBC Two Wales, May: Poet and broadcaster Ifor ap Glyn reveals an often overlooked aspect of Dylan’s life - his work scripting propaganda films for the government during World War Two. He discusses Dylan’s complex politics, his love of film as a medium, and how the work of Dylan the poet was affected by the work of Dylan, the propagandist.
Tickets are available for the following Laugharne Live events at bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas:
The Dylan Thomas Pub Quiz - Friday 2 May, 7.30pm: What do you really know about Dylan Thomas? What bits of the Dylan story are true and which bits are part of the mythology that's grown up around him? Join chairman Chris Corcoran, Dylan Thomas expert Jeff Towns and a celebrity panel for a light-hearted quiz looking into Dylan the man and Dylan the legend. The Dylan Thomas Pub Quiz. This could get ugly. Or lovely. This is a recorded session for BBC Radio Wales.
The Echo Chamber - Saturday 3 May, 12pm: Paul Farley presents an on-stage edition of Radio 4’s The Echo Chamber with new poetry from new poets and old poetry brought back to life. Poetry is news that stays news and Dylan Thomas may yet be found in the least expected places. Among the poets will be Robin Robertson. This is a recorded session for BBC Radio 4.
The Verb - Sunday 4 May, 12pm: Ian McMillan’s guests on The Verb include the writer Glyn Maxwell – on updating and relocating Under Milk Wood, the poet Gwyneth Lewis on writing a novella which explores Dylan’s influence, and the musician Gruff Rhys. The one-time frontman for the Super Furry Animals will be talking about his project American Interior and the experience of composing the soundtrack for a new film about Dylan Thomas. This is a recorded session for BBC Radio 3.
The Choir - Sunday 4 May 3.30pm: Sara Mohr-Pietsch brings her BBC Radio 3 show, The Choir, to Laugharne for a special live broadcast. Guest performers, WNO Youth Opera, present a new choral setting of Dylan Thomas’s Fern Hill, composed by Julian Phillips. Sara also hears from local ensemble, The Corran Singers, for a unique live edition of her regular feature, Meet my Choir.
Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone -Sunday 4 May, 7.30pm: Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone comes to the Laugharne Live Festival, celebrating the stranger, more unusual and avant-garde side of Welsh music and spoken word, featuring performances and special guests from the Freak Zone family. This is a live broadcast for BBC Radio 6 Music.
In Tune - Monday 5 May, 4pm: In this special edition of In Tune, BBC Radio 3’s well-loved daily drive-time show, presenter Suzy Klein will be interviewing writers, actors and Dylan Thomas experts. There will also be musical performances, as well as the latest arts news. This is a live broadcast.
Welsh-language version: DATGELU TYMOR DYLAN THOMAS
Mae tymor arbennig, i nodi canmlwyddiant Dylan Thomas, yn cael ei ddatgelu heddiw gan BBC Cymru.
Fel rhan o un o’r tymhorau mwyaf uchelgeisiol mewn degawd, mae’r darlledwr yn cyflwyno amrywiaeth o raglenni ar deledu, radio ac ar-lein, gyda thalent arbennig, gan gynnwys yr awdur Andrew Davies, yr actor Tom Hollander, a’r beirdd Benjamin Zephaniah, Owen Sheers, Gwyneth Lewis a Menna Elfyn. Mae’r rhaglenni yn cynnwys rhaglenni drama, ffeithiol, cerddoriaeth a thrafodaeth.
Mae’r darlledwr hefydd wedi cyhoeddi bod tocynnau ar gael ar gyfer yr ŵyl radio Twrw Talacharn ar dir Castell Talacharn, Mai 2-5, gan roi cyfle i gynulleidfaoedd ymuno yn y drafodaeth am Dylan yng nghwmni Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 6 Music, Radio Cymru a Radio Wales.
UCHAFBWYNTIAU TELEDU
Mae BBC One Wales a BBC Two yn cyflwyno drama newydd, A Poet in New York. Wedi ei lleoli yn Nhalacharn ac Efrog Newydd, mae’r ffilm yn archwilio sut y bu Dylan Thomas, a greodd rhai o linellau mwyaf cofiadwy’r iaith Saesneg, farw yn Efrog Newydd ym mis Tachwedd 1953, yn 39 oed. Tom Hollander sy’n chwarae’r brif ran yn nrama Andrew Davies, sy’n cael ei chyfarwyddo gan Aisling Walsh.
Mae Under Milk Wood yn gyflwyniad cyfoes o ‘ddrama leisiau’ enwog Dylan Thomas mewn cydweithrediad â National Theatre Wales, gyda llu o sêr Cymru. Bydd yn cael ei darlledu ar BBC One Wales ym mis Mai.
Yn A Poet On The Estate: Townhill Does Dylan, mae’r bardd Benjamin Zephaniah yn dangos sut y gall barddoniaeth drawsnewid eich bywyd. Mae’n holi os all Dylan Thomas wneud i farddoniaeth yr hyn wnaeth The Choir i gerddoriaeth.
Mae’r tymor hefyd yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o raglenni dogfen sy’n bwrw golwg ar fywyd a gwaith y bardd.
TWRW TALACHARN
Mae gorsafoedd radio BBC Cymru Wales yn rhan annatod o ŵyl Twrw Talacharn. Bydd Radio Cymru a Radio Wales yn ymuno â Radio 3, Radio 4 a Radio 6 Music i gofio Dylan Thomas yn y babell radio yn Nhalacharn, Mai 2-5. Bydd y gorsafoedd yn darlledu cymysgedd o sioeau byw a sioeau wedi’u recordio ymlaen llaw i ddathlu bywyd, gwaith ac etifeddiaeth Dylan Thomas. Mae tocynnau ar gael ar gyfer rhai o’r digwyddiau ar wefan bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas
AR-LEIN
bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas yw cartref digidol tymor Dylan Thomas, gyda chlipiau arbennig, cyfweliadau, archif, orielau a chyfle i wylio rhaglenni Dylan Thomas ar wasanaeth iPlayer y BBC yn ystod y flwyddyn.
Meddai Rhodri Talfan Davies, Cyfarwyddwr BBC Cymru Wales: “I BBC Cymru Wales, mae arwyddocâd arbennig i’r pen-blwydd yma. Nid awdur a bardd yn unig oedd Dylan Thomas, ond darlledwr eithriadol hefyd. Gyda nawdd a chefnogaeth y BBC, daeth yn fardd radio disglair. Trwy ei waith darlledu a recordio, aeth ei lais a’i syniadau ymhell y tu hwnt i’w famwlad, a defnyddiodd agosatrwydd nerthol y cyfrwng i gonsurio delweddau a chymeriadau go anghyffredin, gan hudo miliynau o wrandawyr.”
Dywedodd Hannah Ellis, wyres Dylan Thomas: “Fe wnaeth fy nhad-cu gant pedwar deg a phump o wahanol sesiynau i’r BBC, gan gynnwys ysgrifennu sgriptiau, darllen barddoniaeth a straeon byrion, yn ogystal ag actio. Roedd pawb yn caru ei ffraethineb a’i gyfaredd ac roedd ei lais cyfoethog yn llenwi ystafelloedd byw o gwmpas y byd. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weld yr amrywiaeth o raglenni newydd y tymor, yn ogystal â gŵyl radio Twrw Talacharn. Rwy’n ffyddiog y bydd y tymor yn cyflwyno ei waith i gynulleidfa newydd gan gadw ei etifeddiaeth yn fyw.”
SM2
Nodiadau ar gyfer golygyddion:
RHAGLENNI TELEDU
A Poet In New York, BBC One Wales, Ebrill: Wedi ei lleoli yn Nhalacharn ac Efrog Newydd, mae’r ffilm yn archwilio sut y bu Dylan Thomas, a greodd rhai o linellau mwyaf cofiadwy’r iaith Saesneg, farw yn Efrog Newydd ym mis Tachwedd 1953, yn 39 oed. Tom Hollander sy’n chwarae’r brif ran yn nrama Andrew Davies, sy’n cael ei chyfarwyddo gan Aisling Walsh.
A Poet On The Estate: Townhill Does Dylan, BBC One Wales, Ebrill: Mae’r bardd Benjamin Zephaniah yn dangos sut y gall barddoniaeth drawsnewid eich bywyd. Mae’n holi os all Dylan Thomas wneud i farddoniaeth yr hyn wnaeth The Choir i gerddoriaeth.
Under Milk Wood, BBC One Wales, Mai: Mae Under Milk Wood yn gyflwyniad cyfoes o ‘ddrama leisiau’ enwog Dylan Thomas mewn cydweithrediad â National Theatre Wales, gyda llu o sêr Cymru.
Weatherman Walking: Dylan’s Walks, BBC One Wales, Ebrill: Bydd cyfres Derek Brockway, Weatherman Walking, yn dychwelyd i BBC One Wales ym mis Ebrill, gyda dwy raglen yn edrych ar y llefydd lle bu Dylan yn byw ac yn gweithio.
Dylan The Poet, BBC Two Wales, Mai: Bydd gwylwyr yn cael golwg fanwl, ond sy’n hawdd ei ddeall, am awdur sydd, am ormod o amser, wedi bod yn fwy enwog am ei fywyd na’i waith.
Welsh Greats – Dylan Thomas, BBC One Wales, Ebrill: Mae hen ffrindiau Dylan Thomas ac arbenigwyr yn adrodd y stori am fachgen o Abertawe ddaeth yn enwog dros y byd i gyd – y crwtyn ysgol fu’n llenwi ei lyfrau nodiadau gyda cherddi, a ddaeth i fod yn boblogaidd ym mhedwar ban y byd. Mae’r rhaglen yn edrych tu hwnt i’w ddelwedd fel person bohemaidd oedd yn hoffi ei ddiod, ac yn ail-ddarganfod Dylan yr artist.
A Poet At War, BBC Two Wales, Mai: Mae’r bardd a’r darlledwr Ifor ap Glyn yn datgelu’r rhan o fywyd Dylan sy’n cael ei anwybyddu – ei waith sgriptio ar gyfer ffilmiau propaganda’r llywodraeth yn ystod yr Ail Ryfel Byd. Mae’n trafod gwleidyddiaeth gymhleth Dylan, ei hoffter o’r ffilm fel cyfrwng, a sut cafodd gwaith Dylan y bardd ei effeithio gan waith Dylan, y propagandydd.
MAE TOCYNNAU TWRW TALACHARN AR GAEL AR GYFER Y DIGWYDDIADAU CANLYNOL AR WEFAN bbc.co.uk/dylanthomas
The Dylan Thomas Pub Quiz- Dydd Gwener 2 Mai , 7.30pm: Beth ydych chi’n gwybod am Dylan Thomas? Pa ran o stori Dylan sy’n wir a pha ran sy’n perthyn i’r fytholeg sydd wedi datblygu o’i gwmpas? Ymunwch â’r cadeirydd Chris Corcoran, yr arbenigwr ar Dylan Thomas, Jeff Towns, a’r panel ar gyfer cwis ysgafn. Bydd y sesiwn yn cael ei recordio ar gyfer BBC Radio Wales.
The Echo Chamber - Dydd Sadwrn 3 Mai, 12pm: Mae Paul Farley yn cyflwyno rhifyn arbennig o raglen The Echo Chamber, BBC Radio 4, gyda cherddi newydd gan feirdd newydd. Ymhlith y beirdd y bydd Robin Robertson. Bydd y sesiwn yn cael ei recordio ar gyfer BBC Radio 4.
The Verb - Dydd Sul 4 Mai, 12pm: Yn ymuno â’r cyflwynydd Ian McMillan fydd yr awdur Glyn Maxwell, y bardd Gwyneth Lewis – i drafod nofel fer sy’n edrych ar ddylanwad Dylan Thomas, a’r cerddor Gruff Rhys. Bydd e’n trafod ei brosiect American Interior a’i brofiad o gyfansoddi traciau sain ar gyfer ffilm newydd ynglŷn â Dylan Thomas. Bydd y sesiwn yn cael ei recordio ar gyfer BBC Radio 3.
The Choir - Dydd Sul 4 Mai, 3.30pm: Bydd y gyflwynwraig Sara Mohr-Pietsch yn croesawu aelodau Opera Ieuenctid y WNO a’r cantorion The Corran Singers. Darlledir y rhaglen yn fyw ar BBC Radio 3.
Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone - Dydd Sul 4 Mai, 7.30pm: Bydd y rhaglen gan Stuart Maconie yn dod yn fyw o Dalacharn, gan ddathlu’r elfennau mwyaf anarferol, avant-garde o gerddoriaeth Gymreig a’r iaith lafar. Bydd ’na berfformiadau gan deulu’r Freak Zone.
In Tune - Dydd Llun 5 Mai, 4pm: Mewn rhifyn arbennig o In Tune, bydd Suzy Klein yn cyfweld ag awduron, actorion ac arbenigwyr Dylan Thomas. Bydd perfformiadau cerddorol ynghyd â’r newyddion diweddaraf o’r byd celfyddydol. Darlledir y rhaglen yn fyw ar BBC Radio 3.
