Angela Graham is a BAFTA Cymru-winning film-maker and journalist. She has produced programmes for BBC, ITV, S4C and Channel 4 and was Development Producer of The Story of Wales.  She produced and co-wrote the Oscar entrant cinema feature Branwen (6 BAFTA Cymru nominations and Best Film at the Celtic Media Festival), and was a screenwriter on drama projects set in Italy, Romania and Ireland. She began her career in ITV, and spent eight years as a producer at one of Britain’s rare production co-operatives, Teliesyn.

She turned to writing full time in 2017. Her poetry has appeared in The North, The Honest Ulsterman, Poetry Wales, The Ogham Stone, The Open Ear, The Interpreter’s House and other journals. An award-winning short story writer, she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2019. She is currently finishing a novel and engaged in a prose/poetry project on Place and Displacement in the context of urban violence.

“A necessary and urgent response to the world’s increasing crises…” – Robert Minhinnick

Sanctuary is – urgent. The pandemic has made people crave it; political crises are denying it to millions; the earth is no longer our haven. This theme has enormous traction at a time of existential fear − especially among the young − that nowhere is safe. Even our minds and our bodies are not refuges we can rely on. Truth itself is on shaky ground.

Sanctuary: There Must Be Somewhere addresses these critical situations from the inside. How we can save the earth, ourselves and others? How valid is the concept of a ‘holy’ place these days? Are any values still sacrosanct? We all deserve peace and security but can these be achieved without exploitation?

FRIDAY, MARCH 29. 8pm.

P.C. EVANS at Green Room, Sustainable Wales, 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3EP

On the last day of the Brexit process, Sustainable Wales is delighted to feature a EU-wide event.

Originally from Abercynon, PC. Evans describes himself as a “citizen of nowhere”.

Now based in Amsterdam, Paul will read his own poetry, written whilst living and working in that city’s Red Light district.

A strong open mic will feature Gerry Ray, with poetry about his life in Spain; while Paul Woodford, will provide a Brexit film.

Of course, there will also be pro-Brexit voices heard in this popular literary gathering. In 2016 the Bridgend constituency voted 54.6% to 45.4% to leave the EU.

Robert Minhinnick will read poems published during his tenure as editor of the international magazine, ‘Poetry Wales’.  Free copies will be presented to all who pay £4 entrance.

 A warm welcome to all /  Croeso cynnes i bawb.

Further details: 01656 773627

PORTHCAWL REGENERATION DISCUSSION

Porthcawl-based charity, ‘Sustainable Wales’, is holding a Public Meeting at 7pm, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, at the Y Centre, John Street, Porthcawl, CF36 3AP, titled ‘The Regeneration of Porthcawl’.

Guest Speakers include:

BCBC councillor Charles Smith

Porthcawl Town Councillor Alex Harris

Jessica King, Cenin Renewables

Simon Baston, DS Holdings

Chairs: Richard Thomas, Margaret Minhinnick.

The purpose of the talk is to examine plans for the future of the resort, stressing the importance that regeneration is based on principles of sustainability.

Brief questions from the floor are invited, and an informative occasion expected!

All welcome.

GREEN ROOM WELCOMES RADICAL POET

8pm. Friday, February 24 sees the return of the charity, Sustainable Wales’s Green Room after a winter break.

First performance will be poet, MIKE JENKINS, a widely published writer who has won Wales ‘Book of the Year’ and edited the international quarterly, ‘Poetry Wales’.

Mike is celebrated for his radical political views, but his poetry is wide ranging and original. Often it reflects his life spent as a teacher in comprehensive schools in south Wales.

Well known also as an opponent of opencast mining, which he sees as a blight on his local landscape in Merthyr Tydfil, Mike Jenkins has also recently began to write in Welsh.

Joining Mike will be fellow poet MIKE CHURCH, and there will be opportunities for local writers to join in the Open Mic, always a popular Green Room feature.

The Green Room will diversify in 2017, with a series of music events and discussions.

Entrance £4. Everyone welcome. The charity does not have an alcohol license, thus the public are urged to bring their own.

More information: 01656 773627

The latest books by Mike Jenkins and Mike Church will be on sale on the night.

Sustainable Wales is organising an election "Question Time" to take place in the Y Centre, YMCA, 25, John St., Porthcawl, 7pm – 9.30pm, FRIDAY, APRIL 15.

Invited to take part are the candidates in the BRIDGEND constituency. These include Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, (Labour).

Chairman on the night will be Richard Thomas, Chair of Sustainable Wales.

For the charity, Robert Minhinnick said today:

“With the Assembly election on May 5 and the ‘In/Out of the EU’ referendum on June 23, we will experience a highly charged political spring.

“It’s therefore important that local people run the rule over competing candidates.

“All candidates will have one minute to describe why the audience should vote for their party.

“What’s crucial is that local issues are not drowned in any national political debate.

“These include local renewable energy initiatives, and how climate change is affecting our coasts.”

For further details of the "Question Time", contact Sustainable Wales