Gwerfyl Pierce Jones is originally from Holyhead, Anglesey, but has lived in the Aberystwyth area for many years.

She studied Welsh at University College of North Wales, Bangor and attributes her interest in the theatre to the influence of John Gwilym Jones, the author and playwright who inspired a whole generation of students.

Gwerfyl began her career as a lecturer in Welsh and subsequently worked in the Arts before joining the Welsh Books Council, where she was Director from 1987 to 2009.

Since her retirement, she has continued to serve on numerous boards and committees. She’s a Pro-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, Chair of the James Pantyfedwen Trust, and a Board member of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.  Gwerfyl is also a deacon of Morfa Chapel, Aberystwyth, and she serves on the management committee of the Morlan Centre.

Alan is originally from Blaenau Ffestiniog, and after following several different careers, including training to be an ship architect, being a civil servant, and working for the Urdd, he was a member of staff for Eisteddfod Genedlaethol for 25 years as a Technical Director, responsible for planning, raising and dismantling the Eisteddfod festival field. He took early retirement in 2013 to start a company with his wife Mair. Alan now specialises as a health and safety consultant for companies and events throughout Wales. His main interest, besides being a taxi for the children, is playing in a brass band. Currently he is a member of the famous band; Melingruffydd in Cardiff.

Siôn studied Law at Aberystwyth University and completed his LPC course at Chester. He is currently a partner with Gamlins Law firm, and based at their Ruthin office.

Catrin was born in London and brought up in Cardiff.  After graduating from Aberystwyth University, she was a teacher at Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff for 4 years where she established the Drama department.

For many years, Catrin was a familiar face on S4C presenting popular programmes such as Hel Straeon, Sioe Gelf and Croma. She is currently working as a self-employed translator, author and broadcaster.

She has an active interest in the arts and can be seen and heard often reviewing and discussing various issues on radio and television.

Arwel was brought up in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, and studied Law at Aberystwyth University and Chester. He is currently Senior Manager at Bond Pearce LLP in Bristol, a company specialising in commercial property.

In his spare time, he helps his partner to run two businesses in Bristol – a shop selling organic food, and a card and gift shop.

Originally from Bala, Carys is the head of Drama at Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa, Cefneithin. Previously she was Head of Drama at Ystalyfera and Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr before being appointed senior lecturer at Trinity College, Carmarthen.

Carys is the Director of Menter Cwm Gwendraeth’s Youth Theatre since its inception in 1995, and continues to direct various productions with children between 7 and 18 years old.

She was also the Director of the Urdd Youth Theatre that produced Les Miserables at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2005 and Ffawd in 2009. Carys is also the Chair of the Urdd and National Eisteddfod Drama Panel and an examiner for the WJEC.

She was honoured by the Gorsedd of Bards at the Bala National Eisteddfod for her work in training children and young people in the field of Drama.

Gwenda was our leading independent television producers since establishing her company Fflic in 1982, until she left the industry at the end of 2014. She has been managing businesses throughout her career, and Fflic has inspired, developed, mentored and supported a number of individuals who went on to have successful careers in the media on the basis of the experience they gained under Gwenda’s guidance. She is a member of the Council of the Gorsedd of Bards, a member of the Board of Nant Gwrtheyrn, and an Honorary Member of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. In 2002 she was presented with the Women in Media Award. Gwenda was raised in Corwen, and educated at Bala Grammar School for Girls before graduating from the University of Wales Aberystwyth. She currently lives in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Originally from Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales and a graduate of Bangor University (BA Hons, Welsh). Further studies include post-graduate diploma in performance from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London. Professional experience includes 20 years as actor in theatre, television, film and radio, and Literary Manager at former new writing theatre company, Sgript Cymru, Cardiff.  Then ten years as a director of first film and then theatre, including Associate Director at Sherman Cymru, Cardiff (2008–2011). His current position (since May 2011) is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (the Welsh-language national theatre of Wales). Arwel became a member of the Board in 2016.

Catrin was brought up on a farm in Gaerwen, Anglesey. After graduating from Bangor University, she taught Drama in Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari before being appointed Head of the Drama Department at Ysgol y Creuddyn, Llandudno, where she worked for eleven years. She has worked occasionally as a drama consultant for Cynnal, and a GCSE examiner for the WJEC. She returned to Anglesey as Deputy Head of Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern.

Drama is Catrin’s world – in addition to teaching drama she visits the theatre regularly, whilst also directing, training, judging and acting. She was responsible for directing a number of shows for the Urdd and for Anglesey Youth Theatre, and a number of plays for Theatr Fach Llangefni. She was a member of the board of Cwmni’r Frân Wen and continues to be a member of the National Eisteddfod’s Central Drama Committee and Creative Director of Theatr Fach Llangefni – a place that has been very close to her heart since childhood.

Originally from Bala, Elwyn contributed to the local drama scene before studying Drama at Trinity College, Carmarthen. Later, he settled in Aberystwyth where he worked for Urdd Gobaith Cymru as the Eisteddfod organiser before joining the public relations company, Stratamatrix; he was with the company for 14 years and was promoted to Director. Elwyn joined the Welsh Books Council Marketing Department in 1997, and following a period as the Head of Administration and Public Relations, he was Chief Executive of the organisation from 2009 to 2017.

Gwyn was brought up on a farm in Tregaron, Ceredigion. Educated at Ysgol Gynradd Penuwch and Ysgol Uwchradd Tregaron, he graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff.

He started working with Dyfed County Council in 1976 as a Trainee Accountant. In 1979 he was appointed Internal Auditor with Ceredigion District Council in Aberystwyth, and in 1996 he was promoted to the post of Chief Internal Auditor.

When Local Government was restructured in 1996, he was appointed Chief Internal Auditor to Ceredigion County Council, and promoted to the post of Ceredigion Director of Finance in 2002. In 2013, as part of the County Council’s internal restructuring, he was appointed Strategic Director – Corporate Resources, a post he held until his retirement in 2015. Between 2001 and 2015 he was also Honorary Treasurer to the Welsh Books Council.

In the past, his main interests were playing rugby and an occasional round of golf, but nowadays he enjoys playing bowls in Aberaeron, cycling, walking, and enjoying the company of his grandchildren.

A native of Anglesey, Carys studied law at Aberystwyth and Cambridge Universities, qualifying as a solicitor in Cardiff in 1976.

She was a partner in Ungoed Thomas & King – a well-established West Wales law firm – for upwards of thirty years, specialising in tax and probate. She retired from the practice some two and a half years ago and is currently working in the Legal Department of Ceredigion County Council.

She has a keen interest in the arts generally, and her enjoyment of drama in particular dates back to performances at Theatr Fach Llangefni.

Having graduated in Welsh at the University of Wales, Bangor, Alun Ffred was for many years a teacher and head of department at two high schools in Clwyd. He then spent a period as a journalist and presenter with HTV in Cardiff before training as a television director with Ffilmiau’r Nant, an independent television company based in Caernarfon. He was responsible for several drama series on S4C, including Deryn, Anest, Talcen Caled, Pengelli and C’mon Midffîld. He also produced many individual films, including Cylch Gwaed, Gwynfyd and Oed yr Addewid.

Between 1996 and 2003 he was the Leader of Gwynedd Council.  In 2003 he was elected to represent the Caernarfon Constituency as a Member of the Welsh Assembly (Arfon in 2007) where he served as a Committee Chair and Heritage Minister between 2008 and 2011.

His interest in drama stems from his time at Ysgol y Berwyn, where he was once presumptuous enough to play the part of Hamlet in a school production! During his student years he was active with the Drama Society at Bangor under the guidance of Dr John Gwilym Jones, and later was one of the founder members of Cwmni Drama’r Dreflan, Mold. When Clwyd Theatr Cymru opened its doors, Alun Ffred contributed reviews to the Chester Chronicle, and he is still a regular contributor to the Welsh-language press.