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The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea has announced its latest programme of events, boasting an array of new poetry, thought-provoking lectures, drama and live music to cheer audiences into spring.

Sarah Coles. Photo: Bernard Mitchell

Among the highlights on the schedule will be the launch of a new collection from emerging poet Sarah Coles and a book of short stories by the writer, and former ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales arts and media correspondent Jon Gower.

Coles is a recent graduate from Swansea University's MA in creative writing course and her poetry aims to capture the true soul of Wales and its people.

The début collection is entitled Here And The Water and is published by Gomer. Those wishing to dip their toe into her style of poetry can come along to a free reading event on 23 February at the centre.

Llanelli-born Jon Gower has penned a new book of short stories called Too Cold for Snow and will be in discussion with Raconteur editor Gary Raymond about this, his second collection, on 12 April.

According to the blurb, the subject matter is wide-ranging, jumping from northern Russia to the very "depths of despair".

It reads: "A paid assassin called Krink loads up on viper-spit to tackle some uber-thugs; the governor of a prison ship introduces his inmates to haute cuisine; a farmer wakes up after an avalanche in north Wales to find he's the last man alive."

Jon Gower. Photo: Emyr Jenkins

Other poets showcasing their work via the Poets in the Bookshop series are Deryn Rees-Jones, Clare Pollard and Lynne Rees.

On 18 January Rees-Jones will talk about her fourth collection of poems Burying The Wren, due to be published by Seren soon, as well as her book Consorting With Angels, which traces women's poetry throughout the 20th century. She is also editor of the accompanying anthology Modern Women Poets.

Pollard will read from the latest of her four collections, Changeling, at an event on 29 March, while Port Talbot poet Rees comes to the centre on 26 April to talk about her current projects. She is currently researching The Real Port Talbot for Seren and is also expected to read from her collection, Learning How To Fall.

Drama-wise, it's an action-packed few months for the centre as in April it will launch a new annual event in honour of Shakespeare. It kicks off with a performance of Fluellen's Happy Birthday, Mr Shakespeare which offers a heady mix of extracts from the Bard's biography as well as his collected works.

Also on the schedule is a performance of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead on 15 February, Joe Orton's Funeral Games on 3 March, The Custom House by Kit Lambert on 14 March and Love In Plastic by Ian Rowlands on 11 April.

The spring series of free Science Café talks will feature discussions on sleep and dreaming, the Fermi Paradox and astrobiology.

Meanwhile on 26 April, Celtic harpist Delyth Jenkins will launch her new solo album, Llais. The album features original music she composed for Fluellen Theatre Company productions, including Under Milk Wood, Doctor and the Devils and Cymbeline, as well as her interpretations of traditional Welsh melodies.

Full details can be found on or by contacting the Dylan Thomas Centre on 01792 463980.