Cai Llewelyn Evans wins the 2023 Eisteddfod Drama Medal

He received his award on the stage of the Pafiliwn Mawr today in a special ceremony. The Drama Medal is presented for a stage play with no length restriction. The drama that shows the most promise and has the potential to be developed further by working with a professional company will be rewarded.

Cai Llewelyn Evans receives the Drama Medal (in memory of Eiryth and Urien Wiliam, donated by their children, Hywel, Sioned and Steffan) and £750 (Huw Roberts Memorial Fund, Pwllheli). Part of the winning work will be presented at the Drama Medal Ceremony with the support of the JO Roberts Memorial Fund.

The judges this year were Steffan Donnelly, Seiriol Davies and Elgan Rhys, and delivering his adjudication on behalf of his fellow judges, Steffan Donnelly said, "It was great to see 26 entries this year and a pleasure to read a wide range of strong ideas and interesting experiences.

"Many of the plays grabbed my imagination and that of my fellow judges Seiriol Davies and Elgan Rhys, presenting complex characters, unexpected situations, and strong dialogue. I must admit that it’s disappointing that quite a few didn’t feel like stage plays in terms of structure, dialogue, live theatrical experience, and even format - so I encourage writers to read and analyse plays, specifically to develop their theatre craft.

"It was interesting to see that several of the plays were set in challenging times - where pressure and the cost of living are major problems and there is low trust in authorities. The fingerprints of years of political mismanagement in Westminster can be clearly seen, but thankfully there’s a response to these sorrows; that many of the plays push back with hope and principles of kindness and the transformative power of community.

"Eiliad o Ddewiniaeth by Wasabi is the play that feels the most complete and coherent of the 26. It’s sure and confident in its theatrical form with a clear climax and revelation that takes us on a complex and emotional journey. A simple story with a tight focus on the relationship between Ceri, a 12-year-old neurodiverse boy and his mother, Alys.

The characters are well-rounded, and clearly a lot of thought has gone into building the characters and their relationship with each other. It's great to see a neurodiverse main character – and it’s an extremely sensitive and believable portrayal. Ceri and Alys' relationship is beautifully tender and intricate with occasional moments that bring a tear to the eye...

"…The play has a clear audience of early teenagers, but there’s something for everyone in it too. The way Kerry comments on everything as a football pundit is a very effective way to reflect feelings and the voice of society. It’s a device that highlights otherisation and the pressure to fit in and examines the lies we tell each other and ourselves.

" Eiliad o Ddewiniaeth is a mischievous play, full of pathos that is most ready for the stage. Congratulations to all the playwrights. After careful consideration and a lot of talking between the three of us... we award the 2023 Drama Medal to Eiliad o Ddewiniaeth by Wasabi."

Cai Llewelyn Evans was brought up in the village of Pontarddulais, and has three sisters, Hawys, Cari and Nia. He was educated at Ysgol Bryniago, Pontarddulais, Ysgol y Strade, Llanelli, and Aberystwyth University, where he gained an MA in American Postmodern Literature, writing a dissertation on the plays of August Wilson.

Cai currently lives in Canton, Cardiff with his partner, Noriko. In terms of his day-to-day work, he is a member of the Senedd's Translation and Recording Service, working mainly as a simultaneous translator. Before that, he lived for around a decade in Tokyo, where he was an editor/journalist with the Japan Times newspaper, before moving to work in financial services with Standard & Poor’s.

Although he wrote a humorous column and other articles during his time with the Japan Times, the step of moving back to Wales was the trigger for Cai to try creative writing. He had his first experience on the radio, writing a series of sketches which were broadcast on the Script Slam Comedy programme on BBC Radio Cymru. Subsequently, he wrote two short films which were produced through the It's My Shout programme and broadcast on S4C, Clwb Plu Eira in 2019 and Ffeithiau Amgen in 2017.

During the same period, Cai was chosen to be a member of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru's New Playwrights Group. This highly valuable and entertaining programme ended with live readings of the play he wrote as part of the scheme, Bwyd Ci, at Theatr y Sherman and the Millennium Centre. At the moment, he is collaborating with Cwmni Theatr Bara Caws on a comedy project.

Cai's heroes in the field of screenwriting are David Mamet, Nora Ephron and Armando Iannucci. His personal heroes are his father, Haldon, and his mother, Marian.

The full adjudication for this competition and the all the other composition winners at this year’s Eisteddfod are included in the Cyfansoddiadau a Beirniadaethau which will go on sale at the end of the Chairing Ceremony on Friday afternoon.

The Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod is held on the outskirts of Tregaron until 6 August. For more information go online, www.eisteddfod.wales.