Playwright wins Urdd Eisteddfod drama prize

A CITY playwright has been named the Urdd drama winner of the year for her work inspiring the next generation of Welsh-language theatre.

Mirain Alaw Jones, 24, was awarded the coveted Eisteddfod drama medal thanks to her work portraying life as a young university student.

Raised in Capel Seion in the Gwendraeth Valley, Mirain first developed an interest in writing at school after studying drama and Welsh with Carys Edwards and Dr Non Evans.

From there, she went on to complete a degree and masters degree in Welsh from Cardiff University, focusing on creating writing and scripting.

Speaking after receiving her award at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Wednesday, Mirain – who now lives in Cathays in Cardiff – described her shock at her achievement.

She said: “I’m overwhelmed. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while.

“I’ve always wanted to compete in this competition and it’s the last year I was able to so I just thought I would do it.”

Marking the third day of the Eisteddfod competition, Mirain blew the judges away with her drama discussing the world of university and social media.

She said: “I’ve had the idea for a while for a drama about young girls like me going to university and going to live with people you don’t know.

“As well as that I wanted to look at social media and how easy it is to lie and deceive and create this image of yourself.”

After graduating, Miriam mentors others budding artists in Welsh through Menter Iaith at the Soar Centre in Merthyr Tydfil.

The daughter of former Scarlets player Iwan Jones, she also plays rugby for the Cardiff Welsh Rugby Club women’s team and is a member of a women’s choir in the capital.

Mirain said: “I think it comes more natural and I find it easier to write drama in Welsh. As part of my job I work with young children so I hope this shows that they can do it as well.”