‘People Speak Up’ is relaunching its Spoken Word Saturday Sessions in Llanelli next month, with guest storyteller Carl Gough, plus its brand new Junior Spoken Word Saturday sessions, with acclaimed children’s author Lee Newbury.

Spoken Word Saturday will be held once every three months, on a Saturday afternoon with hosts, storytellers Ceri John Phillips and David Pitt.

Held at People Speak Up’s home in Llanelli, the Ffwrnes Fach, Arts, Health and wellbeing hub next to Ffwrnes Theatre, this session is ideal for ages 14+. Spoken Word Saturdays is an afternoon of sharing stories, poetry, creative writing – all through the Spoken Word. There’s no judgement, no ego’s, just sit back, have a cuppa and listen up. Also community members have the chance to share their own stories (5 mins max).

The first Spoken Word Saturday event will be on Saturday June 8, 2pm-5pm. Each Spoken Word Session has a guest storyteller. As part of Spoken Word Saturday in June, Swansea based storyteller, Carl Gough invites you to come and listen to a tale or two and then choose - are they just a great yarn, or something else? Traditional tales were born in a time distant from our own, yet they speak to the human condition, which is as weak and strong, flawed and perfect as ever it was. Within the mirage of an ancient tale conjured in the telling, might we discover a truth for our modern times? In the spaces between what we think we hear and what we say, might we discover what really is?

Also on Saturday, June 8, ‘People Speak Up’ will be launching its brand new Junior Spoken Word Saturday session for young people aged 7-12 from 10.30pm-midday, with a special first session with children’s author Lee Newbury. Join Lee, multi award winning Puffin author, sharing passages from his trilogy of fantasy inclusive adventures that celebrate diverse families. Followed by a fun workshop in creating characters, back stories and exploring the magic of storytelling.

Further Spoken Word Saturday events will be held on Saturday September 14 and Saturday December 14, 2pm-5pm. The September Spoken Word Saturday will see storyteller and performer Bevin Magama share his compelling one hour performance, Poking the Crocodile. Poking the Crocodile mirrors the journey from living in apartheid to living in the UK faced with systematic racism.

To book your spaces for Spoken Word Saturday, contact [email protected] www.peoplespeakup.co.uk 01554 292393

All sessions are free. Donations are welcomed for drinks and snacks

People Speak Up (PSU) is a social, arts, health, mental-health, and well-being community organisation. PSU connects people to help them find their voice, and create healthier and resilient communities through storytelling, spoken word, creative writing, conversation-based activities, participatory arts, volunteering and training.

People Speak Up is supported by Arts Council Wales.