BUDDING writers on the Llyn Peninsula have been learning from the author of a celebrated play about the ordeal of a teenage cancer survivor.

Acclaimed dramatist Manon Steffan Ros visited A-level students at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s ­Pwllheli campus to run a creative writing workshop.

Manon had visited the site before and, as a direct result of her collaboration with the students there, had written the acclaimed Cwmni Frân Wen drama Mwgsi, which is currently touring Wales.

During that visit, Manon met Pwllheli student Megan Davies and was inspired by her story.

Megan had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 18 and Manon wrote Mwgsi as a result of the three days she spent talking and working with Megan.

The play addressed the impact of a cancer diagnosis, the tension between Mwgsi, her friends, her family and the tensions within Mwgsi herself whilst addressing the question of all our uncertain futures and how we deal with that.

Manon said: “The purpose of my visit here today is to deliver a creative writing workshop so as to help the students write drama.

“I am hoping to help them overcome any blocks and develop confidence in their writing abilities, to teach them how not to overanalyse their writing and reduce their fears about the process of writing.

“People often get writer’s block and become frozen when they feel they have to produce something ‘good’. The workshop will be a light way of working, focused on freeing their creativity rather than producing a finished result.

“I would like to show the students that you need to experiment and have fun with it – the act of writing is a work in progress and so a flexible approach and willingness to edit, work and rework works well.

“People often have fears about the finished result. I hope that my workshop will help the students let go of any fears they may have about writing so that they can have a go at creative experimentation as the first important step in producing written work.”

Welsh A-level lecturer Bethan Hughes added: “We were privileged to have the acclaimed writer Manon Steffan Ros with us recently.

“Manon’s creative writing workshop follows our recent visit to Neuadd Dwyfor to see her play Mwgsi by theatre company Cwmni’r Frân Wen.

“The workshop was enjoyed thoroughly by our A-level students who discussed the play with Manon and asked lots of question about the process of writing.

“Manon explained how she went about writing it before the students tackled some creative writing exercises of their own.

“The five senses and the importance of creating solid and believable characters was discussed, with the students creating characters that they could use in creative pieces in the future.

“The session ended with the students having another opportunity to ask Manon questions.

“I hope this workshop will help demystify writing and inspire the students to have a go themselves. We thank Manon for coming over to deliver such a fascinating workshop.”