Worldwide interest in 2013 Dylan Thomas Festival

SWANSEA, Wales - Oct. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- VISITORS from across the world are expected to attend this year's Dylan Thomas Festival in a few weeks time.

People from Japan, Australia and the USA are among those who have booked tickets for events making up the festival.

The festival, organised by Swansea Council, runs from October 26 to November 9.

It's being launched by children's author Roger McGough, who'll read from his new collection of poetry.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "This year's Dylan Thomas Festival will be especially poignant as we count down the days until 2014 – a year that marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.

"We're working closely alongside the Welsh Government and a number of other partners on a fantastic programme of events to mark 2014 but the forthcoming Dylan Thomas Festival will be a terrific appetiser.

"From renowned football journalists and TV professionals to acclaimed poets and leading musicians, there'll be something for everyone to enjoy. Attracting visitors from as far afield as Australia, the USA and Japan shows it's not just the Swans putting our city on the map across the world.

"We hope events of this nature will help cement our status as a leading city of culture at a time when we're doing battle with Dundee, Hull and Leicester to become UK City of Culture 2017."

This year's Dylan Thomas Festival, the 16th of its kind, will also include a new centenary commission from Welsh poet Gillian Clarke and a fun-packed day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Other features will include an evening based on hit Danish TV programme, 'The Killing'. David Hewson, who's adapted series one and two as novels, and Emma Kennedy, author of 'The Killing Handbook', will both appear.

Football journalists from The Guardian will also be recording their Football Weekly podcast about the South Wales derby and the festival goes on the road with an evening of readings from Dylan's work in his old local, The Uplands Tavern.

The Fluellen Theatre Company is offering a preview and discussion of their new production of 'Rebecca's Daughters'.

Have a look at http://www.dylanthomas.com for more information.