The Writers of Wales Database

AYOT, WILLIAM

Website: www.williamayot.com

William Ayot is a poet, presenter, and workshop leader. Born and educated in rural Hertfordshire, he worked in London's gaming industry for over twenty-five years while developing as a playwright and poet. In the early nineties he underwent a personal transformation and since that time has devoted himself to working with others as a poet, storyteller, facilitator, coach and mentor, moving into the corporate world.

William worked closely with Richard Olivier and Mark Rylance on the development of Mythodrama, a new form of experiential learning, which combines great stories and poems with psychological and organisational insights, and creative exercises. As Chairman of Olivier Mythodrama he now delivers programmes on leadership issues and dynamic communication across four continents, using story, poetry and theatre/rehearsal techniques to effect change by indirect learning. As his poetry has entered the business and public service communities it increasingly features in the work of other educators and facilitators. William also coaches senior executives in presentation, personal impact and character development. He gives a tithe of his time to working with recovering addicts and is a spokesman for the National Association for the Children of Alcoholics.

William has a passionate interest in poetry as a spoken medium. His readings are powerful and enjoyable events. He is a past winner of the Piccadilly Poets Competition for spoken poetry and was commissioned to write and read a poem for the 400th anniversary of the first performance of Julius Caesar at Shakespeare's Globe. He has read his poetry at venues as varied as the Bank of England, Goodwood House, Conwy Castle, The Torriano Meeting House, the Poetry Café, the Albert Hall, and the United Nations (New York and Geneva). He is currently organising a series of Poetry events in Chepstow known as On the Border. William is a Member of The Welsh Academy.
 

Selected Publications
Small Things That Matter (William Ayot, 2003)
The Inheritance (PS Avalon, 2011)
E-mail form The Soul: New & Selected Leadership Poems (PS Avalon, 2012)