Celebrating the Children’s Laureate Wales and Bardd Plant Cymru 2023-25: Alex Wharton and Nia Morais
Join Alex Wharton, Children’s Laureate Wales 2023-2025, and Nia Morais, Bardd Plant Cymru 2023-2025 a few weeks after passing the reins to their successors, to celebrate two busy years of inspiring the children of Wales through literature. From running digital workshops with young people in Palestine, to walking the Anglesey coast visiting schools along the way, the two poets will have many stories to share. We may also finally have the chance to ask about that famous story – how on earth was a poem by Alex sewn inside Lewis Hamilton’s jacket at the Met Gala in 2024? Join us to thank Nia and Alex, to celebrate their successes, and to learn more about the wonder and magic of introducing words and poetry to children of all ages. There will be an opportunity to learn more about the work of taking literature to schools and how to develop your skills as facilitators of creative writing.
Language of the session: Welsh and English, with simultaneous translation service
Alex Wharton is a poet, performer and singer songwriter. He’s published three poetry collections for children with Firefly Press: Daydreams and Jellybeans (2021), Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees (2023) which included a how-to guide for children on writing poetry and which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for writing 2025, and Red Sky at Night Poet’s Delight (2024). Alex collaborated with Ballet Cymru to transform Daydreams and Jellybeans into a sparkling dance production, and he is an experienced creative writing facilitator. He’s an alumnus of Literature Wales’ Representing Wales programme.
Nia Morais is a poet, playwright and a writer. Her first full play Imrie, co-produced by Frân Wen and Sherman Theatre, toured Wales over the summer of 2023. In 2023 she published Betty – The Determined Life of Betty Campbell as part of Broga’s Welsh Wonders series, and in 2025 she edited and curated an anthology of poetry by female poets, O Ffrwyth y Gangen Hon (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas). She has translated and contributed to many publications for children, young people and an adult readership. She’s an alumna of Literature Wales’ Representing Wales programme.