Reinventing the Protagonist retreat: Opportunity for Deaf and/or Disabled and/or Neurodiverse writers to join a residential creative writing course at Tŷ Newydd from 27-29 March 2026
Deadline to apply: 12.00 noon, Wednesday, 3 December 2025.
Course dates: Friday 27 – Sunday 29 March 2026 with one-to-one tutorials and a sharing event taking place in June 2026.
Location: The retreat will take place at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd. The tutorials and sharing event will take place online.
Building on the success of two years of running the course online from 2023-2025, the 2026 edition of Reinventing the Protagonist will see up to eight Deaf and/or Disabled and/or Neurodiverse writers attending an in-person retreat and follow-up one-to-one tutorials led by the internationally renowned playwright and writer Kaite O’Reilly.
Grace O’Brien, one of last year’s course participants said:
“Reinventing the Protagonist was an awakening and a step into the next phase of my career as a writer. Before this course, I didn’t have much ‘professional’ writing experience, but the ideas, conversations and poetry generated here formed part of my application for Representing Wales.”
Leigh Manley said
“This is the course, and Kaite is the tutor, I needed to feel confident about unapologetically exposing the truth of how people are disabled, not by their physical impairments, but by the way society unnecessarily excludes and marginalises them. It’s time to take back the narrative!”
Steph Roberts said
“Literature Wales x Disability Arts Cymru’s Reinventing the Protagonist programme gave a magic chance to communicate deeply complex personal (and – naturally – political) sentiments with beloveds and strangers, through a fictionalised narrative or at-least-partial roman-à-clef. The course is a huge gift against alienation and towards validation and healing; thank you.”
Who is the Programme for?
Reinventing the Protagonist is suitable for highly committed writers looking to expand their writing toolkit, and for those who haven’t yet explored their disabled identity or expressed their lived experience in their creative work. For more information about who is eligible for this opportunity, head over to our Frequently Asked Questions page.
What will the course include?
Using stimulating examples of poetry, fiction, and plays written by Disabled and Deaf writers the workshops will invite you to consider how we can be more inclusive and representative in the creation of characters, perspectives, narratives, and fictional worlds. Through discussions, writing exercises and prompts, you will be encouraged to look at your writing anew. We will challenge the stereotypes, and consider new narratives, reinvented protagonists, surprising endings, and a refreshed language for our work.
A brief example of what to expect in each session can be viewed here: Course Content
Kaite O’Reilly, Course Tutor said:
“I created REINVENTING THE PROTAGONIST to explore, celebrate and facilitate fresh perspectives from writers previously excluded or overlooked. The course challenges hackneyed and problematic representations of difference in literature and the media, and showcases the work of disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent writers, while encouraging emerging artists to experiment and express. Past participants have gone on to publish widely, gathering confidence, visibility and professional kudos. Previously online, this new iteration features a residency at Ty Newydd – offering an extraordinary opportunity for creative exploration and connection – the building of skills and community. I can’t wait.”
Nye Russell-Thompson, Performing Arts and Literature Development Officer for Disability Arts Cymru said:
“I am delighted that we are heading into the third iteration of Reinventing the Protagonist (with a couple of extra bells and whistles this time)! To be teaming up Disability Arts Cymru and Literature Wales for another round is a real joy. I am excited to welcome a new cohort of artists to the programme, lead once again by the hugely talented voice of wisdom and creative focus, Kaite O’Reilly.”
Accessibility
Disability Arts Cymru will assess and advise on Access Riders to all successful applicants so we can provide adequate support where needed. For example, organising a BSL interpreter, welcoming a personal assistant, or providing documents in suitable formats. Literature Wales and Disability Arts Cymru can organise a live captioner or a BSL interpreter to be present during the sessions. Literature Wales and Disability Arts Cymru staff will also be available for discussions prior to the course about how we can ensure that it is as accessible, comfortable, and enjoyable for each individual beforehand.
How can I apply for this course?
You will need to fill in an application form and provide a short extract (around 1,000 words or up to five poems) of your creative work. This can be poetry, prose, non-fiction or a script. Find out more.
If you would like to chat to a member of staff before applying, please email Literature Wales on post@literaturewales.org or call us for a chat: 01766 522 811 (Tŷ Newydd Office) or 02920 472266 (Cardiff Office). Or you can reach out to us on social media.
Literature Wales and Disability Arts Cymru staff will also be available to answer your questions during an informal virtual drop-in session.
Register for the session by clicking on the date below:
Tuesday 4 November 2025, 1.00 – 2.00 pm
Further information about the tutor, accessibility, course content, FAQs and application process can be viewed on the on the Literature Wales website.
Literature Wales is grateful to Disability Arts Cymru for their support and partnership to run this programme, and The Fenton Arts Trust and the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales for their generous financial support.