22 Sep: Book Launch - The Five

Join us for an evening with Elgan Rhys and Mared Roberts in conversation with Dr Darren Chetty

📅 Monday 22nd September
🕖 7:00pm
📍 London Welsh Centre Bar

Please note: the bar is not wheelchair accessible, and is up one flight of stairs.

The Five is a boldly original and tender-hearted young adult novel adapted by Mared Roberts and edited by Elgan Rhys, from the multi-award-winning Welsh-language series Y Pump.

At this special event, Elgan and Mared will be joined by writer and academic Dr Darren Chetty to explore the radical, collaborative authorship process behind The Five, which paired established authors with emerging young writers whose lived experiences mirror those of the novel’s characters.

Set in a secondary school in north-west Wales, The Five follows a year in the interconnected lives of five so-called ‘loners’—Tim, Tami, Aniq, Robyn and Cat—who each face unique challenges but discover strength in their newfound bond. Through themes of identity, disability, grief, and resilience, the novel speaks powerfully to the real experiences of today’s young people.

This conversation will delve into the creative challenges and rewards of this untested method of storytelling, the journey from Welsh to English, and the significance of bringing dynamic, contemporary Welsh voices to a broader audience.

Don’t miss this inspiring discussion of one of the most innovative and inclusive YA books of the year.