'Power of literature' celebrated as Shrewsbury welcomes Owen Sheers to school

‘All writing starts with listening’; on a thin November’s evening, the audience of the Barnes theatre leaned in, as Owen Sheers shared his secrets.

He has interviewed servicemen from wars, traced the life and legacy of his great great uncle Arthur, a maverick missionary for African rights, and sat down with the families of Aberfan to relive their horrors. These interviews have inspired some of his most moving works, including 'Pink Mist', 'The Green Hollow' and 'To Provide All People'.

As he performed extracts from these works, the audience received an unspoken invitation to close their eyes and let the narrative saturate with colour in their minds. An image that stayed with me was the ‘empty registers’ and the ‘soft closing of doors’ in the immediate aftermath of the Aberfan disaster; the audience was haunted by the reminder that these were the very words of witnesses.

He has won Welsh book of the Year twice, as well as the Somerset Maugham and Wilfred Owen poetry awards. ‘The Green Hollow’ has also been BAFTA and Grierson nominated, alongside many more awards, and it is clear to see why.

It was such an honour to be able to welcome this celebrated writer to Shrewsbury School to offer such richness to the audience; a great way to celebrate the power of literature.

Luke W

(SH, UVI)