Finding Aerfen: A Reflective Poetry Walk & Writing Workshop

Walk, write and rediscover the River Dee.

Join award-winning writer and facilitator Natasha Borton for Finding Aerfen, a reflective riverside walk and creative writing workshop inspired by the River Dee and the stories, communities and border that shape the river.

Inspired by the ancient river goddess Aerfen, alongside the Dee's rich industrial, environmental and cultural history, we'll explore the river as a living archive of stories, memories and change.

Suitable for everyone, no previous experience necessary. 

Writing in Poetry, Autobiography, Prose or Myth!

About the residency:

Natasha Borton is the Writer-in-Residence for the River Dee, part of the Llên mewn Lle | Lit in Place, Literature Wales’ flagship project, which explores the climate and nature emergency through literature, run in partnership with WWF Cymru.

About Natasha Borton

Natasha Borton is an award-winning writer, performer and facilitator from Wrexham. Rooted in community, her work uses poetry, performance and storytelling to celebrate local voices, histories and landscapes. She won the Poetry Wales Second Award (2025), co-won the Coracle Europe Fringe Slam (2025), and is the Artistic Director of Voicebox Wxm

A poem comes alive when it is truly felt.

This experiential workshop draws inspiration from the principles of Meisner acting training, helping participants move beyond performance anxiety, self-consciousness, and "getting it right" to discover a more authentic and emotionally connected way of sharing poetry.

Participants are invited to bring a poem that has personal meaning for them (a self-written poem or one written by another poet) to work with. Please bring a poem that you feel familiar with and if possible, memorised to create more freedom for the embodiment work.

Through a series of practical exercises, you will explore your emotional connection to the poem, uncover what resonates most deeply for you, and learn how to communicate this truthfully to an audience.

The workshop focuses on presence, listening, embodiment, and authentic expression. Rather than performing at an audience, you will learn how to connect with the words in the moment, allowing the poem to emerge naturally and honestly.

By the end of the session, participants will:

Deepen their personal connection to a chosen poem.

Explore how emotion, intention, and meaning can be embodied.

Develop greater confidence in spoken word performance

Learn techniques for staying present and responsive while sharing poetry.

Reduce self-consciousness and cultivate a more authentic stage presence.

Discover how to communicate the heart of a poem in a way that resonates with others.

Suitable for writers, poets, performers, and anyone interested in bringing greater depth, confidence, and authenticity to the spoken word.

For more about Sheryl (Actor, performance poet, coach and therapist) please visit www.creativeflowcoaching.com

A lively one-man show packed with poetry, rap, dance and dinosaur fun.
Led by award-winning performer Dommy B, children meet Proto the dino and his larger than-life prehistoric friends as they explore friendship, feelings and getting along. It’s interactive (join in if you want!), high-energy and perfect for children aged 5+ and their grown-ups looking for a joyful, roar-some theatre experience.

The show will be followed up with a 30min Workshop limited to the first 30 to register, see Dino Workshop to register.

Note:  When you register for this event you will be given a password on screen.  If you wish to attend the Dinosaur Workshop following this performance, please make a note of it!

Fiona Collins launches her latest book, Heledd's Song.

Seren thought a lot about dreams. But she never wondered whether a dream could be real. Or whether you could make friends with someone you only knew in a dream. Or whether a dream could change your life.

Seren is 14 and dreams of a world where her mother is still alive. School is hard and life feels difficult. Then, one night she crosses a threshold, slipping back through time and entering another world. There she meets Heledd, a girl of her own age, suffering in the aftermath of the Mercian war which left almost everyone in her community dead. Can two girls living a thousand years apart have much in common? Together, they help
one another survive.

A 30min Workshop limited to the first 30 to register, following on from the earlier performance.

Note:  A password to this event will be provided when you register for the Main Show

Saturday 12 September 2026
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Level: Open to all levels
Suitable for: Harpists and players of chordal instruments

Join Flintshire-based harpist Angharad Huw, a First Class graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and recipient of the Musicales Prize, for a workshop exploring how chordal instruments can approach, develop and arrange traditional tunes.

Moving beyond the melody itself, the workshop will explore ideas around accompaniment, arrangement and creating a wider musical soundscape around a tune.

Angharad is an experienced performer and tutor whose varied career spans orchestral and chamber music, solo performance, musical theatre and teaching.

Join storyteller Fiona Collins for a stroll around the galleries, and hear the folklore, myths and stories which inspired the artists.

Free, donation to the Dory invited. 

For adults, accompanied children welcome too.

For mote information about the Oriel Dory Gallery, click here!

WORDS, WONDER & WELBEING

Llangollen Fringe Festival Closing Social with Daisy Green.

As the festival draws to a close, we'd love to bring everyone together for one final gathering.

Join fellow participants, facilitators, performers and volunteers for an afternoon of conversation, connection and celebration as we reflect on a wonderful week of creativity.

There will be refreshments, time to catch up, and an optional open mic for anyone who'd like to share a poem, story, song or simply a few words inspired by the festival.

Whether you've taken part in one event or many, come along and help us celebrate the community we've created together.

LAUREATE IN THE WILD & BENCH ACROSS BORDERS

As part of our closing gathering, Daisy Green, poet, spoken word artist and curator of the Fringe Literature & Word programme, will be joined by Jay Rosa Ana, Worcestershire Poet Laureate, for Laureate in the Wild — bringing together poetry, people and place.

Throughout Fringe week, Daisy will have taken Jay’s Bench Across Borders project through the Literature & Word programme, gathering words and voices from Llangollen around place, belonging, home and community.

At our closing gathering, Daisy and Jay will bring those contributions back together and share some of the words collected throughout the week.

Add your own voice too — whether that’s a few words, a line, a thought or a little poem.

We’re also hoping to welcome Georgia Griffiths, UK Slam Winner from Merthyr, creating another connection between places and voices and another bridge across borders.

Alongside this, our open mic will be open to anyone who would like to share a poem, story, song or simply a few words of their own.

Come along for a brew, conversation, poetry and connection as we celebrate the end of the Fringe, the community created throughout the week, and bring Bench Across Borders full circle in Llangollen.

Stories for all ages from Fiona Collins

Refreshments provided

🥁 Join Our Interactive Rhythm & Percussion Workshop!

Discover the power of rhythm, build your musical confidence, and play along to your favourite pop tracks in this high-energy, hands-on workshop!

Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to sharpen your musical skills, our 45-minute percussion session is designed to get everybody moving, grooving, and making music together.

What to Expect:

Master the Beat: Connect with the group as we use body percussion and high-energy tracks like "I Like to Move It" to lock into a steady, collective pulse.

The Giant Rhythm Dice Game: Team up for a fast-paced, friendly competition! Roll the giant dice, master unique rhythms on untuned percussion, pop balloons, and score points to win prizes.

Become a Composer: Grab a mini-rhythm board, collaborate with your teammates, and write your own custom percussion piece to perform live.

Play Tuned Percussion: Step up to our chime bars, explore the physics of pitch, and learn how basic musical chords are formed.

The Grand Finale: Put it all together for an epic play-along session to George Ezra’s hit song, "Shotgun".

Who Is This For?

6-14 years (we ask an adult to accompany children under the age of 11 years)

This workshop is open to all skill levels! We provide tailored challenges for confident players, as well as simplified parts for absolute beginners or anyone feeling a bit anxious. No prior musical experience is required—just bring your energy and a desire to have fun.

🌟 All instruments and materials are provided. Spaces are limited, so book your spot today and let's make some noise!

Take a walk up the hill to Castell Dinas Bran (the home of Llangollen's famous dragon, Collen) and join Fiona Collins of Caffi Stori Llangollen Storytelling Cafe to listen to some wonderful stories.  Healthy fun for all the family, if your picnic is healthy too of course!

Please note: Like all good dragons, Collen isn’t a fan of the rain! If the weather turns wet and miserable, this outdoor event will be cancelled.