The Dylan Thomas Birthplace
Events at the Dylan Thomas Birthplace
From poetry readings and book launches to live music and special celebrations, the front parlour of the Dylan Thomas Birthplace continues to bring people together.
Join us in Dylan’s childhood home in Swansea, or enjoy selected events live online from wherever you are.
Upcoming Events
Dylan’s Birthday Bash | Live in the Parlour
Live in the Parlour and on Zoom
Date: Tuesday 27th October 2026
Time: 6.30pm for a 7pm start
Location: The Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Swansea, and online
What better place to celebrate Dylan’s birthday than the house where his story began?
Join us in Dylan’s front parlour for an evening of music, good company and a little birthday mischief with our old friends Buttonsville.
They’ll be filling the room with Americana, jazz and plenty of Dylan. And yes, there’ll be some of the other Dylan too.
There will also be suitably vintage birthday treats, including Spam and Marmite sandwiches, served in the house much as it would have looked when Dylan was growing up here.
It’s a chance to celebrate Dylan not at a distance, but inside his childhood home, with music and laughter filling the rooms once again.
Join us in the parlour
Come inside the Dylan Thomas Birthplace and be part of the birthday gathering in person.
The front parlour is small, so these evenings have a wonderfully intimate feel, with only a handful of people sharing the room with the musicians.
Join us live online
Can’t make it to Swansea? Pull up a chair at home and join the birthday gathering live on Zoom.
We’ll stream the music and merriment directly from Dylan’s front parlour, so friends of the Birthplace near and far can celebrate with us.
Whether you make your own Spam and Marmite sandwiches for the occasion is entirely up to you…
Afternoon in Paris | Live in the Parlour
Live in the Parlour and on Zoom
Date: Friday 13th November 2026
Time: 6.30pm for a 7pm start
Location: The Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Swansea, and online
Some evenings in the parlour are for celebration. Others are for remembering.
Join us for a special evening of music with Afternoon in Paris, our much-loved gypsy jazz band and friends, as music once again fills the childhood home of Dylan Thomas.
Alongside their distinctive gypsy jazz sound, the evening will include Dylan’s poems set to music, bringing his words to life in a different way.
The evening comes just a few days after the anniversary of Dylan’s death on 9 November 1953. We’ll remember him not in silence, but with words, music and friends gathered together in the front parlour of the house where his story began.
Join us in the parlour
Come inside the Dylan Thomas Birthplace and experience the evening in person. With only a small audience gathered close to the musicians, there is something wonderfully intimate about hearing music and Dylan’s words within the rooms he knew as a child.
Join us live online
If you can’t be with us in Swansea, you can still share the evening from wherever you are. We’ll stream live on Zoom from Dylan’s front parlour, bringing the music and poetry of this special evening from the Birthplace directly to you at home.
A Child’s Christmas in Wales | Christmas at the Birthplace
There are few places where A Child’s Christmas in Wales feels quite as close as it does here.
This December, step inside Dylan Thomas’s childhood home and experience his much-loved Christmas story in the front parlour that inspired it, surrounded by the sights and atmosphere of the house he knew as a boy.
Adrian Metcalfe of the Lighthouse Theatre Company brings Dylan’s words to life in this intimate setting, where imagination and memory intertwine. Picture the fat uncles dozing after Christmas dinner, the thin aunts tiptoeing about with their parsnip wine, Mrs Prothero’s famous turkey fire and all the mischief, warmth and wonder of Dylan’s remembered Christmases.
There’ll be music too. The Cwmdonkin Ukes will add to the festive spirit with Christmas favourites to sing along to. Christmas jumpers and suitably festive attire are warmly encouraged.
Thursday 17 December | In the Parlour or Live on Zoom
Join us for an evening performance of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, either inside Dylan’s front parlour or live online from wherever you are.
If you’re with us at the Birthplace, you’ll be part of a small audience gathered in the room that inspired the story, close to the words, music and laughter.
And if Swansea is a little too far away, pull up a chair at home and Zoom into the Parlour. We’ll share the evening live from Dylan’s childhood home, bringing the performance and music to you wherever you are.
Time: 6.30pm for a 7pm start
Join us: At the Dylan Thomas Birthplace or live via Zoom
Saturday 19 December | Live in the Parlour
There’s another chance to step inside the house for a special afternoon performance.
Gather in Dylan’s front parlour for the words, music and memories of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, shared just a few days before Christmas.
The parlour holds only a small audience, so you’ll experience the performance close to the words, the music and the room itself.
Time: 1.30pm for a 2pm start
Join us: At the Dylan Thomas Birthplace
Please note: the Saturday afternoon performance will not be streamed online.
However you join us, from a seat in Dylan’s parlour or a chair in your own home, come and spend a little time in Dylan’s Christmas world.
More Events at the Birthplace
We’re always looking for new ways to bring music, poetry, literature and art into Dylan’s childhood home.
Our front parlour provides an intimate and atmospheric setting for poetry readings, book launches, acoustic music, talks and small performances. We also welcome enquiries from artists and photographers interested in exhibiting work inspired by Dylan Thomas, Swansea or the surrounding area.
Over the years, we’ve hosted established performers alongside emerging talent, and we’re always interested in hearing new ideas.
Have an event or exhibition in mind?
Whether you’re a writer, musician, artist or part of a creative organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch.
Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize
The Dylan Thomas Birthplace is a proud sponsor of the annual Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards for young writers.
The prize celebrates exceptional published literary work in English by writers aged 39 or under, recognising new talent and continuing Dylan Thomas’s literary legacy.
We’re delighted to support an award that encourages and celebrates the next generation of writers.
Past Events at the Dylan Thomas Birthplace
The front parlour of the Dylan Thomas Birthplace continues to welcome poets, writers, musicians, actors and artists, carrying on the creative spirit of the house where Dylan spent his first 23 years.
Here are some of the literary events, book launches, performances and celebrations we’ve hosted at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, along with cultural events we’ve supported elsewhere in Swansea and beyond.
2026
Three Poets: New Collections from Seventh Quarry Press | 5 October 2026
Poets Peter Thabit Jones, Christopher Norris and Mark Lewis came together for an evening of poetry and conversation celebrating three new collections from Seventh Quarry Press: The Boy Who Drew John Lennon, Porlock Revisited and Other Poems on Literary Themes, and Anchor and Wing: Poems from the Periphery. The event was held in Dylan’s front parlour, with audiences also able to join live on Zoom.
Spaces and Places of Dylan Thomas: Book Launch | 29 April 2026
American photographer Robin V. Robinson visited the Birthplace to launch Spaces and Places of Dylan Thomas, a photographic exploration of the places connected with Dylan’s life, from Swansea to New York. Robin was joined in conversation by publisher Peter Thabit Jones, while Steve Grey and Julie-Anne Grey-Jones read Dylan’s poetry. The launch coincided with an exhibition of Robin’s photographs at Narberth Museum in Pembrokeshire.
2025
A Child’s Christmas in Wales | 20 December 2025
Adrian Metcalfe of Lighthouse Theatre Company returned to Dylan’s childhood parlour to perform A Child’s Christmas in Wales. The afternoon and evening performances brought Dylan’s Christmas memories to life in the house that inspired them, with festive music from the Cwmdonkin Ukes. Audiences attended in person, with the evening performance also streamed live on Zoom.
Shared Origins: Poetry Book Launch | 8 May 2025
Poets Mike Jenkins, David Annwn and David Lloyd launched Shared Origins, a collaborative collection published by Seventh Quarry Press. Having first met at Aberystwyth University in the 1970s, the three writers drew on their shared experiences and diverse interests, from Welsh places and personalities to more unexpected subjects. The evening took place in Dylan’s front parlour and was streamed live on Zoom.
Critical Lives: Dylan Thomas, Book Launch and Poetry | 9 April 2025
Professor John Goodby and Chris Wigginton launched their new study, Critical Lives: Dylan Thomas, offering a fresh perspective on Dylan’s life and work. John Goodby joined broadcaster Alun Gibbard in conversation, exploring Dylan’s dedication to his craft and challenging some of the familiar myths surrounding the poet. The evening also featured Laura Sheldon reading Dylan’s poetry and her own work.
St David’s Day at the Birthplace | 1 March 2025
Visitors celebrated St David’s Day with a guided introduction to Dylan Thomas, his childhood home and the work he created at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive. Following the talk, guests explored the restored rooms at their own pace before enjoying complimentary tea and Welsh cakes served on vintage china in the front parlour.
2024
A Child’s Christmas in Wales | 14 December 2024
Adrian Metcalfe brought Dylan’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales to life in the front parlour, accompanied by festive music from the Cwmdonkin Ukes. The event also welcomed artist John Upton, who discussed his illustrations for a new hardback edition of Dylan’s Christmas story, featuring the Birthplace. Afternoon and evening performances were held, with the evening also streamed on Zoom.
Dylan’s 110th Birthday: Open House | 27 October 2024
The Birthplace opened its doors to celebrate 110 years since Dylan Thomas was born at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive. Visitors explored the house and enjoyed traditional birthday refreshments inspired by family memories, including Spam and Marmite sandwiches. The day also marked the opening of an exhibition of Bonnie Hawkins’ illustrations for Under Milk Wood, ahead of an evening book launch.
Under Milk Wood Illustrated: Bonnie Hawkins Book Launch | 27 October 2024
Artist Bonnie Hawkins joined broadcaster and Dylan Thomas expert Alun Gibbard to discuss her illustrated edition of Under Milk Wood. The event explored the creation of her detailed drawings of Dylan’s characters and included readings by poets Laura Sheldon and Sarah Persson, author of A Silver Lining. The evening was held in the front parlour and streamed online.
Afternoon in Paris with Mike Hatchard: Gypsy Jazz | 17 August 2024
Gypsy jazz duo Afternoon in Paris, Susanna and Jeremy, were joined by pianist, composer and storyteller Mike Hatchard for an evening of live music in Dylan’s front parlour. Inspired by Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France, the performance combined swing jazz, Latin rhythms, multilingual vocals and conversation. Guests also enjoyed refreshments, including Llareggub Beer from local brewers Tomos and Lilford.
Do Not Go Gentle: Dylan Thomas in Words, Art and Music | 20 July 2024
The Birthplace joined forces with Llantwit Major Writing Group for a special event at Llantwit Major Town Hall. Authors and broadcasters Alun Gibbard and Phil Carradice led an evening of poetry, conversation, music and storytelling. Singer-songwriter Laila Woodward performed, while artist Bonnie Hawkins exhibited drawings inspired by Under Milk Wood. Members of the writing group also shared work inspired by their visit to Dylan’s childhood home.
Unjudging Love: The Enigma of Dylan Thomas, Book Launch | 17 May 2024
Author Josh Brown launched Unjudging Love: The Enigma of Dylan Thomas at the Birthplace, discussing his reassessment of Dylan’s life, reputation and literary achievements with broadcaster Alun Gibbard. The evening also featured singer-songwriter Laila Woodward as part of the Birthplace’s Discovered at Dylan’s initiative, following the release of her debut album Hidden Blue.
From Linz to Langland: A Journey with Ludwig Wittgenstein | 26 April 2024
The Cwmdonkin Players presented a rehearsed reading of From Linz to Langland, a new play by Swansea University lecturer Dr Alan Sandry. Marking the 135th anniversary of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s birth, the play explored the philosopher’s years in Swansea between 1942 and 1947, including his time living in Langland and Cwmdonkin Terrace, close to the Dylan Thomas Birthplace.
2023
A Child’s Christmas in Wales | 13 December 2023
Adrian Metcalfe of Lighthouse Theatre Company performed Dylan’s much-loved A Child’s Christmas in Wales in the front parlour of his childhood home. The seasonal celebration included music from the Cwmdonkin Ukes, traditional refreshments and an opportunity to explore the house. Audiences joined both in person and online.
Dylan Thomas 70th Anniversary Commemoration at Westminster Abbey | November 2023
The 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s death was marked with a wreath-laying commemoration at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey. The occasion formed part of a wider programme of events organised in association with the Dylan Thomas Society, remembering Dylan’s life, work and continuing literary influence.
Song Cycle for Dylan: Michael Stimpson | 4 November 2023
The front parlour hosted a performance of Michael Stimpson’s Song Cycle for Dylan, featuring baritone Gareth Brynmor John and harpist Alis Huws. The performance, described as the first for twenty years, was presented as part of the commemorations surrounding the 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s death, ahead of performances in New York.
The Beginning Festival | 27 to 29 October 2023
The Beginning Festival formed part of the commemorations marking 70 years since Dylan Thomas’s death. The programme included visiting choirs and a Swansea-wide conference organised by the Dylan Thomas Society with the Thomas Hardy Society, bringing together literary enthusiasts and scholars over Dylan’s birthday weekend.
Forty Poems for Dylan Thomas: Roger Stennett and Lorraine King | 14 June 2023
Poet, author and scriptwriter Roger Stennett joined broadcaster Alun Gibbard to discuss his collection Forty Poems for Dylan Thomas, exploring Dylan’s life alongside Roger’s own experiences growing up in a theatrical family. The evening also featured folk singer Lorraine King, who performed original songs and discussed her musical connections with Dylan’s work.
The Nine Lives of Tom Cat: New Theatre | June 2023
Swansea-born actor and director Chris Tally Evans and playwright Richard Hurford developed The Nine Lives of Tom Cat, a new play exploring the backstory of Captain Cat from Under Milk Wood. Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, the project brought creative practitioners together for a residency at the Birthplace, culminating in a performance shared with audiences in person and online.
Dylan Day Delight: Under Milk Wood and Cerys Matthews | 14 May 2023
The Birthplace celebrated International Dylan Thomas Day and the 70th anniversary of the first performance of Under Milk Wood with an evening exploring two innovative adaptations. Robin Lyons and Andrew Ofilier of calon.tv discussed the creation of the animated Under Milk Wood, while singer and broadcaster Cerys Matthews joined Alun Gibbard online to discuss her children’s adaptation. The evening also included a screening of the animation.
Where Shadows Stir: Byron Beynon Poetry Launch | 28 February 2023
Swansea poet Byron Beynon launched Where Shadows Stir, published by Seventh Quarry Press, in the front parlour of the Dylan Thomas Birthplace. He was joined by five fellow poets, Christopher Norris, Rebecca Lowe, Julie-Anne Grey, Steve Grey and Jill Goodwin-Croke, for an evening of poetry marking the beginning of the Birthplace’s programme commemorating 70 years since Dylan’s death.
2022
A Child’s Christmas in Wales | 20 December 2022
Adrian Metcalfe of Lighthouse Theatre Company performed Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales in the front parlour of his childhood home. The evening also featured Christmas music from the Cwmdonkin Ukes, bringing Dylan’s seasonal memories to life for audiences in the Birthplace and those joining online.
The Two Dylans: Jeff Towns and Alun Gibbard | 4 November 2022
Author and antiquarian bookseller Jeff Towns joined broadcaster Alun Gibbard to explore the connections between Dylan Thomas and Bob Dylan. The evening marked the launch of The Two Dylans, examining the literary, musical and cultural influences linking the two artists. Swansea folk duo Crow Hollow, Tony Webb and Rebecca Lowe, also performed a tribute to Bob Dylan.
Dylan’s 108th Birthday Celebration | 27 October 2022
The Birthplace celebrated Dylan Thomas’s 108th birthday with an open house, inviting visitors to explore his childhood home and enjoy poetry, music and birthday refreshments. Inspired by memories of family celebrations, the afternoon included Spam and Marmite sandwiches, Welsh cakes, orange pop and a birthday cake decorated with Smarties.
Other Cultural Events in Swansea and Gower
The Dylan Thomas Birthplace also helps promote and support cultural events across Swansea and Gower, celebrating the area’s literary, artistic and musical heritage.
Cool Jazz and the Spoken Word | 1 May 2024
Held at the King Arthur Hotel in Reynoldston, this evening combined live jazz with readings celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. Jazz saxophonist Alan Barnes performed alongside readings by broadcaster Sian Lloyd, with music including an excerpt from Stan Tracey’s Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite.
A Celebration of Welsh Composers | 4 May 2024
The Rhondda Symphony Orchestra performed at All Saints’ Church, Oystermouth, with harpist Claire Jones and vocalist Mark Llewellyn Evans. The programme included a new composition, Dylan, by Chris Marshall, alongside music by Karl Jenkins and Daniel Jones.