A TOP cinematographer from Breconshire will turn talented young writers into stars during the next round of Arts Alive’s Caban project.

Richard Greatrex, who lives in Hay-on-Wye and is known for his work on Shakespeare in Love for which he was nominated for an Oscar, will work with children who have written stories and poems during the educational arts charity’s Caban Scriblio writing sessions at The Muse in Brecon.

He worked with young writers when the project was launched last year and said he found their wanting to be involved in the film making process to be “a large part of the rewards of Caban Scriblio.”

“Interestingly it was the actual process of filming that attracted and pleased the kids.

“For many the end result, each little film, was not something that they were interested in. In fact, seeing themselves on the screen often embarrassed our subjects.

“Rather we began to understand that being part of the film-making process itself was the gratifying part of the exercise for them.

“We are a small group of experienced, professional, film-makers that work in a quiet and efficient way. The kids seem to ’get this’ and wanted to stake a claim in it,” said Richard.

He added: “Their wishing to be involved was, for us, a large part of the rewards of Caban Scriblio.”

Richard will film with the youngsters at the end of their workshops which are led by Breconshire writer and poet, Emma Beynon.

Young people will be able to join any or all of a series of one-and-a-half hour workshops to “develop their voice through creative writing” on Thursdays from January 28 to February 11 and again after half term from February 25 to March 17.

It’s the second year the free Caban workshops have been held and will also include Caban Celf art sessions on Wednesdays, from January 27 to February 10 and from February 24 to March 16, at Arts Alive Wales in Crickhowell.

These will be led by environmental artist Morag Colquhoun whose creation of 200 life-size sheep sculptures made with young people and positioned to spell ‘renewable’ on the hills near New Radnor a few years ago sparked national media interest.

Made from renewable materials and covered with wool from local farms the flock highlighted the way sheep maintain Wales’ rugged landscape but attracted more attention than Morag had hoped for.

“When they collapsed people thought it was a farmers’ protest,” she laughed.

She said her courses will involve mixed media allowing young people to choose how they would like to work.

Previous workshops saw visual artist Tessa Waite from Brecon and illustrator and pint maker Hannah Firmin, from Llangynidr, best known for illustrating the book covers of Alexander McCall Smith’s series of books The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, work with youngsters and this year she’s hoping to get more professional local artists on board.

Emma is hoping she’ll be able to confirm that one of Wales’ top writers will be working with young people during her writing workshops. Last year she worked with Welsh poet Jonathan Edwards as part of a programme for schools.

Emma, who has also worked in arts education and theatre, is delighted that children leave confident they can write a poem or story.

“I help them move away from cliché and really find their own voice and interests. I want them to leave with a sense they can write every day and are able to think through ideas in writing.

“All the young writers are filmed by Richard Greatrex. He’s astonishing. He’s so technically involved with the process of film making and he treats the young people as film professionals.

“He shot the films on our website. He is so disciplined and thoughtful and will go to every effort to make it work. Young people like the relationship between performance and self-expression,” said Emma.

The workshops and work of Arts Alive with young people has inspired sixth formers at Crickhowell High School to raise funds for the charity, in particular the Caban project.

Arts Alive’s arts development manager, Rebecca Spooner, said: “We did a survey about young people’s attitudes to creative arts. As a result students at Crickhowell High School are putting on an event on Friday evening, January 29 to raise funds for Arts Alive.”

Students say their evening will include a “wide range of young musical talent,” including classical, rock and instrumental.

Art will also be on display, including creative writing, visual art and poetry. Marla King, one of the sixth formers organising the event, said “We saw the opportunity to support a cause that helps young people in our area and I look forward to raising a lot of money on the night.”

The fundraiser will take place from 5pm to 7pm. Tickets are £4 and are available through calling Arts Alive on 01873 811579. There will also be food and drink and a raffle.

For more information about Arts Alive and the Caban Project and to book a place on the workshops visit: www.artsalivewales.org.uk