1. Profile

• A full time writer, actor and tutor.
• A member of the Academy of Welsh Writers and the Society of Authors.
• Lecturer at Swansea University in Creative Writing
• Has acted as Dylan Thomas over one hundred times in five different plays.
• Previously a columnist with the South Wales Argus and a contributor to sports magazines, especially Football.
• A playwright with seven plays produced professionally.
• Performance Poet who has performed in Festivals in Britain and America and on TV and Radio. In November 2007 won John Tripp Award for best performance poet in Wales
• Qualified teacher, who visits schools teaching Creative Writing.
• Has worked with disadvantaged groups including Homeless, Drug Users and Prisoners, work which was featured on the BBC2 programme, Jacks are High.
• Written seven books: two non-fiction, four poetry and one biography.
• Three ghost-written books:
Eric's Story, published in 2007 by Gomer.
Oh Yes It Is . . . Kevin Johns! published October 2008 by Lolfa.
Kicking Every Ball - The Life Story of Roberto Martinez, Swansea City's Football Manager, published October 2008 by Lolfa.
• Campaigned successfully for the release of nephew from Death Row after he was wrongfully convicted of double murder in the States.
• Born in an Old People's Home. Mother was quite young but hospital full!

2. Experience giving After Dinner Speeches

• Wide experience of performing to large audiences as an actor, performance poet and speaker.
• Guest Speaker at Football Club Dinners.
• Guest Speaker at Male Voice Choir Dinner.
• Guest Speaker at local and regional Roundtable Dinners.
• Guest Speaker at Rotarian Dinners.
• Guest Speaker at Golf Club Dinners.
• Guest Speaker at Charity Fund-Raising Dinner.
• Performance Poet at UKLA National Conference Dinner

3. Themes for After Dinner Speaking:

Playing Dylan

For nine years I have played Dylan Thomas. Dylan himself was an outrageous raconteur who knew how to shock sedate society. Playing him has created surreal moments such as his daughter, Aeronwy, ten years my senior, saying to me in a restaurant, "Pass the salt, please, Daddy." This was eclipsed by a large group of Japanese men taking my photo. "Look this way, please, Mr Thomas," they said, despite the fact Dylan had been dead for over fifty years. In parts of Japan the theory that Dylan Thomas is still alive is more popular than stories of Elvis sightings. 


Performing Write - My Life as a Writer and Performer

Drawing on the down and downs of being a writer and performer and the zany characters met on the way.

When I started writing full time, the first three employers went bankrupt. Amazingly I was paid in advance, so that for a year I was the most successful unpublished and unknown writer in the land.

I have had many embarrassing moments such as when I performed in an old people's home. The old lady in the front row thought I was Jesus and she wanted to teach me a thing or two. Halfway through the performance the dentist arrived and started examining the teeth of some of the residents. I had half the audience saying, "Aaaah!" and the other half telling me I was the Son of God. Despite my divine performance, I was never paid.


Sport The life of a Frustrated Football Fan

The frustrations of living in South Wales, surrounded by the oval ball and the difficulty of following a sport where the national champions are called Llansantffraidd Total Network Solutions! Imagine someone on the terraces shouting, "Give me an L!" You'd be there all night.

No one wants me to watch their team. The last five house moves I've made have resulted in the local team, Leicester, Hereford, Bristol City, Swansea and Wrexham, being relegated. I'm thinking of hiring myself out to professional clubs. They can buy me a house near the ground of their major enemies.


Humour

All the talks I offer would contain humour. Many of them would incorporate some of my humorous poems, plus the idiosyncrasies of everyday living.

4. Potential Audiences

• Any business, professional group that likes to laugh.
• Arts practitioners.
• Educationalists.
• Sports groups.
• Journalists.
• Welsh Societies especially those located in England.

5. Location

• Wales
• South West England
• North West England

To discuss booking Peter Read for After Dinner Speaking contact him on petersamread@hotmail.co.uk or telephone on 07931 614180.