Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts

Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts (born 1967) is a Welsh actor, lyricist, poet, artist and singer. He has worked on various films, including the BAFTA-winning productions Eldra and Y Lleill (The Others), and is well known for his portrayal of character Kevin Powell in the Welsh soap opera Pobl y Cwm. He has also had a successful career as a singer-songwriter, both as part of the duo Iwcs a Doyle and as a solo artist.

Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts
Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts
Born
Iwan Roberts
OccupationActor, singer-songwriter, poet, artist
Years active1985–present

Early life

Iwan Roberts was raised in the village of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd. A creative talent and an avid performer from an early age, he gained his first stage experience while still a pupil at Ysgol Bro Hedd Wyn primary school.

Career

Beginnings: 1985–1996

After completing his secondary education at Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, he enrolled on a course in engineering, with aspirations of becoming a blacksmith.[1] At the same time, his love of performing led him to join the theatre group Theatr Bara Caws. He appeared in various theatre productions with Theatr Bara Caws, Theatr Arad Goch and others, before making his television debut in the comedy series Rhew Poeth, which was shown on the Welsh-language channel S4C in 1986. He also made a brief appearance in the BBC Wales soap opera Pobol y Cwm, and the popular comedy series C'mon Midffild in the 1980s, before going on to act in other Welsh language series including, Minafon and Lleifior. In 1994, he played the role of Dafydd in the period drama Y Wisg Sidan (The Silk Dress) (a screen adaptation of Elena Puw Morgan's novel). Also in 1994, Iwan played the lead role as Barry Pritchard in the drama series A55; the series won a BAFTA Cymru award in 1995 for Best Drama Series. Iwan Roberts also appeared in various film roles in the early 1990s, including Y Beicar (The Biker) and Gwynfyd (Blessedness).

Iwcs a Doyle: 1996–1999

In 1996, Iwan Roberts diversified his career and together with guitarist John Doyle, formed a duo, calling themselves Iwcs a Doyle. The pair entered the annually held Cân i Gymru (Song for Wales) contest, and won the competition that year.[2] Iwcs a Doyle released an album of songs in 1996 entitled Edrychiad Cynta' (First Look),[3] which was produced by Les Morisson, and received popular and critical acclaim. The pair performed in many venues and music festivals, including Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau, Wales, and the Pan Celtic Festival in Tralee, Ireland in 1996.

Television, Theatre and Film: 1999–2007

Iwan Roberts continued to act during his time with Iwcs a Doyle – perhaps his most notable role being the portrayal of wine merchant Gary Lovell in the popular S4C drama Pengelli (1997–2000). In 1999 he appeared as the character Hari Bont in Porc Peis Bach (1999–2004), and later acted in the drama series Talcen Caled (2001–2003), a period drama screen adaptation of Marion Eames' novel Y Stafell Ddirgel (The Secret Room) (2002), and had a regular role in the teenage soap opera Xtra (2002–2003).[4] During this period Roberts provided voice over for the restoration of the 1935 Ifan ab Owen Edwards film Y Chwarelwr (The Quarryman), as well as for various Welsh-language animations,[5] and on various radio plays on BBC Radio Cymru.

Around this time Iwan Roberts also appeared in the one-man theatre and film production of the National Eisteddfod of Wales pryddest Awelon,[6] acted the role of Elvis Presley in the two-person theatre show "Plant Gladys" (Gladys' Children),[7] as well as appearing in the play "Bownsars" (a Welsh-language adaptation of John Godber's play 'Bouncers.[8]

At the same time Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts appeared in the BAFTA-winning film Eldra (2003) and played the role of Paul in the Ankst production Y Lleill (The Others) ,[9] which gained Institute of Contemporary Arts residency in December 2006,[10] and which was also awarded a BAFTA for best film.[11]

Solo Musical Career: 2005–2007

Roberts composed and recorded his first solo album entitled Cynnal Fflam (Maintaining the Flame) in 2005. The album was recorded in Waunfawr, Gwynedd, was co-produced with Bob Galvin.[12] Throughout his career as a performer and artist he has cited his primary inspiration and influences to be that of the natural living environment and the people around him.[1]

Pobol y Cwm: 2007–2014

Roberts returned to Pobol y Cwm in 2007 to play the role of Kevin Powell.[11] He remained in this role as one of the main characters until 2014. He's also guest-appeared on the show in 2015 and in 2016.

Selected filmography
Year(s)TitleRoleMore information
2007–2014Pobol y CwmKevin PowellSoap Opera; Series Regular
2005Craig ac EifionVarious RolesChildren's Entertainment Series
Y LleillPaulFeature Film; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Film; Lead Role
Tri Tan y ManodCacanComedy; Lead Role
2004Porc Peis BachHari BontComedy
2003AwelonMain CharacterShort Film (Spoken-word); Lead
Talcen CaledMaldwynSeries Regular
2002XtraBibsSoap Opera; Lead Role
Y Stafell DdirgelPeriod Drama
2001EldraFeature Film; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Film
2000PengelliGary LovellDrama; Series Regular (Four Series)
1998Y Band PresTelevision Film
1996Iwcs y Forwyn ChaletHimselfDocumentary; Presenter
1995Cegin y DiafolTelevision Film
1994A55Barry PritchardDrama; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Drama; Lead Role
Y Wisg SidanDafyddPeriod Drama
1992LleifiorPeriod Drama
1991GwynfydTelevision Film
1990Y BeicarTelevision Film
WadloHimselfDocumentary Series; Presenter
1988Pobol y CwmKevin PowellSoap Opera;
1987AnestMelfynDrama
MinafonSoap Opera
1986C'mon Midffîld! Comedy
1985Rhew PoethGeraintDrama
gollark: Why don't YOU do so and retrieve my corpse?
gollark: That would be a clever thing to do if I wanted to go 5000 blocks oversea again.
gollark: The changelog implies that it "deals hundreds of damage points".
gollark: It now has my main thing kit *and* my backup thing kit.
gollark: Hopefully someone will join who can deal with it better than me.

References
  1. Tudur, Non (10 November 2005). "Gweld y Geiriau". Golwg. Argraffwyr Cambrian.
  2. "S4C Cân i Gymru". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. "'iTunes – Edrychiad Cynta". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. "BBC Radio Cymru". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  5. "Daily Post 15 December 2001". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  6. "Theatre Wales". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  7. "Theatre Wales – Plant Gladys Review". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. "Theatre Gwynedd – Bownsars". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  9. "IMDB". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  10. "Institute of Contemporary Arts". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  11. "Label of love: Ankst". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  12. "'Cynnal Fflam' ~ Iwcs". Retrieved 28 March 2009.
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