Iwan Roberts

Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts (born 1967) is a Welsh actor, lyricist, singer, and novelist.Script writer and film producer of Dal y Mellt series 1 and 2. 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 Pobol 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.He also worked as the presenter on his own radio show on radio cymru.

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. 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. Iwcs a Doyle released an album of songs in 1996 entitled Edrychiad Cynta''' (First Look), 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). 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, 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, acted the role of Elvis Presley in the two-person theatre show "Plant Gladys" (Gladys' Children), as well as appearing in the play "Bownsars" (a Welsh-language adaptation of John Godber's play 'Bouncers.

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), which gained Institute of Contemporary Arts residency in December 2006, and which was also awarded a BAFTA for best film.

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. 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.

Pobol y Cwm: 2007–2014 Roberts returned to Pobol y Cwm'' in 2007 to play the role of Kevin Powell. He remained in this role as one of the main characters until 2014.

Selected filmography

Year(s) Title Role More information 2007–2014 Pobol y Cwm Kevin Powell Soap Opera; Series Regular2005 Craig ac Eifion Various Roles Children's Entertainment Series Y Lleill Paul Feature Film; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Film; Lead Role Tri Tan y Manod Cacan Comedy; Lead Role 2004 Porc Peis Bach Hari Bont Comedy 2003 Awelon Main Character Short Film (Spoken-word); Lead Talcen Caled Maldwyn Series Regular 2002 Xtra Bibs Soap Opera; Lead Role Y Stafell Ddirgel Period Drama 2001 Eldra Feature Film; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Film 2000 Pengelli Gary Lovell Drama; Series Regular (Four Series) 1998 Y Band Pres Television Film 1996 Iwcs y Forwyn Chalet Himself Documentary; Presenter 1995 Cegin y Diafol Television Film 1994 A55 Barry Pritchard Drama; BAFTA Cymru Winner – Best Drama; Lead Role Y Wisg Sidan Dafydd Period Drama 1992 Lleifior Period Drama 1991 Gwynfyd Television Film 1990 Y Beicar Television Film Wadlo Himself Documentary Series; Presenter 1988 Pobol y Cwm Kevin Powell Soap Opera; 1987 Anest Melfyn Drama Minafon Soap Opera 1986 C'mon Midffîld! Comedy 1985 Rhew Poeth Geraint Drama