W. S. Jones

Who was W. S. Jones?

William Samuel Jones was a Welsh language author, playwright and scriptwriter better known as W. S. Jones or Wil Sam.

Jones was born in Llanystumdwy, and lived in the Eifionydd region in north Wales for his entire life. He worked as a mechanic before opening his own garage in the village of Llanystumdwy. He registered as a conscientious objector during the second world war.

He began writing as a young man and, from 1963 onwards, wrote plays to be performed at the Theatr y Gegin in Cricieth, Gwynedd. In the mid 70s Jones began writing for television and radio and before long became a full-time writer writing for television and national newspapers as well as for the stage.

Jones was known for the use of comedy and dialect in his work. Many of his plays contained elements of absurdity and symbolism, leading critics to make connections with the works of Beckett, N.F. Simpson and Ionesco. His most famous character, Ifas y Tryc, was played by Stewart Jones, a Bafta-Cymru winning actor.

Among his most famous works are his plays, Dinas Barhaus, Bobi a Sami and Y Sul Hwnnw. Other writings include his lecture on the state of Welsh theatre, Y Toblaron, a selection of stories, Dyn y Mwnci and a selection of his comic verse, Rhigymau Wil Sam.