Glain Llwyd has won the Drama Medal at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Mona.

The 21 year-old, originally from Tal-y-bont near Aberystwyth, has lived in Cardiff since graduating from the BA Performance course at the Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts.

She is a member of the Urdd's theatre company and will play one of the lead roles in the new Caryl Parry Jones musical 'Calon' at the Wales Millennium Centre in August.

Glain says the Urdd Eisteddfod has been an important part of her since she first took part in a competition at the age of six.

"I've been performing on stage from a young age, as a member of Aberystwyth Arts Centre Youth Theatre, Arad Goch drama clubs, and at Tafwyl and the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol as part of the pop group, Diffiniad."

"I'd like to thank Mam and Dad for encouraging me to compete and to write, my sister Miri for giving her honest opinion on the script before it was sent to the competition, and Jarvis Cocker from Pulp for inspiring my pen name for the competition!"

This year. the competitors were required to write a play or monologue suitable for staging in a theatrical space for 1, 2 or 3 performers (not necessarily characters) with a duration between 15-30 minutes.

According to the judges, Gareth Evans-Jones and Mared Llywelyn, fifteen plays were received in a "fiercely competitive contest," with every script described as "interesting and distinctive," with the judges enjoying reading each and every one.

Of the winning work, they said: "This is a playwright who is comfortable and mature; the idea is simple, but it unfolds through gradual revelations, playful and vivid dialogue."

"It is a play that balances intensity and seriousness effectively, leaving behind a warm, hopeful feeling without being overly sentimental."

Runner-up was Siriol Haf Ousey from Rhyl, while third place went to Lleucu Angharad Hughes from Llanuwchllyn.

The medal was created by jeweller Rhiannon from Tregaron and presented in memory of actress and producer Audrey Mechell, by her daughters Linda and Sandra, and her grandchildren Elin, Gwen, Glesni and Cai.

Glain's work has already been published by Cyhoeddiadau'r Stamp Publications and is available to buy form at the Eisteddfod, from the Urdd or Awen Menai stalls or from local bookshops across Wales.

The artwork for the booklet is illustrated by Chloe Swinburn, winner of the Art Scholarship at last year's Eisteddfod in Port Talbot.

The first, second and third place winners in the competition will have the opportunity to attend the Olwen Course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre in memory of Olwen Dafydd, thanks to the support of the Olwen Griffith Trust.

They will also receive a year of mentorship and development opportunities with Theatr Cymru, as a Young Resident Playwright and undertaking further training with the BBC.