Welcome to Spier Arts @ BOOK SA!

by Annebelle on Jan 30th, 2007

Greetings from Annebelle, Director of the Spier Arts Summer Season, and welcome to our new Spier Arts blog! Over the course of the next several days, you’ll read all about our Poetry Festival – starting now!

The 2007 Spier Poetry Festival, presented by SAfm, is a lekgotla of prophets, poets and singers. Hear the written word, spoken and even sung by the wordsmiths called to the stage by Antjie Krog, internationally celebrated poet and author, and her co-emcees across our four venues, Talia Sanhewe (SAfm), Victor Dlamini (SAfm), and BOOK SA’s own Ben Williams.

The line-up includes international poets Nuno Júdice (Portugal), Catherine Kidd (Canada), Erwin Mortier (Belgium) and Zein Al-Abdin Fouad (Egypt) – performing alongside South African poets Ingrid de Kok, Kgafela oa Magogodi, Chris van Wyk, Jitsvinger and Gabeba Baderoon. Author Marlene van Niekerk collaborates with opera singer Zanne Stapelberg and musician Rocco de Villiers commerates the one hundredth anniversary of the births of poets B.W. Vilakazi and N.P. van Wyk Louw with the musical production, “Ballades”.

All readings and performances take place on the stunning Spier Estate in the Cape Winelands. The four venues – the Ampitheatre, River Deck, Poetry Lapa, and Tree Lapa – are arranged along a meandering path through the estate, and audience members will themselves get to meander as they please – so choose your route through the Festival carefully!

Keep visiting Spier Arts @ BOOK SA for additions to the line-up and regular news and info. Due to the popularity of last year’s event, be advised to book early.

You can purchase tickets and contact our festival team through the Spier Arts Box Office: