The 7th annual Schreiner: Karoo Writers Festival (Cradock)

27th July 2017 to 30th July 2017

What a perfect excuse to indulge in warm Karoo hospitality; feast on farm food, mingle with like-minded spirits and marvel at the star-studded Karoo night sky! 

Our formal programme is enriched by unplanned synergy and happy surprises during informal fireside chats, open microphone sessions and chance encounters with remarkable people.

Take the opportunity to walk off your delicious Karoo Food on an interesting walk of Literary Cradock or our historic graveyard where fascinatingcelebrities are buried, if walking is not your thing, you can catch a ride in a local taxi and go an organised tour of the “flattened”, but not forgotten Magqubeni Township and stories from former residents; AlmoreCupido, Michael Allens and Wilson John.

Most events take place in the Victoria Manor and Schreiner House, which is an easy walk from the legendary Die Tuishuise&Victoria Manor (where many festival folk are staying).

All this ... and the Mountain Zebra National Park and many more activities within easy reach of town.

For regular programme updates, keep an eye on facebook.com/schreinerkaroowritersfestival

SCHEDULE BELOW (Correct as of 19 July 2017, may be subject to change) 

Schreiner: Karoo Writers Festival (SKWF) PROGRAMME

Book with Amy on 083 257 8601, email karoowritersfestival@gmail.com or pay at the door

 
THURSDAY 27 July @ Sonskyndienssentrum then Schreiner House

• 9h00- 12h00 The NELM Youth Programme for Grade 12 featuring schools prescribed literature @ Schreiner House. Free
• 14h00 Literary Walking Tour of Old Cradock with Brian Wilmot. Meet at Victoria Manor. R50 pp
• 15h00 Neville Alexander Memorial event at Sonskyndienssentrum (co-ordinated by Frieda Frohlich) with soup and breads. Free

• 17h00 SKWF Opening event: talk on Greening Museums by the National English Literary Museum (NELM).  Schreiner House. Free

• 18h00 Letters between Guy Butler’s grandfather and Olive Schreiner – dramatised reading by Professor Paul Walters and Jeremy Fogg. Schreiner House. Free
• 19h00 Supper @ Victoria Manor (own account)

FRIDAY 28 JULY
first session @ Schreiner House. R75pp including tea; or R30 per talk

• 9h00 Myths and Truths about the History of Afrikaans and Myths about Afrikaans Today by Menan van Heerden.
• 9h45 Invoking Indigeneity: Olive Schreiner and the Poetics of Plants in The Story of an African Farm and From Man to Man. by Professor Dorothy Driver.  
• 10h30 tea @  Schreiner House
• 11h15  Guy Butler, the founder of NELM, by Beth Wyrell
•  12h00 In the Footsteps of JA Calata and Matthew Goniwe - background to the new Lingelihle Township tour guide by Brian Wilmot.  
• 12h20 Visit to the site of the old Magqubeni Township with former residents, some of whose memories are included in the tour guide.

second session @ Victoria Manor (presentations free, pay for meals)

• 13h00 Lunch @ Victoria Manor (own  account)
• 14h00 Relive the past that Changed our Future by Raymond Heron from Spionkop 
• 15h00 Tea break. 
• 15h30 Open Microphone. 
• 18h00 foodSTUFF by Tony Jackman (book launch) @ Victoria Manor R75pp includes soup supper

FRIDAY parallel sessions

• 10h00-12h00 How to draw a Karoo Building - art workshop with artist/architect Theresa Hardman (limited to 12 people) @ Victoria Manor. R250 pp includes all materials
• 11h30- 13h30 The NELM Youth Programme for Grade 12 featuring schools prescribed literature @ Schreiner House. Free

SATURDAY 29 July Depart Victoria Manor

• 7h45 Literary Walking Tour of Old Cradock with Brian Wilmot (meet at Victoria Manor) R50pp

first session @ Victoria Manor. R75pp including tea; or R30 per talk

• 9h00 Matjiesfontein Revisited: Jewel of the Karoo by Dr Dean Allen. 
• 10h00 Agterpaaie/Backroads - Alice Inngs will interview Toast Coetzer about his experiences making the television travel series. 
• 10h30 Tea 
• 11h00 Trust and Hope - the story of the Hantam Community Education Trust by Anne Hill. 
• 11h30 Karoo Life: musings of a veld monk by Antony Osler. 
• 12h00 Die Wereld van Charlie Oeng - Etienne van Heerden and Toast Coetzer discuss Van Heerden's new book.  
• 13h00 Lunch @ Schreiner House Books+Food Market

second session @ Schreiner House R50 or R30 per talk

• 14h00 How to write your family history by David Hilton Barber. 
• 15h00 Sy Hart se Lens - Cradock novelist Zelda Mans talks about her first published romance. 
• 15H30 Cradock poet Alet Janse van Rensburg talks about her work. She writes in Afrikaans. 

third session  @ Victoria Manor

• 16h00 Open Microphone.  Free
• 18h00 Roadtripping in the Karoo Heartlands in words and pictures with Chris and Julie Marais (with slideshow). Free.
• 19h00 Supper 
• 20h00 Huiskonsert - the return of Ginger's Fault band with special guest Toast Coetzer. Hat will be passed around in aid of the Cradock Animal Shelter.

SATURDAY parallel session @ Schreiner House

• 10h00 - 14h00 Books+Food Market at Schreiner House

SUNDAY 30 July @ St Peter’s Church & Mountain Zebra National Park

• 9h30 Festival service at St Peter's Church led by Dean Andrew Hunter and Rev'd Clair Hunter. Collection plate
• 11:30 (at the Mountain Zebra National Park open 07h00-18h00)) How the Park Earned its Stripes - David Smeda reviews 80 years of excellence at this very special park. Talk: free. Park entrance: R44 if you present a South African ID document
• 13h00 Lunch at the Mountain Zebra National park restaurant.

14h00 Visit the Schreiner Sarcophagus on Buffelskop. Make independent arrangements in advance with Rosie Visser 084 252 3792