sustained theatre

A region wide tour of five of South Africas leading poets performing at venues in London, the North West, West Midlands, North East and South West between 31st October to 15th November.

“ An impressive line up of some of South Africa’s finest and most powerful poets” Linton Kwesi Johnson.

'Beyond Words' is a new South African Poetry tour that has been developed in association with Sustained Theatre. The tour has been brought together by the renowned exiled campaigner Keorapetse Kgositsile, the South African Poet Laureate.

The UK tour features the most exciting voices of South Africa in the 21st century. Touring together for the first time, the poets deliver a powerful series of live poetry performances and features; Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile, Donata Mattera, Lesego Rampolokeng and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

"This tour is one of a number of exciting Sustained Theatre developments involving artists from South Africa & Britain over the next few years. Alongside the performances the poets will be running skills exchange workshops and master classes for local artists" Pervaiz Khan - International Broker , Sustained Theatre.

Presented by Apples & Snakes, the tour is in association with Sustained Theatre and funded by the British Council South Africa, Arts Council England and the South African Government.

In a exclusive video interview for the Sustained Theatre website Keorapetse Kgositsile, who describes himself as ‘an artist who is unapologetically political’. Kgositsile speaks about Pablo Neruda and other writers he met during his three decades of exile and makes comparisons of writing in both Nigeria and South Africa.

You can also find out more online from our guest performers at the following links;Lebo Mashile and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

UK Regional Tour Dates and Venue Details:

• 31st October The Drum - Birmingham 7.30pm (www.the-drum.org.uk)

• 4th November Purcell Room – London 7.45pm (www.southbankcentre.co.uk)

• 7th November Saville Exchange – North Shields 7.30pm tel: 01916437093

• 10th November The Albany – Deptford 8.00pm (www.thealbany.org.uk)

• 12th November Contact – Manchester 8.00pm (www.contact-theatre.org)

• 15th November Bristol Old Vic – Bristol 7.30pm (www.bristololdvic.org.uk)