Paris to Dunedin…
One of our favourite superstars in the festival lineup this year was the incomparable former Burns Fellow, playwright, producer and writer, Victor Rodger ONZM. Invited especially to be part of the Hone Tuwhare Poetry Series – It won’t be a Lonely Walk. Victor flew in from Paris for the festival with loads of gorgeous books (& clothes) and we kept him locked here using our notorious weather for as long as we could!
We’re sending a massive mihi to Victor for making four amazing appearances on the programme while slightly jetlagged. We especially admired your fortitude in travelling out to our beach each morning for a swim and your great humility in your session with Apirana Taylor.
Victor offered some reflections on his visit and festival experience.....
After two months in the UK and Paris, me - and the eighty or so books I’d bought in various op shops - flew into Auckland just before midnight the night before the Festival began.
The next morning, I zombied onto the first flight down to Dunedin. May The Creator bless the kind folk at the Scenic Hotel who let me check in immediately so that I could have a shower and hit the sack. I crawled out of bed that arvo to attend the pōwhiri at the Ōtākou, a true homecoming if ever there was one.
Waiata, amazing kai, laughter and later a sharing of stories. Initially I was going to read a zombie story I’d written overseas, but I made a (wise) last minute pivot to a true story about how my Nan used to bring me KFC to school. (“Fahhhh,” said fellow speaker, Ati Teepa: “What a spoilt guy!”).
The next day I got to share the stage with the smart, talented, and funny Becky Manawatu and Talia Marshall (thank you to everyone who chose us over Catherine Chidgey!). We shared thoughts on their brilliant books Kataraina and Whaea Blue.
The following day Claire Mabey and I reminisced about the seminal books of our youth ( shout out to the two audience members who also remembered the infamous goldfish scene from Shirley Conrans’s Lace!).
But the absolute highlight for me was getting to sit on stage and watch Apirana Taylor perform his powerful poetry in a booming basso profundo to an utterly spellbound audience. I had been invited to share a discussion with Apirana on his new book Cracks of Light as part of the Hone Tuwhare Trust Poetry Series – It won’t be a Lonely Walk.
I didn’t really know Apirana’s poetry beforehand. Now, thanks to the Hone Tuwhare Trust, I’ll absolutely never forget it.
-Nā Victor Rodger