Monday 8th September
7pm — Plous Bookshop
EARTH DRAMA
A warm embrace to 2025’s Festival from Old Friends
Introduced by screenwriter and environmental educator David Evan Giles, poet and librettist David Harsent will read from his new Tanglewood Sonnets collection together with his versions of Yiannis Ritsos and C P Cavafy’s writings. Dramatist and writer Jane Coyle will read her new work Melting Pot, a poem inspired by friend Tessa Coe’s artwork, GAIA (below), which places the island of Corfu at the very centre of mother Earth.
Doubtlessly, they will also discuss their mutual connections with Faber and passions for Serefis, Lawrence Durrell and other Greek or Greek-inspired writers…
followed by
Welcome Supper at Pergola Taverna
Tuesday 9th September
DAYTIME EVENT TBC
7.30pm — Mon Repos Theatre
In collaboration with The Municipality of Corfu and Jersey Arts Centre, and by special arrangement with Dr Lee Durrell to mark the centenary of Gerald Durrell’s Centenary, Corfu Literary Festival are honoured to present a performance at the newly restored open air theatre at Mon Repos of:
MY FAMILY & OTHER ANIMALS – THE PLAY
Director Daniel Austin is bringing his company from Jersey Arts Centre to Corfu to celebrate this special anniversary, Gerald Durrell’s time on the island and to champion the huge influence and inspiration Lee & Gerald Durrell had and continue to have on environmental campaigning, conservation and protection around the world. Where more beautiful and affecting to see Gerry’s young life story unfold than under Corfu’s trees and stars?
Wednesday 10th September
DAYTIME EVENT TBC
7pm — Plous Bookshop
STRANGER THAN FICTION: TWO TALES INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS
Novelist Nicola Rayner discusses her new book The Paris Dancer with historian, author, broadcaster and Festival Ambassador Sarah Churchwell. Set in pre-war Paris and 2012 New York, the book investigates friendship, secrecy and courage through the prism of dance.
followed by
Writer, anthropologist and CLF Ambassador Sofka Zinovieff talks about her new book Stealing Dad, a rich account of family fracture and subsequent reorientation. Interviewed by author Peter Fiennes.
Thursday 11th September
GERALD DURRELL CENTENARY DAY
11.30am — The Durrells’ Gardens, Bosketto, Corfu Town
DR LEE DURRELL IN CONVERSATION WITH JULIAN HOFFMAN
Talking intimately about editing and completing Gerald’s own unfinished autobiography, Myself & Other Animals, Lee discusses his legacy, their long journey together and her own on-going conservation campaigning and current life, spent between Corfu and Jersey, with fellow environmentalist and author Julian Hoffman.
Members of the Corfu Butterfly Conservation Society will also be present at the event – find out how you can help support their work or participate in important island surveys.
7pm — The Durrell House, Kontokali Bay
An evening event held by special arrangement with Ionian Estates and the owners of the wonderful house that was the setting for the much-loved TV series, The Durrells. A night to celebrate both Corfu and The Durrells. More details to follow...
THE PHILOSOPHY OF PHILOXENIA
“a love of strangers through generous hospitality”
We are delighted to welcome Mr Spiros Chaliakopoulos, Vice Mayor of Corfu for Sustainable Toursim Development — and grandson of the real “Spiros Americanos”, warm hearted, taxi driving fixer and friend to “Mrs Durrells” and her children — to speak on how Corfu lives by the spirit of philoxenia. From the welcome shown to Odysseus by King Alcinous as first noted by Homer, the warm embrace shown to the arriving and chaotic Durrells in the 1930s, to the continuing and genuine tradition extended to all the island’s visitors today.
8pm — SUPPER AND SYRTAKI PANEYERI!
DINNER AND GREEK DANCING
(and YES, we expect you to join in!)
Enjoy a traditional and relaxed Greek supper with local wines and much conviviality on the stunning waterside terrace of the Durrells’ House and bring your comfortable shoes (or kick off the ones you’re wearing) to spend an night really living life!
Friday 12th September
11.30am – Corfu Public Library, Old Fortress
WATER COLOURISTS ON CORFU
Art historian, fine arts dealer, gardener and long-time island resident, Derek Johns, presents us with an introduction on how Corfu’s light and landscape have inspired artists over time, such as John Singer-Sargent, Edward Lear and Angelos Giallinas (and a certain King Charles III).
followed by
12.30pm — Corfu Public Library, Old Fortress
Chair of philanthropic Michael Marks Foundation, that strives to support cultural and environmental conservation, and historian Marina Sakali, Lady Marks is in conversation with Professor David Olusoga about her book, The Uses of Oppression, an enlightening examination of how the Greek Ottoman peoples viewed — and were viewed — through the contemporary press of the time.
7pm — Mon Repos Palace or Municipal Gallery Garden TBC
DARKNESS and LIGHT
Authors and adventurous travellers, Dan Richards and Julian Hoffman talk about both of their new books, Overnight and Lifelines. Overnight is a celebration of all things in the dark, from night time workers to nocturnal wildlife whilst Lifelines follows the decision to move to a remote part of Greece and the discovery of belonging. Both writers muse, in very different ways, on security, shelter and starry skies. Chaired by Dr Adam Rutherford.
followed by
DEFENDING THE PLANET ON THE MARGINS
Chaired by Alex Preston
Director of Ionian Environment Foundation Simon Karythis, travel author Peter Fiennes and environmental writer Julian Hoffman discuss how critical ecological protection can face resistance from nationalist forces and countries’ boundaries. Should passport checkpoints, maritime & land borders ever thwart successful, cohesive conservation of our planet? Or can we work together in harmony for the greater good?
Saturday 13th May
12 noon – Corfu Town Main Square
CRICKET MATCH
BETWEEN CORFU XI and LEONTES CC
With Corfu Literary Festival guest players Simon Armitage, Alex Preston, Peter Fiennes, Adam Rutherford & David Olusoga.
Enjoy lunch on the famous Liston whilst watching friendly cricket on the only sports field within a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the game has been played since 1823.
7pm — Ionian Academy
CORFU LITERARY FESTIVAL 2025 NIKOS LOUVROS LECTURE:
ACADEMY UNDER SIEGE?
In collaboration with the University of the Ionian, under the auspices of their Scholars At Risk (SAR) programme, we are proud to present an expert panel on how the world of academia and further education is changing and how and why this affects us all.
Is the determined promotion and funding of STEM curricula pushing out access to the humanities in global further education? Without history and art being studied, is our freedom of intellect and understanding of the world at threat? Without exploration of philosophy, music, religion, literature, language and culture, who are we and who will we become?
The Ionian University’s Stavros Katsios will chair a panel of fellow Professors, scholars and social science champions David Olusoga, Sarah Churchwell and Adam Rutherford to discuss how the world’s centres of educational excellence, from which we ALL benefit, are seemingly under attack.
followed by
POETRY and GREECE
Corfu Literary Festival is proud to welcome Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and Athens-based Oxford Professor of Poetry A.E. (Alicia) Stallings.
Expect readings of their work and luminous discussion on their various muses and inspirations and how they have both drawn from all that is Greek.
Sunday 14th September
Venue and time TBC
LYRICS AS POETRY
From traditional world folk music to operetta, Cole Porter, The Beatles, Michel Legrand, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Eminem or Taylor Swift, the words of popular song often transform themselves into the “people’s poems”. Celebrated New York singer, song archivist and libretti curator Craig Pomranz will present a programme of familiar songs, accompanied by Corfu’s own young virtuoso pianist George Koroumpis Sawadram.
Festival Survivors Wind Down Supper
