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
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
2.30pm — The Olive House
“THE GOVERNOR” OLIVE OIL TASTING SESSION
The Dafnis Family have been cultivating the olive oil on Corfu for generations, with some of their trees 1,000 years old. Their internationally award-winning oil is traditionally grown, harvested and pressed and considered to be the finest and purest achievable. Current proprietors, brothers George and Spiros Dafnis, strive to not only continue to produce the best Greek liquid gold but to also educate on the extraordinary health benefits of this magical product and the history behind this precious commodity.
Come and enjoy a unique tasting experience where you will meet the owners, and their olive oil is paired with different and unexpected foods in an intimate and stylish setting in small groups.
7pm — Plous Bookshop
STRANGER THAN FICTION: A TALE INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS
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 Garden of the People, Municipal Gallery, 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.
6.30pm — The Villa Posillipo, Kontokali Bay
The island’s premier villa company Ionian Estates, in partnership with Corfu Literary Festival and with the kind permission of Villa Posillipo’s owners, have arranged a unique evening to celebrate Gerald Durrell’s centenary and the eternal loveliness of Corfu at this private house and garden estate, where the TV series “The Durrells” was filmed.
You will be welcomed by Vice Mayor Spiros Chalikiopoulos, grandson of “Spiros Americanos”, the much-loved, taxi-driving friend of the Durrell family, and the Villa Posillopo’s owners, who have sympathetically restored the house and two acres of gardens to their original 1750 elegance.
You will enjoy a delicious dinner with wine and specially curated readings. See this magnificent house and grounds for yourselves whilst enjoying good company and philoxenia (hospitality) in an iconic location. Carriages at 11pm...
Friday 12th September
11am — Corfu Public Library, Old Fortress
STRANGER THAN FICTION: A TALE 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
12 noon — Corfu Public Library, Old Fortress
Broadcaster, author and social history biographer Professor David Olusoga interviews historian academic and philanthropist Marina Sakali, Lady Marks, about her book The Uses of Oppression. The book is an examination of how the Christian minority in the Theocratic Muslim state of the Ottoman Empire which considered all non-Muslims at best as second class citizens managed not only to survive but often thrive, finding ways to use an oppressive political and social situation to their advantage.
7pm — Holy Trinity Church
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 September
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
7.30pm — Pergola Taverna
LYRICS AS POETRY: AN EVENING OF SONG
New York’s musical curator, writer and singer Craig Pomranz has put together a dazzling set of songs for our Festival friends with lyrics that move and stay with us, as poetry set to music. Craig is accompanied by Corfiot jazz musician Panagiotis Myrogiannis.
From Kurt Weill to Lennon & McCartney and much in between, let’s relax over supper and a glass of wine whilst listening to much loved favourites and some surprises in Greece’s most musical isle. Yiammas!
Festival Survivors Wind Down Supper
