TRIPTYCH

In the Mondays at Seven programme at St Clement’s on July 11, the explorations into storytelling continues. Three authors read longer versions of the short story form in a programme titled Triptych.

Rick Andrew will read from his book Confessing The Muse which is dedicated to the strummers, dreamers and pilgrims on guitar road. Readings will be selected from the following titles: Albums Burning, Bernoldus, Blues Train, Blues Tracks, Slave Castle and The Winston.

Pieter Scholtz will read an edited version of his short story Jacob’s Smile. This story won an award in the BTA/Anglo Platinum Short Story Competition in 2006. It is the story of a young man’s struggle against adversity and prejudice.

Andrew Verster will read three shorter stories: Tokyo, Liberty and the Rio Carnival. “Instead of a diary I wrote letters to Aidan (Andrew’s late partner, Aidan Walsh) whenever I went to far and strange places,” Andrew explains. “There is something incestuous about a diary - talking to oneself - where a letter is not. I told Aidan about the things I was seeing that I knew would interest him. It made my looking keener and my reporting as well. Later, these letters have become short stories as each was about one day's happenings. They were all written in the evening before going to sleep with the day fresh in my mind.”

St Clements is situated at 191 Musgrave Road on the righthand side a short way down Musgrave after the St Thomas Road intersection. Mondays at Seven run between 19h00 and 20h00. Booking is advised on 031 202 2511. There is no cover charge but there is a donations box to support presenters.