Adré Marshall has taught English at various universities, most recently UCT. Her poetry has been published in numerous anthologies and journals, including New Contrast, English Academy Review, Stanzas and the Sol Plaatjie Poetry Anthology. She has frequently presented her poetry at the McGregor Poetry Festival and other events and is the author of a book on Henry James. She was placed third in the 2023 Avbob Poetry Competition and shortlisted for the National Poetry Award in 2022. Her poetry collection, Visitations, will be published in October.

Archie Swanson’s work has been widely published, in South Africa, Africa and further afield and his poem ‘my Guernica’ placed second in the AVBOB Poetry English prize in 2019. He has been the librettist for several Grant McLachlan compositions. He is the immediate past chair of the SA Literary Journal which publishes New Contrast and has published four collections: the stretching of my sky (2018), the shores of years (2019), beyond a distant edge (2021), and of clay (2022). His fifth collection, at the estuary, will be published in September 2024

Ashley is an actor and a poet who explores multi-disciplinary platforms for performance.

Carri writes poetry as a way of navigating and making sense of her life. She often writes in conversation with the natural world around her, and much of her writing reflects themes of place, identity and memory. Carri is interested in the way poetry distils experience to its essence, and in the power of poems to provide both challenge and respite.

Chantal Stewart is a medical doctor, author and poet. She works full-time in a government hospital, facilitates creative writing workshops and writes poetry. She has published poetry and short stories in Women Flashing (2006), Writing the Self (2008), Twist (2006) and Stanzas (2021). Her first novel, The Veil of Maya, (Minimal Press) appeared in 2022; her first poetry anthology will be published soon.

Christine Coates, a poet and writer from Cape Town, holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town. She has published four collections of poetry: Homegrown (Modjaji Books, 2014), Fire Drought Water (Damselfly Press, 2018), The Summer We didn’t Die (Modjaji Books, 2020),and RED LETTER DAYS (The Explainer’s Press, 2022). Her poems and fiction have been published in local and international literary journals and widely anthologised.

Diana Ferrus, born in Worcester in 1953, is a renowned South African writer, poet, and storyteller. Best known for her poem “I’ve come to take you home” about Sarah Baartman, her work influenced the French

Eduard Burle is a member of the Ecca poets group. His poems have appeared in various local

literary journals and anthologies. He is joint winner of the 2018 Patricia Schonstein Poetry in

McGregor Award.

Elisa Galgut is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, and a published poet. Her poetry appears in various literary journals and anthologies, and her first collection, The Attribute of Poetry (Modjaji), received judges’ commendation and was shortlisted for the 2016 Ingrid Jonker Prize. She is working on a second collection.

Fiona Fertyn, hailing from Paarl, is a member of the Mengelmoes Digters and a published poet. She has collaborated with other writer in various anthology books, releasing her first anthology in 2014. For Fiona, poetry is an open door for those who wants to listen to heartfelt words and yearn for freedom.

Gaireyah Fredericks beskik oor 12 publikasies, waarvan twee gelyktydig vir die Eugene Marais-prys benoem is. Sy is die wenner van die 2016 Patricia Schonstein Poetry in McGregor Award en ook die Neville Alexander prestige Award. Sy beskik oor `n  Honeurs in Afrikaans  verwerf aan die Universiteit van Weskaapland en `n Meestersgraad in Kaaps te Rhodes Universiteit. Haar laaste publikasie by Kwela, een voet in die kabr breek bane en skryf ‘n heel nuwe Kaaps -Moslem wêreld oop.

Gertrude Fester-Wicomb is a descendent of Indigenous and Slave communities, a seasoned political activist focusing on women’s liberation. She established Women’s Education and Artistic Voice and Expressions (WEAVE) a black women’s writing collective. She composed a play, The Spirit shall not be caged, in her head while in solitary confinement in 1988. Another play, Lookalike Terrorist, was one of 4 best new plays for 2019 as nominated by ArtsCape. She publishes fiction and nonfiction.

Harry Owen is the author of nine poetry collections, the latest of which, ‘Thicket: shades from the Eastern Cape’, is to launch at this McGregor Festival. Passionate about the natural environment, especially that of his adopted South Africa, his poetry finds much inspiration in nature, both in its wonders and the numerous threats it faces. Having lived for many years in Grahamstown, Harry now resides in the village of Kylemore, near Stellenbosch.

Jacques Coetzee is a poet, a freelance translator and the singer in the band Red Earth & Rust. In 2017 he and Barbara Fairhead published their joint anthology of poems, The Love Sheet (Hands On Books). His debut solo collection, An Illuminated Darkness (uHlanga Press, 2020) was the winner of the Ingrid Jonker Prize for 2022. His poem, Doepa vir Allenigheid, was the winner of the 2021 AVBOB Poetry Prize in the Afrikaans category.

Jadrick Pedro is ‘n selfpubliserende digter van Ceres met reeds twee gepubliseerde digbundels. Van sy gedigte is ook in gesamentlike bundels opgeneem onder andere in die McGregor Anthology van 2019. ‘n African Honours Authors award  vir sy bundel On-getiteld 2 was een van die vele prestasies wat hy in sy skryf reis kon vermag. Jadrick gebruik digkuns om die stories van sy mense en kwessies uit sy gemeenskap aan te spreek.

Jane De Sousa is the Executive Director of the Butterfly Art Project, encouraging healing in children through creativity. Her poetry is a way of processing her memories, her life experience and her sense of the future.

Kath Higgens is an ardent poet, especially of the mystical and contemplative. She presently lives in McGregor. She would like to open discussion with other poets, which could become an on-going forum, especially for poetry as soul-work.

Layla uses poetry to make sense of her everyday life, collecting words from the wind before they disappear. She is busy putting together her first poetry anthology which follows the searching years of her twenties, confronting identity and a search for culture, the great grief of discovery and ends in the hope found in her last years before turning thirty as nature, community and connection show themselves.  She has found her confidence as a poet here in McGregor and has been published in the McGregor Poetry anthologies.

Elizabeth Trew was born and grew up in Cape Town then left and returned decades later. She has a BA (Hons) in English literature and linguistics from the University of East Anglia, UK, and an MA in English education for Wits. Her poems are published in numerous South African poetry journals and her debut collection, “My mother the seal” was published in 2023. A former librarian and teacher, she is a language-editor and volunteers at a shelter for girls in Cape Town.

Merle Danhouse is a social worker who enjoys writing about the theme of family connectedness. She holds a master’s degree in child and family studies and gives motivational talks, facilitates poetry workshops, and has started exploring short story writing. Her first poetry collection, “Die Broodjie,” was published in 2019. Most of her work has been published in anthologies and on LitNet. She is also a member of the Mengemoes poets.

Mike Alfred has been writing and publishing poetry since his midlife crisis 40 years ago.

Naidene Lottering, 32, is a poet and teacher from Cape Town, South Africa.  She actively engages with her community through her powerful spoken word poetry. As a member of the Mengelmoes poets, led by Dr. Diana Ferrus, her work features in “In woorde gebaar” and other joint collections. Naidene’s heartfelt poems foster conversation and empathy, often inspired by her deep connection to the Cape Flats. She regularly performs at local festivals, passionately celebrating her roots and community through her art.

Patricia Schonstein is a novelist, poet and curator of anthologies. She holds and MA in creative writing and has just completed a Memoir.

Poet, scholar, botanist, auxiliary soldier, journalist, politician, talented sportsman and grandson of a famous Herero leader, Robert Grendon is one of the most extraordinary people in South African history.  The first extended piece of literature written by a black South African, Robert Grendon’s Paul Kruger’s Dream, is an extraordinary work. Believed to have been lost, it was rediscovered by Dr Grant Christison in an archive.  It has now been republished for the first time since 1902, by Strandwolf African Classics.

Sophia Oliphant is oorspronklik van Gouda en reeds 10 jaar deel van die Mengelmoesdigters. Sy is tans besig met die inisiering van kreatiewe skryfwerk projekte met skoliere. Haar werk is reeds in verskeie bundels gepubliseer : Mengelmoes `n Versameling gedigte 2020; 100 Echoes of madiba’s Century 2019; Touching the wild (Mccreggor  Anthology) en In woorde gebaar, 2023. Sy is tans besig met haar eie digbundel.

Stephanie Saunders writes mostly humorous poems. These have appeared in various publications. She has been writing poetry since her schooldays, but became immersed in it through a course with Finuala Dowling at UCT’s Summer School, her academic pursuits until then having been mainly in fine art, which she studied at Michaelis. She is also interested in hiking and other outdoor pursuits.

Steve Shapiro writes lovely haiku as well as haiga, and has published two haiku books, In a Borrowed Tent (1994) and Of Little Consequence (2007).

Theresa Carstens lives in Wellington in the Boland. She uses creative writing to voice her life experiences.  She is a founding member of “Die Mengelmoesdigters,” directed by Diana Ferrus. Theresa has performed with the group at various literary events such as Woordfees, Tuin van Digters, and the McGregor Poetry Festival. Her work appears in several joint publications, including “7de Reënboog,” “Die Mengelmoes,” “Hiers my hart pa,” “McGregor Anthology,” and “Die Nuwe Era Groot verse boek 2023.” She has also published her own poetry book, “Ghost Town.”

Wendy Woodward taught literature and creative writing at UWC. She has published prolifically, notably The Animal Gaze: Animal Subjectivities in Southern African Narratives (2008) and three poetry collections: Séance for the Body (1994), Love, Hades and Other Animals (2008), A Saving Bannister (2015). She now facilitates Poetry Groups and mentors poets individually.

The young poets mentored by Gaireyah Fredericks range in age from fairly young teenagers to those leaving school. They share their experience of life through their poetry