KNYSNA NEWS - Michael Charton, chartered accountant turned master storyteller, returns to the Knysna Literary Festival following his standing ovation at last year's festival.
This time, he is telling the story of the 1937 Springbok rugby tour to New Zealand. At face value, a laughably obscure story, but like all of Charton's work, his narrative explores subtle and timeless human truths, which enables his stories to carry surprising relevance in the modern world.
In The First World Champions, Michael takes his audience on a journey into the heart and heritage of a unique rivalry within a unique sport. A game of strange contradictions, where intense physical confrontation is carefully balanced by an unlikely value system.
And nowhere are these contradictions more evident than in the famous rivalry that emerged between the Springboks and the All Blacks in the early 20th century. For here were two lands, bound tightly by a shared passion for rugby, but also deeply divided by their politics. Countries where rugby has transcended mere sport, so providing the foundations of a fiery rivalry which has at times both torn apart and united both of our nations.
Accordingly, this has emerged as a human story: a carefully woven narrative involving a motley crew of farmers, students, teachers, and one unlikely banker, who were, for a moment, freed of the throttling political environment in South Africa and allowed to express themselves as both rugby players and human beings.
They did so famously, and in the process, captured the imagination of the generation of New Zealanders.
Danie Craven's famous dive-pass. A thorn in the side of the All Blacks in 1937.
Festival founder Ling Dobson said, "The story weaves together a few of the key characters of this tour, unlocking rugby's unique character by celebrating rugby's amateur era, together with its associated gentlemanly conduct.
"Michael reintroduces to the world a group of men who sacrificed in both peace and war, and through them reminds his audience what is truly important in life and legacy."
Find out more
For more information and the full programme please click here or call 044) 382 5574. Tickets are available at the Pam Golding Properties offices in Gray Street, Knysna or online through Quicket.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
