'Freedom of Expression' will feature as an underlying thread within the festival and audiences can expect to hear the opinions of leading writers on creative processes which inform their writing as well as on the enabling or constraining forces of political, social and environmental contexts within which they write.

The festival's opening night keynote address will be delivered by the recently retired Constitutional Court judge, esteemed writer and cultural activist, Justice Albie Sachs. The award-winning author of a number of books, including Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter and Justice in South Africa, Sachs was instrumental in the process of writing the constitution of South Africa and is therefore eminently qualified to speak on the festival theme of Freedom of Expression.

Following the opening night at which all writers present brief introductions, double-bill readings and panel discussions will take place nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, preceded by book launches and live music.

A broad range of day activities in the form of free seminars, workshops, including a full-day Publishing Forum on 17 March, book launches, school visits and a prison writing programme, take place to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression and broaden access to the participating writers.

Tickets are R25 for the evening sessions, R10 for students on presentation of a student card. Tickets can be booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or purchased at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18:30.

Visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za for the full programme of activities, biographies, of participants or contact the Centre for Creative Arts for more information on 031 260 2506/ 1816.

This is the 14th Time of the Writer festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), the Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), National Arts Council, Adams Campus Books, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.