The book tent’s ticket sales at the 2023 Toyota US Woordfees appear to have doubled in comparison to last year. This is despite a change in location.
This is according to Saartjie Botha, director of the Toyota US Woordfees.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the area behind the Stellenbosch Museum was originally where the book tent was housed, said Elmari Rautenbach, head of the Woordfees writer’s programme.
It relocated to Stellenbosch University’s Wilgenhof Men’s Residence’s lawn in 2020, and after three years. However, it has returned to its original venue in 2023, she said. “I think Wilgenhof said that they want to use the lawn for themselves […] it is a residence and it is exam time,” said Rautenbach.
Despite the success of the new 2023 Toyota US Woordfees book hub, employees are struggling with the downsizing of the book tent, said Alma Struwig, a bookseller in the EasyEquities book tent. PHOTO: Jodi-Mari Adams
Starting from scratch
There are hopes for audience numbers to return to pre-Covid rates. “Last year we were cautiously optimistic. It was good, but it was much smaller,” said Rautenbach.
Alma Struwig, a bookseller in the EasyEquities book tent, said: “You can’t really compare anything to what it was before [the Covid-19 pandemic]. We kind of had to start from scratch. [But] we’re trading up from last year. So, that’s probably a good thing.”
The 2023 Toyota US Woordfees writer’s programme has seen some of its shows sold out, according to Elmari Rautenbach, head of the Woordfees writer’s programme. This success could be attributed to the new book hub, which was located behind the Stellenbosch Museum, said Rautenbach. VIDEO: Jodi-Mari Adams
However, the tent is smaller in comparison to last year, said Struwig.
However, pre-lockdown audiences have yet to be topped, according to Rautenbach.
Botha agreed: “Our best book and ticket sales ever was in 2020, just before lockdown, when the festival used to be held in March.”
The decline in audience numbers in recent years can additionally be attributed to the book tent’s relocation, Rautenbach explained.
The new 2023 Toyota US Woordfees bookhub can be found behind the Stellenbosch Museum, only a short walk away from the new Victoria Hub, according to Elmari Rautenbach, head of the Woordfees writer’s programme. PHOTO: Jodi-Mari Adams
The success of the book hub
The relocation has been successful, said Rautenbach, who added that this is because the book hub allows for more accessibility. As people can now access both the small and medium tent used for the writer’s programme, which now sit opposite one another.