The Sea! The Sea! Words On Water While You Dine – Adelaide Fringe Review

Sarah’s Sisters Sustainable Cafe, Sun 21 Feb You know you’re in for a treat when you venture all the way to Semaphore’s outstanding vegetarian restaurant Sarah’s Sisters. If you are treated to thoughtful, funny and beautiful words at the same time as you are taking delight in Provencale soup and Beef Wellington, not to mention a delicious dessert involving Haigh’s chocolate, you really couldn’t ask for a better night out at the Fringe. The event was sold out, not unexpectedly, and we were lucky to find a table by the window which was a perfect vantage point from which to hear the five experienced poets and novelists read their work as well as tell the odd funny anecdote. First up was Ray Tyndale who lives locally and writes a poem every day, often about the sea. When she ended her reading by singing a favourite poem, we were all awestruck. Next up was Mag Merrilees who offered both comic relief and deep insight into the way the sea shapes pebbles – and us. Rachael Mead’s poetry is always a treat and this was no exception, about topics ranging from beach combing to kayaking in Antarctica. Next up was Heather Taylor Johnson who read two beach-related excerpts from her upcoming novel and ended with a lovely short poem about the best season in Adelaide, the Fringe season. Finally, Alison Flett, a poet originally from Scotland, read about trying to find a way into the Australian landscape and about the river leading down to the sea. So appropriately we came back to where we started, by The Sea! The Sea! and it felt lovely to have been taken on such a varied tour by all these talented writers and the fabulous chef Stuart Gifford at Sarah’s Sisters. Make sure to book early next Fringe so you don’t miss out! Anna Solding