DJ Socrates
(UK, 1980), like the philosopher, remains curious about new things. Always pushing boundaries and incorporating fresh music. He approaches each set as a unique road trip with a wide range of styles and countries passing by. His kaleidoscopic sound includes global reggae, trippy cumbia, UK bass, slow rave & African acid. With 20 years of experience under his belt, Socrates has matured like a good wine to celebrate life with. During Writers Unlimited Festival, he will provide a swinging Silent Disco in the foyer of Theater aan het Spui during Friday and Saturday Night Unlimited from 23:15 hours onwards.
Past events
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe and Silent Disco
DJ Socrates unleashed his beats on your headphones. Dance along at the Silent Disco! Or did you rather catch up over a drink?
Festival Cafe with Silent Disco
DJ Socrates unleashed his beats on your headphones and got you into a deliciously swinging groove. Dance along at the Silent Disco!
Writers Unlimited Festivalcafé
Talks & tunes with Francis Broekhuijsen, poetry on demand by Gerda Blees, bookshop, drinks and, late evening, a swinging Silent Disco featuring DJ Socrates.
Winternachten Club featuring KUENTA
Live show featuring Afro-caribbean dance music, preceded by DJ Socrates' beats.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Writers Unlimited festival, you encounter one another, or the authors for a chat and to sign their books. Festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen leads the way through the program. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop is open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
Meet the writers for a conversation or booksigning!
20.55-21.10 Angelina Enny and Goenawan Mohamad
21.10-21.30 Cynthia Mc Leod, Reggie Baay and Nelleke Noordervliet
22.05-22.25 Adriaan van Dis and Ellen Deckwitz
23.00-23.15 Soortkill
Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from Dalton Den Haag recite their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by poet and guest teacher Diann van Faassen. Appearing with them is poet Roberta Petzoldt, winner of the 2019 C. Buddingh Prize, as well as young student-poet Mirle Wittekoek, winner of the 2019 Young Campert Award.
Friday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encounter one another, or the authors for a chat and to sign their books. Festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen leads you through the program. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop is open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
Meet the writers for a conversation or booksigning!
21.10-21.30 Antjie Krog and Simone Atangana Bekono
22.05-22.30 Akwasi
23.00-23.20 Mylo Freeman and Sunny Bergman
Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from Edith Stein College and de Vrije School Den Haag recite their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by poet and guest teacher Diann van Faassen. Appearing with them is poet Obe Alkema, a nominee for the 2019 C. Buddingh' Prize, as well as young student-poet Mirle Wittekoek, winner of the 2019 Young Campert Award.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encountered one another, or the writers for booksigning. Your festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen showed the way through the programme. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop was open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
21:10-21.40 Ian Buruma, David Van Reybrouck & Jennifer Clement
21:55-22:25 Ayelet Gundar-Goshen & Gioconda Belli
22:10-22:40 Aafke Romeijn & Leni Zumas
23:05-23:45 Arshia Sattar, Jennifer Makumbi, Rodaan Al Galidi & Wytske Versteeg
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students of De Vrije School, ISW Hoogeland and Edith Stein College reciting their poetry, result of workshops given by the Hague Poets Guild. Also appearing poets Derek Otte, HemelBesem from South Africa, and Sumai Yahya.
Friday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encountered one another, or the writers for booksigning. Your festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen showed the way through the programme. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop was open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
20.50-21.20 Damiaan Denys and Dimitri Verhulst
21.15-21.45 Joke Hermsen and Adam Zagajewski
21.55-22.25 Jennifer Clement
22.10-22.25 Hanna Bervoets and Mark O'Connell
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students from Dalton Den Haag, Edith Stein College and Chr. College De Populier recited their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by members of the Hague Poets Guild. Appearing with them are poets Radna Fabias and HemelBesem from South Africa, and the young student-poet Sumai Yahya.
Dancing into the Saturday Night
Hit the dance floor!
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point for both audience and writers. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and DJ Socrates supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop in the lobby.
Booksinging session at Van Stockum Bookshop:
20:30-21:00: David Van Reybrouck, Rodaan Al Galidi, Fatma Aydemir
21:00-21:30: Grazyna Plebanek, Mohsin Hamid, Ghayath Almadhoun en Anne Vegter
22:00-22:30: Nino Haratischwili, Alain Mabanckou
23:00-23:30: Peter van Dongen
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from The Hague reading their own poetry, result of workshops from the Hague Poets' Guild. Poets Sanam Sheriff and Charlotte Van den Broeck as well as high-school student-poet Paula Golunska accompany the up-and-comers.
Dancing into the Friday Night
Hit the dance floor!
Friday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point for audience and writers. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and DJ Socrates supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop in the lobby.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
21:00-21:30: Louise O. Fresco, Luuk van Middelaar, Alain Mabanckou
22:00-22:30: Magda Cârneci, Mohsin Hamid, Nino Haratischwili
Friday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from The Hague reading their own poetry, result of workshops from the Hague Poets' Guild. Poets Sanam Sheriff and Joost Baars as well as student-poet Paula Golunska accompany the up-and-comers.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé brings together writers and the public. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and multi-instrumentalist Michalis Cholevas (ney, saz, yayli tanbur) supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, try the poetry-machine of Roos Laan, and stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop or visit the Cultural Press Centre.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
21.00–21.30: Tommy Wieringa
21.45–22.15: Dorit Rabinyan & Bas Heijne
22.15–22.45: Olga Grjasnowa
23.00–23.30: Rodrigo Hasbún & Colson Whitehead
Friday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé brings together writers and the public. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and singer-songwriter Dieter van der Westen supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, try the poetry-machine of Roos Laan, and stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop or visit the Cultural Press Centre.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
20.45-21.15: Ian Buruma
21.15–21.45: Mircea Cărtărescu, Tomas Sedlacek and Michel Faber
22.15–22.45: Michaïl Sjisjkin and Hassan Blasim
Dancing into the Night
After an evening full of words we go dancing into the night in the theater foyer.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point of the festival, where writers and the audience come together, welcomed by MC Francis Broekhuijsen. Also at the Wintercafé: refreshments, book sales and booksigning at the Paagman book stall, music by DJ Socrates and Ud player Mohamed Ahaddaf, and more.
Booksigning sessions at the Paagman bookstall
21:00 – 21:20
Louise O. Fresco & Stefan Hertmans
21:30 – 21:45
Leela Corman & Dominique Goblet
22:00 – 22:20
Reggie Baay & Karen Armstrong
23:00 – 23:20
Bas Heijne & Ian Buruma
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Who's Afraid of Youth
During this first hour, MC Francis Broekhuijsen presents students from The Hague secondary schools reading their poems, the outcome of a series of school workshops. They perform with poet Maarten van der Graaff.
Friday Night Wintercafé
In the foyer writers and audience meet. There are snacks, drinks, and the Paagman bookshop. Music by DJ Socrates.
Wintercafé
DJ Socrates plays his music while host Francis Broekhuijsen keeps us informed on what goes on in the various halls in the theatre. Meanwhile: snacks, drinks, and book selling and writers signing their books at Paagman's.
