David Soul was introduced to the work of Chilean Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) in Santiago, Chile whilst on a concert tour of South America back in 1982.  Pinochet was in power at the time and tensions in the country were high.  While there, David was invited to a luncheon given by the Artists and Writers’ Society, a group of celebrated left-wing intellectuals and anti-government activists.  David was made an honorary member of the group and given a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda called “The Captain’s Verses”.  He was instantly captivated by the simplicity, beauty and passion that spilled off the pages.

Known in his homeland as the ”People’s Poet”, Neruda’s poetry was described by one famous writer as “closer to blood than to ink”.

We are developing a programme idea with David in which he travels through Chile, South America and Europe retracing the footsteps of Pablo Neruda and exploring the life of this extraordinary man.  It’s a tale that encompasses not only a series of landmark poetic works of a Nobel Prize winning poet, but also revisits the action packed tales of Neruda’s incredible life as political activist, senator, scourge of fascist dictators, wanted fugitive, saviour of thousands of refugees, ambassador, lover and all around bon viveur.