TELL ME HOW IT - MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL MWF.COM.AU 3 12 SEP 2021
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MELBOURNE
WRITERS
FESTIVAL
3—12 SEP
2021
MWF.COM.AU
TELL ME HOW IT
ENDS
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
We respectfully acknowledge that Melbourne Writers Festival takes
place on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Melbourne Writers Festival thanks its generous donors,
partners and supporters.
Principal Partner
Major Partners
Official Bookseller
Cultural Partners
Learning Partners
Media Partners Official Suppliers
Festival Supporters Donors Ann & Michael Cohn Board Genevieve Cizevskis
Astrid Edwards Production Manager
APRA AMCOS Literary Epic $20,000+ Astrid Edwards
Rosemary Geer Rachel Hanley
Australian Communities Foundation John Jerome Myers Chair
Jo Grigg Ticketing & Sales Manager
Australian Poetry Maria Myers AC & Allan J Myers AC QC Fahim Ahad
Dr Alice Hill & Mark Nicholson Margie Yi
Besen Family Foundation Deputy Chair
Leg Up Foundation Front of House, Venues
Bunjil Place Novel $10,000+ Joanna Brand & Volunteers Manager
Hart Line Fund (a sub-fund of the Bernard Marin AM Company Secretary
City of Greater Dandenong Coral Guan
Australian Communities Foundation) McLeod Family Foundation Phillip Benedetti (until June 2021)
City of Yarra Digital Marketing Coordinator
Dr Leonie Kelleher OAM Cecilia J Myers Ahmad Abas
Committee for Melbourne Gemma Pass
Dr George & Rosa Morstyn Jamila Rizvi Dr Alice Hill Marketing Coordinator
First Nations Australia Writers’ Network
Mark Rubbo OAM Gail Lister Madelyn Pickersgill
Footscray Community Arts Centre Novella $5,000+ Nick Ruskin Jamila Rizvi Business & Operations Coordinator
Griffith Review Paul Andrews, Trustee of the Craig Semple Louise Ryan Winnie Tsang
The Moat Robin Campbell Foundation Bernadette Trifiletti Erin Wamala Philanthropy Coordinator
Mushroom Group BB & A Miller Fund (a sub-fund of the Michael Webster Jacob Boehme
PEN Melbourne Australian Communities Foundation)
Linda White First Nations Advisor
Public Record Office Victoria, Canny Quine Foundation Staff
Janet Whiting AM Ingrid Laguna
Ancestry.com.au Peter Garrow Michaela McGuire Education Advisor
Quarterly Essay Maureen Wheeler AO Haiku $500+ Artistic Director Joey Chen, Shadi Habash
Safety In Numbers & Tony Wheeler AO Andrew Deane Rebecca MacFarling Bookkeepers
Science Gallery Melbourne Maggie Haertsch Chief Executive Officer CPR Communications
The Stella Prize Short Story $1000+ Gene Smith
Rebecca Kierce & Public Relations
United States Consulate Melbourne Anonymous Associate Director Publicity
Barbara Long
Victorian Association for the Fahim Ahad Sonia Nair Sweet Creative
Louise Ryan
Teaching of English Phillip Benedetti Program Manager Graphic Design
Robert Sessions AM
Vision Australia Joanna Brand Alexia Jordan Adrian Potts
The Wheeler Centre Sally Browne Fund (a sub-fund of the Correct at 7 July 2021 Marketing & Partnerships Manager Copywriter
Writers Victoria Australian Communities Foundation) Chloe Gordon
Philanthropy Manager
2
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Contents
Festival Events 4—15
Families 6
First Nations Curators 7
Digital 8
Teens 11
Calendar 12—13
Workshops 16
In the Suburbs 17
Local Libraries 18
Artists 20
Festival Information &
Tickets 22—23
Michaela McGuire
What happens when the entire This program also recognises alight (and burned down the English Julian Assange’s lawyer Jen Robinson AC Grayling, Viet Thanh Nguyen
world is consumed by the same story? that the invasion of this country language). Noongar author Claire G discuss WikiLeaks, free speech and and Sigrid Nunez are available to
The pandemic feels like the first represented the end for so many Coleman and polymath writer Alison covert power. Editor of The Age Gay watch at your convenience on a
truly global event: everyone is being members of the world’s longest Croggon discuss the ongoing legacy Alcorn brings commentators from pay-what-you-can basis.
clobbered by the same problem, at continuing cultures. For the first time, of Australia’s colonial past. Gunai/ across the political divide to debate For the little readers in your life,
the same time, while we’re all online, this year’s festival has been enriched Kurnai writer Veronica Heritage- the newest battleground of free we’ve gathered some of the country’s
all the time. by self-determined programming Gorrie and activist and thinker Randa speech: cancel culture. She is joined most popular and entertaining
To open a book is, in this world, from two of this country’s most Abdel-Fattah examine how modern- by Louise Adler, Waleed Aly, James children’s authors for MWF Families,
a radical act: of learning, of privacy, powerful First Nations voices, day racism is bound to colonisation. Button, Parnell Palme McGuinness an action-packed day of storytelling,
of self-care, of rebellion, of hope. Bridget Caldwell-Bright and Marcia Memoirists Lech Blaine and Rick and Nyadol Nyuon. A panel of live mysteries and illustrator battles.
As readers and writers, the written Langton. In Marcia’s own words, Morton confront the shortcoming political writers and editors— The program features Australian
word is our chosen art form because ‘we have invited writers to tell us of male stoicism in the face of grief Annika Smethurst, Lech Blaine and Children’s Laureate Ursula
of its unparalleled power to provide their deepest thoughts about the and trauma. Nick Feik—discuss the larrikin figure Dubosarsky, poet and illustrator
comfort, answers to impossible predicament of being simultaneously Award-winning Wiradyuri writer in our politics with Jan Fran while Maxine Beneba Clarke, bestselling
questions, connection with other Indigenous people and global citizens Anita Heiss talks to Paul Barclay Norman Swan, Osman Faruqi and and much-loved author Morris
minds and viewpoints. To change in our Brave New World, being an about Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray Jamila Rizvi debate public safety, Gleitzman, 2020 NSW Aboriginal
who we are, and in doing so, change Indigenous person in the midst of (River of Dreams), her epic new politics and the pandemic with Woman of the Year Kirli Saunders,
the world. so many challenges to our existence historical novel. Australian screen Raf Epstein. and many more. The MWF Teens
In periods of uncertainty, when and our right to be Indigenous, to legend Bryan Brown chats about We’re bringing the best of the program boasts a selection of
we feel powerless and buffeted by be writers and thinkers, the truth- turning his hand to crime writing in Festival to Bunjil Place with a new Australia’s exceptional YA talent, with
forces outside of our control, we turn telling that is demanded of us and his debut book, Sweet Jimmy. John series of events featuring investigative topics spanning origin stories, urban
to storytellers to help make sense the insights that Indigenous history, Doyle sits down with Sam Pang to reporter Louise Milligan, former fantasies and secret identities being
of the world. Here, at Melbourne cultures, languages and ways of discuss Blessed: The Breakout Year of Manus detainee and award-winning discussed by authors including Garth
Writers Festival, we invite you to thinking and being offer to the world.’ Rampaging Roy Slaven, his warm and author Behrouz Boochani and Nix, Will Kostakis, Leanne Hall,
celebrate our chosen panacea for For Melbourne Writers Festival’s witty homage to his larger-than-life bestselling children’s book author Amie Kaufman, Sophie Gonzales
the time in which we live. 35th year, our program features a alter ego. Morris Gleitzman. and Gary Lonesborough. Capping
We’ve gathered the finest cast of astonishing writers who are From parliament to the Supreme Supplementing the voices of off the day is the popular fan-fiction
minds in the country and have shaping the future of literature in Court, Australia’s highest halls of more than 250 Australian writers showcase, where YA writers let their
issued them a simple challenge: this country and beyond. Helen power have been rocked by failures is a carefully considered cohort imaginations run wild by dropping
Tell Me How It Ends. Garner makes a long-awaited return in protecting victim-survivors of of international authors, who’ll their favourite characters from pop
This Festival program stubbornly to the Festival stage to speak with sexual assault. Journalists, lawyers, be appearing via live-cross at The culture into dystopian scenarios to
resists the neat ending. Instead, we’ll writer and critic Beejay Silcox about activists and writers argue for Capitol. Acclaimed author Maggie see if they survive.
contest and interrogate the pre- the role that doubt plays in her life structural change, using their own Nelson (The Argonauts) talks about Closing the curtain not with a
existing conditions that have been and work, the literary power of experiences and expertise to imagine her new book On Freedom, an whimper but a resounding bang, an
exacerbated by the pandemic and ambiguity, and the art of unknowing. a new ending to this all-too-common exploration of freedom in the spheres all-Victorian legendary line-up comes
dragged into the harsh light of day. Author Bruce Pascoe (Dark Emu) story. Lawyer Michael Bradley, of art, sex, drugs, and climate, together to celebrate the heritage
Together, we’ll tackle the tensions of and historian Tom Griffiths (The Art barrister Rachel Doyle SC, writer with on-stage interviewer Rebecca and future of our City of Literature.
racism, classism, sexism, colonialism of Time Travel) transcend the culture Bri Lee and Wiradjuri and Wailwan Harkins-Cross. Regarded as one of Join Evelyn Araluen, Maxine Beneba
and nationalism and imagine a new wars to consider the productive lawyer Teela Reid discuss the America’s great writers and thinkers, Clarke, Patricia Cornelius, Nayuka
way forward. This Festival defies the conversation emerging around First disorder in our courts. Amani Haydar, and literature’s spiritual leader, Gorrie, Chloe Hooper, Shaun
deep desire to impose a narrative Nations histories, in conversation Jess Hill, Celeste Liddle and Tanya Marilynne Robinson joins Michael Tan and Maria Tumarkin for an
structure on chaos. There are no with Sally Warhaft. Two of our most Plibersek join Sophie Black to discuss Williams to discuss her prolific unmissable Closing Night.
foregone conclusions here—but beloved and celebrated authors and how policymakers, the law and the career and Gilead series. In his only Although this festival may have a
infinite possibilities. journalists Julia Baird and Trent media can work together to end the Victorian event, Douglas Stuart will different ending to the one we boldly
To find out how the story ends, Dalton discuss the importance of scourge of family violence. 2021 reveal how he shaped the world of and hopefully planned, we’re so
we need to understand how it began. wonder and where they find it in Australian of the Year Grace Tame his Booker Prize–winning novel proud to share the staggering talent
On Opening Night, an all-star their lives. has spent the last ten years turning her Shuggie Bain and the book’s runaway of the authors who have published
line-up considers this country’s Twice Miles Franklin–shortlisted traumatic experience into advocacy popularity in conversation with books in the most unenviable of
foundational myths. How have our author Tony Birch emerged from for survivors of child sexual assault. Anton Enus. circumstances. This festival is a long-
brutal beginnings endured to this lockdown with two new books that In a Festival highlight, she takes to MWF Digital is back, and overdue celebration of these writers
day, and how do we reckon with our showcase his unsurpassed versatility the stage of the Athenaeum Theatre we’re proud to bring our audience and their vital work. We hope you’ll
history of dispossession? When did in both poetry and prose: Whisper for a powerful keynote address. a lovingly curated selection of the join us.
we start to see ourselves as a bunch Songs and Dark as Last Night. John Some of our brightest political world’s most essential literary voices.
of battlers, larrikins and top blokes in Safran launches his signature style of commentators tackle the biggest These ten events featuring luminaries
the land of the fair go? And what fibs, gonzo journalism on Big Tobacco in stories of our lives. Human rights Rachel Cusk, Jhumpa Lahiri,
both big and small, help our leaders his impressively subtitled new book lawyer Julian Burnside, former Emma Dabiri, Rumaan Alam, Akala,
stay in power? Puff Piece: How Philip Morris set vaping Greens senator Scott Ludlam and Natasha Brown, Brandon Taylor,
3
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 3 & SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
WHERE DO
I BEGIN?
Opening Night: Where Do I Begin?
3 Sep, 6.30–8pm | Athenaeum Theatre
To find out how the story ends, we need to understand how it began. How have our brutal beginnings endured to this day, and how
do we reckon with our history of dispossession? When did we start to see ourselves as a bunch of battlers, larrikins and top blokes in
the land of the fair go? And what fibs, both big and small, help our leaders stay in power? An all-star line-up opens the Festival with
readings on Australia’s foundational myths. The Age presents its Book of the Year award for the first time since 2012.
$35/$30 1
Murder, Jane Wrote
4 Sep, 10–11am
Douglas The Ties That Bind
4 Sep, 2–3pm
State Library Victoria, Conversation
Quarter
Stuart: State Library Victoria, Village
Roadshow Theatrette
Jane Harper (The Survivors) talks
about her bestselling crime mysteries,
Shuggie Bain Acclaimed novelists Laura Elizabeth
Woollett (The Newcomer) and Mark
how remote Australian landscapes 4 Sep, 11am–12pm Brandi (The Others) shed light on
inform her stories, and seeing her The Capitol shaping crime novels that depict the
debut novel on the big screen, in Crossing live from New York, Douglas relationship between a parent and
conversation with Angela Savage. Stuart reveals how he shaped the child, with Elizabeth McCarthy.
$25/$20 world of his Booker Prize–winning $15/$10
2 novel Shuggie Bain, the book’s 13
runaway popularity, and why the story
still rings true after years of austerity
The Ripple Effect in the UK, in conversation with on-stage PEN 100: Freedom to Write
interviewer Anton Enus.
4 Sep, 10–11am 4 Sep, 2–3pm
Supported by ARA
State Library Victoria, Village State Library Victoria, Create
Roadshow Theatrette $35/$30 Quarter
Miles Franklin–winning writer Sofie 6 Celebrating the centenary of PEN
Laguna (Infinite Splendours) and International, Torres Strait Islander
Walkley Award–winning journalist writer Thomas Mayor reflects on
Erina Reddan (The Serpent’s Skin) First Nations writing as an act of self-
discuss how they have depicted the determination, on stage with Declan Fry.
legacy of childhood trauma in their In partnership with PEN Melbourne
new novels, with Ellen Cregan. Now and Then: Celebrating Apocalypse Now? Lisa Millar: Daring to Fly Free, no bookings required
$15/$10 Ten Years of Stella Not Just Yet 4 Sep, 1–2pm 14
3 4 Sep, 12–1pm 4 Sep, 12–1pm The Capitol
State Library Victoria, Village The Wheeler Centre, Performance Former foreign correspondent and
ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar Tampa: 20 Years On
Living Memories Roadshow Theatrette Space
4 Sep, 2–3pm
Join Stella Prize co-founder Chris School Strikes 4 Climate organiser talks about Daring to Fly, her account
4 Sep, 10–11am of conquering trauma and fear, with
Gordon in conversation with Carrie Jean Hinchliffe (Lead the Way) and The Wheeler Centre, Performance
State Library Victoria, Create Quarter Tiffany, Emily Bitto and Claire G former Greens senator Scott Ludlam her friend ABC 7.30’s Leigh Sales. Space
Writers Kavita Bedford (Friends & Coleman as they discuss the Prize’s (Full Circle) examine how small-scale $35/$30 Fulbright scholar and refugee Abbas
Dark Shapes) and Anwen Crawford impact, enduring legacy and what activism coalesces into a greater Nazari (After the Tampa) discusses
11
(No Document) reflect on their genre- might be achieved next. climate change movement, with the legacy of the 2001 Tampa affair,
bending books that unfurl stories of grief In partnership with the Stella Prize Linh Do. the life he has since built in New
and loss, with Rebecca Harkins-Cross.
$15/$10 In partnership with 3RRR 102.7FM Tony Birch: Immaculate Zealand and the power of hope, with
Free, no bookings required Michael Green.
7 $25/$20 Collections
4 9 $25/$20
4 Sep, 2–3pm
15
State Library Victoria, Conversation
Let Me Be Brief: Paige Clark
Dear Son The New Wave of First Quarter
and Chloe Wilson Miles Franklin–shortlisted author Bryan Brown: Sweet Jimmy
4 Sep, 10–11am
4 Sep, 12–1pm Nations Fiction Tony Birch chats with Jeanine Leane
The Wheeler Centre, Performance 4 Sep, 2–3pm
State Library Victoria, Create Quarter 4 Sep, 12–1pm about his new collections of prose
Space Athenaeum Theatre
Acclaimed writers Paige Clark (She and poetry that cement his reputation
Dear Son editor Thomas Mayor and State Library Victoria, Conversation
as one of Australia’s finest storytellers. Australian screen legend Bryan Brown
contributors Jack Latimore and Stan Is Haunted) and Chloe Wilson (Hold Quarter
$25/$20 (Breaker Morant, Two Hands) chats
Grant speak to Shelley Ware about Your Fire) chat about their short [SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7] about turning his hand to crime writing
their contributions to the collection story collections, both bound by 12
10 in his debut book, Sweet Jimmy.
of letters written to sons, fathers, fantastical and unsettling elements, in
conversation with Veronica Sullivan. $35/$30
and nephews in celebration of First
Nations manhood. Free, no bookings required 16
$25/$20 8
5
4
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 4 & SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
The Lies of the Uncomfortable Truths Young and Muslim Norman Swan Knows
from Unceded Land in Australia What’s Good For You
Land: Australia, 4 Sep, 6–7pm 5 Sep, 10–11am 5 Sep, 2–3pm
Assange and Athenaeum Theatre The Wheeler Centre, Performance State Library Victoria, Conversation
WikiLeaks [SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7] Space
Prize-winning authors Randa Abdel-
Quarter
Beloved broadcaster and physician
4 Sep, 4–5pm 23
Fattah (Coming of Age in the War Norman Swan clears up medical
State Library Victoria, Conversation on Terror) and Michael Mohammed myths and misconceptions about
Quarter Ahmad (The Other Half of You) talk health while discussing his book
Human rights lawyer Julian Burnside, with Tasneem Chopra about the lives So You Think You Know What’s
former Greens senator Scott Ludlam, of young Australian Muslims. Good for You?
and Julian Assange’s lawyer Jen $25/$20 $25/$20
Robinson discuss WikiLeaks, free 27 29
speech and covert power.
$25/$20
17 Facing the Legacy Marcia Langton:
of Colonialism Welcome to Country
5 Sep, 12–1pm 5 Sep, 4–5pm
John Safran: Puff Piece The Wheeler Centre, Performance The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Space Space
4 Sep, 8–9pm
Noongar author Claire G Coleman Influential Aboriginal scholar and
Athenaeum Theatre
and polymath writer Alison author Marcia Langton shares insight
Inimitable author and filmmaker John Croggon share the stage for a panel into the forthcoming updated edition
Safran discusses his wild, hilarious discussion about the ongoing legacy of her landmark travel guide to
and thought-provoking exposé of Big of Australia’s colonial past, with Roj First Nations Australia, Welcome to
Tobacco, Puff Piece, on stage with Amedi. Country, on stage with Barry Judd.
Mahmood Fazal.
$25/$20 $25/$20
$35/$30
Australia and the End Dark Emu and The Art 28 31
25
of Empire of Time Travel
4 Sep, 4–5pm 4 Sep, 4–5pm
Up Late: Patricia Karvelas Jennifer
Down:
State Library Victoria, Village Athenaeum Theatre
Roadshow Theatrette Author Bruce Pascoe (Dark Emu) and Sally Rugg
Bodies
Veronica Heritage-Gorrie (Black and historian Tom Griffiths (The Art 4 Sep, 8–9pm
and Blue) and Randa Abdel-Fattah of Time Travel) transcend the culture State Library Victoria, Conversation
(Coming of Age in the War on Terror) wars to consider the productive
of Light
Quarter
examine how modern-day racism is conversation emerging around First
bound to colonisation. Nations histories, in conversation with [SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7]
Sally Warhaft. UP1 5 Sep, 2–3pm
$15/$10
18 $35/$30 The Wheeler Centre, Performance
21 Space
Prize-winning writer Jennifer
A New Body Politic
Fortress
Down provides an early look at her
4 Sep, 4–5pm forthcoming novel, Bodies of Light,
Australia
a sublimely crafted masterwork
State Library Victoria, Create
of tragedy and heartbreak, in
Quarter
conversation with Carrie Tiffany.
Sam van Zweden (Eating with My 4 Sep, 6–7pm
$25/$20
Mouth Open) and Sarah Walker (The State Library Victoria, Conversation
First Time I Thought I Was Dying) talk 30
Quarter
about reconnecting with our unruly
Can we stay safe from COVID without
minds and bodies, with Eloise Grills.
The Cancel
turning our back on the world?
Free, no bookings required Norman Swan, Osman Faruqi and
19 Jamila Rizvi debate public safety and
politics with ABC Radio Melbourne’s
Raf Epstein. Culture Wars
Uncertain Terms $25/$20 5 Sep, 4–5pm
4 Sep, 4–5pm 24 State Library Victoria,
The Wheeler Centre, Performance Conversation Quarter
Space Commentators from across the
ABC reporter Sarah Dingle (Brave political divide debate the newest
New Humans) and author Erin battleground of free speech: cancel
Stewart (The Missing Among Us) culture. Featuring Louise Adler,
talk about how we cope in the face
ABC Radio Melbourne: Jessie Stephens: Heartsick Waleed Aly, James Button, Parnell
of life-changing uncertainty, with Homespun 5 Sep, 10–11am Palme McGuinness and Nyadol
Justine Hyde. State Library Victoria, Conversation Nyuon on stage with The Age editor
4 Sep, 6–7pm
Quarter Gay Alcorn.
$25/$20 State Library Victoria, Village
Heartsick author and podcaster Jessie In partnership with The Age
20 Roadshow Theatrette
Stephens talks about how heartbreak $25/$20
ABC Radio Melbourne listeners step
into the limelight to share true stories makes and breaks us, in conversation 32
on stage with hosts Virginia Trioli with ABC 7.30’s Leigh Sales.
and David Astle and a special guest $25/$20
storyteller. 26
In partnership with ABC Radio
Melbourne
$15/$10
22
5
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
MWF FAMILIES
For the little readers in your life, MWF Families is a fun-filled day starring
some of the country’s most popular and entertaining children’s authors.
Join us for illustrator battles, live mysteries, storytelling and more.
Bedtime Stories Live! School of Monsters Totally Paw-some!
5 Sep, 10–10.45am 5 Sep, 12.15–1pm 5 Sep, 1–1.45pm
State Library Victoria, Create State Library Victoria, Village State Library Victoria, Create
Quarter Roadshow Theatrette Quarter
The bestselling author of the Nanny The School of Monsters comes to Illustrator and writer Remy Lai draws
Piggins, Friday Barnes and Girl life as bestselling children’s author live on the big screen to show the
Detective series RA Spratt records a Sally Rippin spills the secrets of her storytelling process behind her
special episode of her Bedtime Stories silly and spooky characters with live hilarious and heartwarming new tale
podcast in front of a live audience. illustrations by Chris Kennett. Ages 6+ Pawcasso. Ages 6+
Giggles guaranteed. Ages 8+ $10 Free, no bookings required
Free, no bookings required FAM5 FAM6
FAM1
Real Pigeons Live Mystery
5 Sep, 10.45–11.30am
State Library Victoria, Village
Roadshow Theatrette
Help the creators of the hilarious
Real Pigeons series, writer Andrew
McDonald and illustrator Ben Wood,
solve a crime with their feathery gang
of superpowered sleuths. Ages 6+ Storytime with
$10
FAM2 Maxine Beneba Clarke
5 Sep, 11.30am–12pm
State Library Victoria, Create Quarter
Story Box Library Prize-winning writer Maxine Beneba Clarke reads from her gorgeously illustrated
4 Sep, 8am to 30 Sep, midnight children’s books, sharing her richly lyrical prose and inspiring messages for kids.
Online Ages 4+
Join an all-star cast of some of Free, no bookings required
Australia’s favourite authors and FAM3
musicians—Paul Dempsey, Emma,
Taking Care of Country
Donovan, Kate Miller-Heidke, Alice
Pung and Jamila Rizvi—as they read
a series of stories designed to get
kids excited about reading and inspire 5 Sep, 1.45–2.30pm
their imaginations. Ages 5–8 State Library Victoria, Village Roadshow Theatrette
In partnership with Story Box Library Award-winning children’s writer Kirli Saunders (Bindi) leads a fun-filled interactive
Free, registration required session about First Nations cultures and taking care of our land. Ages 8+
SBL $10
FAM7
Stand Up for the Planet! Illustration Battle Station
5 Sep, 2.30–3.15pm 5 Sep, 3.15–4pm
State Library Victoria, Create State Library Victoria, Village
Quarter Roadshow Theatrette
Join beloved Australian children’s Peter Carnavas, Chris Kennett,
book author Ingrid Laguna (Bailey Remy Lai and Ben Wood draw your
Finch Takes a Stand), for a lively silliest suggestions to decide who will
interactive session about how kids be crowned The Very Best Illustrator
can turn environmental concern into of All Time. Ages 6+
action. Ages 8+ $10
Free, no bookings required FAM9
Morris Gleitzman FAM8
The Magical Puppet Theatre
in Conversation 5 Sep, 4–4.45pm
State Library Victoria, Create
5 Sep, 12–1pm
Quarter
State Library Victoria, Conversation Quarter
One of the country’s favourite
Literary legend Morris Gleitzman shares insight into Always, the final book children’s authors Ursula Dubosarsky
of his highly acclaimed and award-winning Once series for younger readers, raises the curtain on her new puppet-
in conversation with Adele Walsh. Ages 10+ themed book, Pierre’s Not There, in
$10 this special event. Ages 6+
FAM4 Free, no bookings required
FAM10
Illustration: Remy Lai
6
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
FIRST NATIONS CURATORS
This year’s festival is enriched by self-determined programming from two
leading First Nations Curators—renowned academic and public intellectual
Professor Marcia Langton, who has authored many books, essays and articles
including her forthcoming, updated edition of Welcome to Country, along
with Jingili Mudburra editor Bridget Caldwell-Bright, who was co-editor
for Archer Magazine’s The First Nations Edition and managing editor for
Blak Brow. They curate and host conversations with an array of writers,
poets and thinkers, carrying forward a millennia-long tradition of
storytelling and challenging our founding colonial myths.
Marcia Langton:
Welcome to Country
5 Sep, 4–5pm
The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Space
[SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 5]
31 First Nations Poets: Tell Us How It Ends
11 Sep, 10–11am
State Library Victoria, Create Quarter
Lines of Inquiry:
An incredible line-up of First Nations poets perform works speaking to this
Indigenous Poetry year’s Festival theme, Tell Me How It Ends, in an event hosted by Bridget
10 Sep, 10–11am Caldwell-Bright. Featuring Evelyn Araluen, Maya Hodge and Jazz Money.
State Library Victoria, Village Free, no bookings required
Roadshow Theatrette 63
Marcia Langton speaks with
Indigenous poets Charmaine
Papertalk Green, Yvette Holt and
Flock: First Nations Stories The Art of Blak Critique
Ellen van Neerven about how their 11 Sep, 6–7pm 12 Sep, 10–11am
work is bringing fresh perspective to The Wheeler Centre, Performance State Library Victoria, Village
The New Wave of Uncomfortable Truths our past, present and future. Space Roadshow Theatrette
Supported by the Copyright Agency
First Nations Fiction from Unceded Land Flock is a brilliant new anthology A panel of First Nations critics,
Cultural Fund and First Nations showcasing some of the finest short reviewers and essayists discuss the
4 Sep, 12–1pm 4 Sep, 6–7pm Australia Writers’ Network stories by First Nations writers from importance of Blak critique and peer
State Library Victoria, Athenaeum Theatre Free, no bookings required the last 25 years. Bryan Andy is review. Featuring Bridget Caldwell-
Conversation Quarter Non-fiction writers Stan Grant, joined by contributors Tony Birch, Bright in conversation with Declan
42
Melissa Lucashenko, Nardi Simpson Thomas Mayor and Henry Reynolds Mykaela Saunders and Adam Fry, Tristen Harwood and Alison
and Karen Wyld talk about the power discuss the First Nations histories, Thompson. Whittaker.
of First Nations fiction to illuminate politics and ideas that inform their $25/$20 Supported by the Copyright Agency
history, culture and ways of thinking work, on stage with Marcia Langton. 84 Cultural Fund
in conversation with Marcia Langton. Supported by the Copyright Agency $15/$10
Supported by ARA Cultural Fund 89
$25/$20 $35/$30
10 23
UP LATE
Settle in with three pairs of guest hosts for a talk-show-style end to your evening, served with a generous pour of pop culture,
current affairs and everything in between. Our hosts welcome an all-star line-up of guests into the arena for what promises
to be a cheeky and irreverent up-late event unpacking all the happenings of the day, be it celeb feuds on Twitter or the
latest lowdown from Canberra.
State Library Victoria, Conversation Quarter | $25/20 per event
Patricia Karvelas and Sally Rugg Jan Fran and Jess McGuire Benjamin Law and Beverley Wang
4 Sep, 8–9pm 10 Sep, 8–9pm 11 Sep, 8–9pm
UP1 UP2 UP3
7
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
MWF DIGITAL
MWF Digital brings some of the world’s essential literary voices into your home
via video, from Pulitzer Prize winners to exhilarating debut authors to the most
talked-about novelists of the year. Events are available individually on a pay-what-
you-can basis, or you can go all in and purchase a Digital Pass.
Online | On demand from 6 Sep, 8am to 15 Sep, midnight
Akala: The Dark Lady Rumaan Alam: Leave the Natasha Brown: Assembly Rachel Cusk: Second Place Emma Dabiri: What White
The Dark Lady by author and hip- World Behind Natasha Brown’s Assembly has Rachel Cusk’s newest work, Second People Can Do Next
hop artist Akala tells the magic- One of the year’s most talked-about earned impressive praise as ‘the Place, extends previously explored Celebrated Irish-Nigerian author
laced adventure of teen orphan books, Rumaan Alam’s Leave the literary debut of the summer’ (British themes of female fate and male Emma Dabiri’s What White People
and thief Henry, tackling themes of World Behind is a tautly dystopic Vogue). She speaks in conversation privilege to encompass the murky Can Do Next expertly outlines how
identity and inequality. Join ABC story of a family vacation interrupted with Areej Nur about her virtuosic link between art and evil. Cusk the idea of race was constructed to
RN’s Stop Everything! co-host by unseen disaster. Alam speaks novel, narrated by a Black British speaks with Sophie Black about bolster capitalism, while articulating
Beverley Wang as she speaks with with Osman Faruqi about a novel woman preparing to attend a lavish a dazzling and psychologically a powerful vision of how to forge a
an author described as ‘the kind of seemingly tailor-made for our times, party at her boyfriend’s family estate, exacting fable of human destiny future that works for us all. See her in
disruptive, aggressive intellect that a exploring race, class and privilege in exploring issues of race, class and and decline, and her prolific career conversation with Santilla Chingaipe
new generation is closely watching’. a world undone by catastrophe. assimilation. at large. about her intellectually rigorous,
DIGITAL1 DIGITAL2 DIGITAL3 DIGITAL4 razor-sharp treatise.
DIGITAL5
AC Grayling: The Frontiers Jhumpa Lahiri: Viet Thanh Nguyen: Sigrid Nunez: What Are Brandon Taylor:
of Knowledge Whereabouts The Committed You Going Through Filthy Animals
In a thought-stirring address drawing Pulitzer Prize–winning Jhumpa Viet Thanh Nguyen’s keenly In characteristically genre-defying One of 2020’s breakout literary stars
from his new book Frontiers of Lahiri’s new novel Whereabouts is awaited follow-up to the Pulitzer style, Sigrid Nunez’s What Are You for his Booker Prize–shortlisted
Knowledge, celebrated philosopher a meditative portrait of a woman Prize–winning The Sympathizer, Going Through melds fiction and novel Real Life, American writer
AC Grayling examines the great wavering between stasis and The Committed, has drawn praise criticism to tell a powerful story of Brandon Taylor talks to Adolfo
paradox of human inquiry: the more movement, originally composed in as ‘a treatise of global futurity in multiple endings. She speaks with Aranjuez about his captivating new
we know, the greater the extent of Italian and translated into English the aftermath of colonial conquest’ Astrid Edwards about the meaning of short story collection Filthy Animals,
our ignorance, making an urgent by Lahiri herself. She discusses her (Ocean Vuong). He speaks with Leah life, the nature of death, the power of a high-wire act of interlinked stories
case for connecting different aching and hypnotic work of fiction in Jing McIntosh about a literary thriller art and the purpose of friendship. about young creatives navigating
branches of knowledge to fortify our conversation with Emma Alberici. that shines a forensic light on empire DIGITAL9 the blurry territories of fear, longing,
understanding of ourselves and our Supported by ARA and capitalism. violence and desire.
world. DIGITAL8 DIGITAL10
DIGITAL7
DIGITAL6
8
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
TUESDAY 7 – THURSDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
MWF Gala
7 Sep, 7–10pm
State Library Victoria, The Ian Potter Queen’s Hall
Don your best cocktail attire for the MWF Gala, an evening of fine dining and
author appearances at the stunningly restored Ian Potter Queen’s Hall. The
evening includes a conversation with award-winning reporter Louise Milligan
and a discussion between celebrated cultural historian Maria Tumarkin and
editor and writer Leah Jing McIntosh.
$300
33
Melbourne Beginnings Allee Richards:
8 Sep, 5–6pm Small Joys of Real Life Helen Garner’s
The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Space
8 Sep, 7–8pm
The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Reasonable Doubts
Study Melbourne and MWF invite you Space 8 Sep, 8.30–9.30pm
to join us as we celebrate all of the Launching the Melbourne City Reads Athenaeum Theatre
creative submissions from our annual initiative promoted by CBD bookshops, When we describe Helen Garner’s work, we seize on its candour: she’s
storytelling competition and reveal local author Allee Richards joins ABC unflinching, unsparing, a scrutineer. But honesty is not the same as certainty.
the 2021 winners. This year brought Radio Melbourne’s Jacinta Parsons to In this special event, Garner makes a long-awaited return to Melbourne
international students together to discuss her just-released debut novel, Writers Festival to speak with writer and critic Beejay Silcox about the role
reflect on the theme, Melbourne which is already being described as a that doubt plays in her life and work, the literary power of ambiguity, and the
Beginnings. 21st century Monkey Grip. art of unknowing.
Supported by Study Melbourne Free, bookings required Supported by ARA and The Melbourne Gin Company
Free, bookings required 35 $35/$30
34
37
Julia Baird and Trent
Dalton: On Wonder
Secrets, Spies and Peter Steele Lecture: 9 Sep, 8.30–9.30pm
Whistleblowers The Spark of Poetry Athenaeum Theatre
9 Sep, 6.30–7.30pm 9 Sep, 6.30–7.30pm Conserving a sense of wonder
Athenaeum Theatre The Wheeler Centre, Performance allows us to transcend the mundane,
Space reminds us of our humanity and has
Can we claim to be a truly free and
even been linked to better health. In
fair democracy with a government Award-winning poet, editor, critic
this highlight Festival event, two of
that raids the homes of reporters, and Associate Professor in Creative
Australia’s most celebrated authors
aggressively pursues whistleblowers Writing Sarah Holland-Batt delivers
and journalists Julia Baird and Trent
and remains tight-lipped on the this year’s Peter Steele Lecture on
Dalton speak with Michael Williams
fate of Julian Assange? One of the how poetry may reconcile us to the
about the role of wonder in their
Jock Zonfrillo: Last Shot
country’s most respected journalists world.
lives and where they seek and find it
Kerry O’Brien leads a timely panel Supported by the Faculty of Arts, personally and professionally. Baird’s
discussion about state secrets, The University of Melbourne
8 Sep, 6.30–7.30pm Phosphorescence is a meditation on
press freedom and open justice with
Free, no bookings required ‘awe, wonder and things that sustain
Athenaeum Theatre Andrew Fowler, an award-winning
38 you when the world goes dark’.
From life on the streets battling addiction to becoming a top Australian chef and reporter and author of the acclaimed
Dalton’s All Our Shimmering Skies is
MasterChef judge, Jock Zonfrillo shares the stunning journey chronicled in his Assange biography The Most
‘a love letter to Australia and an ode
memoir Last Shot. On stage with Benjamin Law, he recounts growing up in 1980s Dangerous Man in the World, and
to the art of looking up’.
Glasgow, to barely balancing a career as a rising culinary star with a crippling lawyer Bernard Collaery, author of
Oil Under Troubled Water, who faces Supported by ARA
drug habit, to being taken under the wing of legendary chef Marco Pierre
White. He reflects on his life-changing move to Sydney, the closure of his prized trial for advising Witness K in relation $35/$30
restaurant during COVID-19, his time on country, and some very public battles. to Australia’s spy operation against
40
our ally East Timor during oil and gas
Supported by The Melbourne Gin Company
negotiations.
$35/$30
$35/$30
36
39
Saying no to being Bond
Saying no to being Bond
9
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
Barry Jones: Poetic Portraits Peter Godfrey-Smith: John Doyle: The Early Life
What Is to Be Done 10 Sep, 12–1pm Metazoa of Rampaging Roy Slaven
10 Sep, 10–11am State Library Victoria, Create 10 Sep, 2–3pm 10 Sep, 6.30–7.30pm
State Library Victoria, Conversation Quarter The Wheeler Centre, Performance Athenaeum Theatre
Quarter Portraits of Older Australians in Poetry Space John Doyle talks with Sam Pang
Writer and former Labor minister co-creators Cassandra Atherton and Scuba-diving philosopher and about Blessed: The Breakout Year of
Barry Jones talks about What Is to Be Jessica Wilkinson talk about capturing bestselling Other Minds author Peter Rampaging Roy Slaven, his warm and
Done, his incisive analysis of politics lives and memories through poetry, Godfrey-Smith talks about his new witty homage to his large-than-life
with project participants Aunty Jenni
at home and afar, in conversation with
Martiniello and Pip Heale and poets
work Metazoa, an inquiry into the Above and Beyond Belief alter ego.
philosopher and writer Raimond Gaita. evolutionary path of consciousness $35/$30
Jeanine Leane and Nick Whittock. from sea creatures to humankind. 10 Sep, 4–5pm
$25/$20
In partnership with RMIT University The Wheeler Centre, Performance 58
41 $25/$20
Free, no bookings required Space
52
Join Sarah Krasnostein (The Believer)
47 Up Late: Jan Fran
Lines of Inquiry: and Jenny Valentish (Everything
and Jess McGuire
Harder Than Everyone Else) as they
Indigenous Poetry
Cautionary Tales discuss meticulously researched 10 Sep, 8–9pm
10 Sep, 10–11am new releases that delve deep into the
10 Sep, 12–1pm State Library Victoria, Conversation
State Library Victoria, Village lives of extraordinary people, with Quarter
The Wheeler Centre, Performance Elizabeth McCarthy.
Roadshow Theatrette
Space [SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7]
[SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7] $25/$20
Debra Oswald (The Family Doctor) UP2
42 55
and JP Pomare (The Last Guests)
share insight into writing psychological
thrillers with pressing big-picture
A Crisis of Meaning
10 Sep, 10–11am
themes, on stage with Angela Savage. My Name is Grace Tame
$25/$20 10 Sep, 8.30–9.30pm
State Library Victoria, Create 48
Quarter Athenaeum Theatre
Fiction writers Miles Allinson and Since being named the 2021 Australian of the Year,
Jamie Marina Lau chat to Khalid Grace Tame has propelled the issue of child sexual
Warsame about striking new novels abuse into the national spotlight, prompting other young
that portray characters grappling with women to share their stories. She takes to the Festival
the consequences of an increasingly stage to deliver a powerful keynote address about her
meaningless world. advocacy for fellow survivors, the path forward for
creating legislative and structural change, and what her
Free, no bookings required future holds as part of a movement confronting a culture
43 of silence and sexism in Australia.
$35/$30
The Assault of the Earth The End of the Larrikin 60
10 Sep, 10–11am Legend?
The Wheeler Centre, Performance 10 Sep, 2–3pm
Space Rewriting History Stop Everything!
State Library Victoria, Conversation
Gabrielle Chan (Why You Should Give 10 Sep, 4–5pm 10 Sep, 6–7pm
Quarter
a F*ck About Farming) and Marian State Library Victoria, Village State Library Victoria, Conversation
A panel of political writers and
Wilkinson (The Carbon Club) speak Roadshow Theatrette Quarter
editors—Lech Blaine, Nick Feik and
with Astrid Edwards about finding Annika Smethurst—discuss the Steven Carroll (O) and Rebecca Co-hosts Benjamin Law and Beverley
new ways of engaging with our land. larrikin figure in our politics, with Starford (The Imitator) share insight Wang record their pop culture show
$25/$20 presenter Jan Fran. into riveting historical novels of Stop Everything! in front of a live
44 intrigue, speaking with ABC RN’s Sarah audience, with guests Mehreen Faruqi
$25/$20
L’Estrange.. and Jock Zonfrillo.
49 Lillian Ahenkan:
Supported by the Faculty of Arts, In partnership with ABC Radio National
Archive Fever The University of Melbourne $25/$20
The Success Experiment
10 Sep, 8–9pm
10 Sep, 12–1pm Lyrical Fury Free, no bookings required 56
State Library Victoria, Conversation 53 The Wheeler Centre, Performance
10 Sep, 2–3pm
Quarter Space
State Library Victoria, Village
Historians Clare Wright and Yves Roadshow Theatrette
Boisbouvier Oration: Known to some 150,000 Instagram
Rees record a live episode of their Local, Attention: Tony Birch followers as Flex Mami, presenter,
Award-winning authors Evelyn
podcast Archive Fever, talking political Araluen and Maria Takolander A Poetry Reading 10 Sep, 6–7pm
podcaster and influencer Lillian
record-keeping with Judith Brett (The Ahenkan chats about her debut book
talk about shaping genre-blurring 10 Sep, 4–5pm The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Enigmatic Mr Deakin) and Kate Ellis The Success Experiment, on stage
collections of poetry that stare down State Library Victoria, Create Space with Matilda Boseley.
(Sex, Lies and Question Time). difficult subjects with lyricism, on Quarter Celebrated writer Tony Birch
$25/$20 $25/$20
stage with Elena Gomez. Leading poets perform works illuminates the little-known struggles
45 59
Free, no bookings required exploring themes close to home. and successes of Aboriginal women
50 Featuring Luke Beesley, Andy who campaigned for human rights
Jackson, Jeanine Leane, Ellen van on government reserves early last Take It From Me: Krissy
Personal Truths Neerven, Jessica Wilkinson century, with closing remarks from
10 Sep, 12–1pm Arnold Zable in Conversation and host Claire Gaskin. Alexis Wright. Kneen and Debra Oswald
State Library Victoria, Village 10 Sep, 2–3pm In partnership with Australian Poetry Supported by the Faculty of Arts, 10 Sep, 9.30–10.30pm
Roadshow Theatrette State Library Victoria, Create Free, no bookings required The University of Melbourne The Moat
Acclaimed writers Clem Bastow Quarter 54 $25/$20 Australia’s most questionable
(Late Bloomer) and Kathryn Heyman Writer, novelist and human rights 57 late-night relationship advice event
(Fury) reflect on their unsparing and advocate Arnold Zable appears in returns to solve all your romantic
hopeful memoirs in conversation with conversation with Michael McGirr woes. Featuring host Jess McGuire
Erina Reddan. about a celebrated canon of work alongside Krissy Kneen and Debra
Free, no bookings required that brings unique insight to themes Oswald.
46 of memory, history and displacement. In partnership with the Wheeler Centre
Free, no bookings required $25
51 61
10MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
Behind the Curtain: Asian- Marilynne Robinson:
Australian Women Doctors Full of Grace
11 Sep, 10–11am
11 Sep, 11am–12pm
State Library Victoria, Village
The Capitol
Roadshow Theatrette
Crossing live from Iowa, one of the
Three generations of Asian-Australian
world’s great writers and thinkers,
women doctors share their stories
Marilynne Robinson speaks with
of navigating the medical system.
on-stage interviewer Michael Williams
Featuring Emotional Female author
about her most recent novel, Jack,
Yumiko Kadota, Melissa Kang and
the Gilead series and her celebrated
Melanie Cheng.
career at large.
$15/$10
Supported by ARA
64
$35/$30
66
Burning Down the House What’s Left Unsaid The Fifth Estate: The Cost of Concealment Maggie
11 Sep, 10–11am
State Library Victoria, Conversation
11 Sep, 10–11am
The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Our Exceptional Friend
11 Sep, 12–1pm
11 Sep, 12–1pm
State Library Victoria, Create Nelson: On
Quarter
Greens senator and environmental
Space
Prize-winning novelists Larissa
State Library Victoria, Conversation
Quarter
Quarter
Critically acclaimed authors Krissy Freedom
engineer Mehreen Faruqi and award- Behrendt (After Story) and Steven Historian and Our Exceptional Kneen (The Three Burials of Lotty 11 Sep, 1–2pm
winning journalist Marian Wilkinson Carroll (O) reflect on how the Friend author Emma Shortis asks Kneen) and Fiona Murphy (The Shape The Capitol
consider how to curb vested interests literature of long ago can illuminate whose interests Australia’s special of Sound) talk about confronting
and enact clean energy solutions, with important truths once left unsaid, on secrets, stigma and shame, with Crossing live from Los Angeles,
relationship with the US really serves, acclaimed author Maggie Nelson
Margaret Simons. stage with Clare Wright. with host Sally Warhaft, in a special Nadia Bailey.
(The Argonauts) talks about her new
Supported by Australian $25/$20 edition of The Fifth Estate series. Free, no bookings required book On Freedom, an exploration of
Communities Foundation 65 In partnership with the Wheeler Centre freedom in the spheres of art, sex,
69
$25/$20 $25/$20 drugs and climate, with on-stage
62 moderator Rebecca Harkins-Cross.
Scandalous Fictions 68
Generation Miserable $35/$30
11 Sep, 12–1pm 11 Sep, 12–1pm 71
First Nations Poets: State Library Victoria, Village The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Tell Us How It Ends Roadshow Theatrette Space
11 Sep, 10–11am Jacqueline Maley (The Truth About Lillian Ahenkan (aka Flex Mami),
State Library Victoria, Create Her) and Filip Vukašin (Modern Bridie Jabour and Sinéad Stubbins
Quarter Marriage) discuss their striking debut share the highs and lows of their
novels, both centred around narrators search for meaning as millennials, in
[SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7] whose lives are upended by scandal, conversation with Brodie Lancaster.
63 in conversation with Toni Jordan.
$25/$20
$15/$10
70
67
MWF TEENS
Don’t miss an action-packed day of events spanning origin stories, urban fantasy and a fanfic showcase
featuring some of Australia’s biggest names in YA.
Trades Hall, Fringe Common Rooms | $10 per event
Tell Me How It Hidden Worlds Can You Keep Finding Yourself YA’ll Are Doomed:
Started 11 Sep, 11.30am–12.30pm a Secret? 11 Sep, 3–4pm Dystopian Fanfic
11 Sep, 10–11am Travel to hidden realms ranging from
a parallel city to a society of magical
11 Sep, 1.30–2.30pm Novelists Samera Kamaleddine, Gary
Lonesborough and Kate O’Donnell
Showcase
Danielle Binks (The Monster of Her Gabriel Bergmoser (The True Colour of 11 Sep, 5–6.30pm
booksellers with fantasy writers Karen chat with Leanne Hall about finding
Age), Will Kostakis (The Greatest a Little White Lie) and Sophie Gonzales
Ginnane (When Days Tilt) and Garth your courage to overcome self-doubt Danielle Binks, Sophie Gonzales,
Hit) and Leanne Hall (The Gaps) (Perfect on Paper) share stories
Nix (The Left-Handed Booksellers of and shed light on their coming-of- Samera Kamaleddine, Amie
reveal the origins of their inspiring of teenagers with secret identities,
London), in conversation with Amie age novels that navigate the space Kaufman and Garth Nix present
new stories of young women facing whether it’s a geeky teen who reinvents
Kaufman. between getting lost and finding a piece of fanfiction about their
down their fears, with Melissa Keil. himself or a queer high schooler who
YA2 yourself. favourite characters from pop
YA1 gives anonymous love advice, in
YA4 culture cast into the apocalypse,
conversation with Will Kostakis.
with host Will Kostakis.
YA3
YA5
11MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
CALENDAR
Saturday 4 September
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA THE WHEELER CENTRE
ATHENAEUM THEATRE THE CAPITOL
Conversation Quarter Village Roadshow Theatrette Create Quarter Performance Space
10am Murder, Jane Wrote The Ripple Effect Living Memories Dear Son
11am Douglas Stuart: Shuggie Bain
The New Wave of First Nations Now and Then: Let Me Be Brief: Paige Clark and
12pm Apocalypse Now? Not Just Yet
Fiction Celebrating Ten Years of Stella Chloe Wilson
Lisa Millar:
1pm
Daring to Fly
Tony Birch:
2pm The Ties That Bind PEN 100: Freedom to Write Tampa: 20 Years On Bryan Brown: Sweet Jimmy
Immaculate Collections
3pm
The Lies of the Land: Australia, Dark Emu and The
4pm Australia and the End of Empire A New Body Politic Uncertain Terms
Assange and WikiLeaks Art of Time Travel
5pm
Uncomfortable Truths from
6pm Fortress Australia ABC Radio Melbourne: Homespun
Unceded Land
7pm
Up Late: Patricia Karvelas John Safran:
8pm
and Sally Rugg Puff Piece
Sunday 5 September
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA THE WHEELER CENTRE
Conversation Quarter Village Roadshow Theatrette Create Quarter Performance Space
10am Jessie Stephens: Heartsick Bedtime Stories Live! Young and Muslim in Australia
Real Pigeons Live Mystery
11am
Storytime with Maxine Beneba Clarke
12pm Morris Gleitzman in Conversation School of Monsters Facing the Legacy of Colonialism
1pm Totally Paw-some!
Taking Care of Country
2pm Norman Swan Knows What’s Good For You Jennifer Down: Bodies of Light
Stand Up for the Planet!
3pm
Illustration Battle Station
4pm The Cancel Culture Wars The Magical Puppet Theatre Marcia Langton: Welcome to Country
Friday 10 September
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA THE WHEELER CENTRE
ATHENAEUM THEATRE
Conversation Quarter Village Roadshow Theatrette Create Quarter Performance Space
10am Barry Jones: What Is to Be Done Lines of Inquiry: Indigenous Poetry A Crisis of Meaning The Assault of the Earth
11am
12pm Archive Fever Personal Truths Poetic Portraits Cautionary Tales
1pm
2pm The End of the Larrikin Legend? Lyrical Fury Arnold Zable in Conversation Peter Godfrey-Smith: Metazoa
3pm
4pm Rewriting History Local, Attention: A Poetry Reading Above and Beyond Belief
5pm
6pm Stop Everything! Boisbouvier Oration: Tony Birch
John Doyle: The Early Life
of Rampaging Roy Slaven
7pm
8pm Up Late: Jan Fran and Jess McGuire Lillian Ahenkan: The Success Experiment
My Name is Grace Tame
9pm
12MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
CALENDAR
Saturday 11 September
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA THE WHEELER CENTRE TRADES HALL
ATHENAEUM THEATRE THE CAPITOL
Conversation Quarter Village Roadshow Theatrette Create Quarter Performance Space Fringe Common Rooms
Behind the Curtain: Asian First Nations Poets:
10am Burning Down the House What’s Left Unsaid Tell Me How It Started
Australian Women Doctors Tell Us How It Ends
Marilynne Robinson:
11am
Full of Grace
Hidden Worlds
The Fifth Estate: The Cost of
12pm Scandalous Fictions Generation Miserable
Our Exceptional Friend Concealment
1pm Maggie Nelson: On Freedom
Can You Keep a Secret?
Mehreen Faruqi: Too Migrant,
2pm Relative Chaos Our Better Nature Let’s Talk About Sex
Too Muslim, Too Loud
Bringing an End
3pm Finding Yourself
to Family Violence
Barriers, Bias and John Button Oration: The Motherhood in the Time of
4pm The Mourning After One Guitar: Missy Higgins
Political Bastardry Next Generation’s Australia Climate Crisis
YA’ll Are Doomed: Dystopian
5pm Defamation Nation
Fan Fic Showcase
6pm I Will End You Flock: First Nations Stories
Ziggy Ramo:
7pm
From Little Things
Up Late: Benjamin Law Anita Heiss: Bila
8pm
and Beverley Wang Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
Sunday 12 September
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA THE WHEELER CENTRE
THE CAPITOL
Conversation Quarter Village Roadshow Theatrette Create Quarter Performance Space
10am How It Started, How It’s Going The Art of Blak Critique Changing the Story Internal Affairs
11am
Still Unfinished:
12pm The Memories We Inherit Left Behind Oh, The Humanities
The Fight for Feminist Reform
1pm
2pm Disorder in the Courts But You Don’t Look Sick What We Become Gideon Haigh: The Brilliant Boy
3pm
Other Ways the World Let Me Be Brief: Melissa Manning
4pm The Long View Masculinity on the Ropes
Could Be and Adam Thompson
5pm
Closing Night:
Tell Me How It Ends
6pm
Get the most out of your
festival by purchasing an
MWF Pass now.
Save up to 25% on individual ticket
prices. Passes start at $89.
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13MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
John Button Oration: The Defamation Nation
Next Generation’s Australia 11 Sep, 5–6pm
11 Sep, 4–5pm Athenaeum Theatre
State Library Victoria, Village The Age’s deputy and investigations
Roadshow Theatrette editor Michael Bachelard joins
CEO of the Grattan Institute Danielle writer and lawyer Michael Bradley
Wood delivers this year’s John Button for a panel discussion about
Oration on how policymakers can the unique challenges posed by
bring young people’s interests into Australia’s defamation laws, and the
political debate to provide a better extraordinary courage under fire
future for the next generation. that’s required by journalists and
outlets when holding powerful people
Supported by the John Button Fund, to account.
Melbourne School of Government,
The University of Melbourne $35/$30
$15/$10 82
Mehreen Faruqi: Too Migrant, 78
Too Muslim, Too Loud
11 Sep, 2–3pm Ziggy Ramo:
State Library Victoria, Conversation Quarter From Little Things
The first Muslim woman to sit in an Australian parliament, activist and Greens 11 Sep, 7–8pm
senator Mehreen Faruqi shares insight into her memoir Too Migrant, Too Muslim, Athenaeum Theatre
Too Loud on stage with presenter Jan Fran. Indigenous hip-hop artist Ziggy
$25/$20 Ramo’s urgent and powerful music
72 addresses colonial dispossession,
systemic racism and intergenerational
trauma. In an evening of storytelling
Relative Chaos and performance, he reflects on his
11 Sep, 2–3pm activism, writing, and bold vision for
State Library Victoria, Village the future.
Roadshow Theatrette $35/$30
Much-loved writers Emily Maguire 85
(Love Objects) and Alice Pung (One
Hundred Days) share insight into their
new novels, which explore class, family Anita Heiss: Bila
and love, with Elizabeth McCarthy. Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
Supported by the Copyright Agency 11 Sep, 8–9pm
Cultural Fund
$15/$10 One Guitar: Missy Higgins The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Space
73 11 Sep, 4–5pm Award-winning Wiradyuri writer
The Capitol Anita Heiss talks about Bila
Missy Higgins appears at a live recording of the One Guitar podcast with Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River
Our Better Nature Alexander Gow, debuting a new song and discussing her creative process. of Dreams), her epic new historical
11 Sep, 2–3pm Supported by Mushroom Group and APRA AMCOS novel centred on a young Aboriginal
State Library Victoria, Create couple’s search for home, in
$35/$30
Quarter Bringing an End to conversation with Paul Barclay.
Domestic Violence 81 $25/$20
Questions Raised by Quolls author
Harry Saddler and Loving Country 11 Sep, 3–4pm 86
co-author Vicky Shukuroglou talk
about the need to preserve our natural
Athenaeum Theatre The Mourning After I Will End You
wonders against multiple threats, in Amani Haydar, Jess Hill, Celeste 11 Sep, 4–5pm 11 Sep, 6–7pm Up Late: Benjamin Law
Liddle and Tanya Plibersek discuss
discussion with Fatima Measham.
how policymakers, the law, and the State Library Victoria, Create State Library Victoria, Conversation and Beverley Wang
Free, no bookings required Quarter Quarter 11 Sep, 8–9pm
media can work together to end
74 the scourge of family violence, in Acclaimed new talents Ella Baxter (New Brodie Lancaster brings together a State Library Victoria, Conversation
conversation with Sophie Black. Animal) and Allee Richards (Small Joys panel of writers and critics who each Quarter
$35/$30 of Real Life) share insight into debut make a case for ditching one thing
Let’s Talk About Sex novels that each tell the story of a young from pop culture. Featuring Declan
[SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7]
76 woman navigating loss and grief, on Fry, Sinéad Stubbins, Jack Vening UP3
11 Sep, 2–3pm
The Wheeler Centre, Performance stage with Elizabeth McCarthy. and more.
Space Barriers, Bias and Political Free, no bookings required $25/$20 Take It From Me: Ella
79 83
It is time we overhaul how and when Bastardry Baxter and Melissa Kang
we teach young people about sex and
11 Sep, 4–5pm 11 Sep, 9.30–10.30pm
consent. Melissa Kang, Yumi Stynes,
Bri Lee and Christopher Fisher chat State Library Victoria, Conversation Motherhood in the Flock: First Nations Stories The Moat
with Benjamin Law. Quarter Time of Climate Crisis 11 Sep, 6–7pm Australia’s most questionable late-
$25/$20 Political commentator Jamila Rizvi 11 Sep, 4–5pm The Wheeler Centre, Performance night relationship advice event returns
75 chats about the way forward after a Space to solve all your romantic woes.
year to forget for women in Canberra, The Wheeler Centre, Performance
Featuring host Jess McGuire alongside
Space [SEE EVENT DETAILS ON PAGE 7]
in a panel discussion including former Ella Baxter and Dr Melissa Kang.
MPs Julia Banks (Power Play) and Briohny Doyle (Echolalia) and Delia 84
In partnership with the Wheeler Centre
Kate Ellis (Sex, Lies and Question Falconer (Signs and Wonders)
discuss their new books that deal $25
Time).
with what it means to be a parent and 87
Supported by Maurice Blackburn
artist in a time of ecological crisis, in
$25/$20 conversation with Else Fitzgerald.
77 In partnership with 3RRR 102.7FM
$25/$20
80
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