Sydney Writers Festival by Avant Card

After

Hours Guide

TUESDAY 20 MAY, 6.30 – 8PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

2014 Opening Address:

Andrew Solomon Award-winning writer Andrew Solomon begins Sydney Writers’ Festival’s thinking season with the Opening Address. He shares his own experience and reflects on the stories parents have shared with him about their children facing various challenges. No matter the difficulties, there is power in meeting people on their own terms. Join us to celebrate the start of the Festival, a week of writing, thinking and ideas.

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY, 7.30 – 8.30 PM, SYDNEY OPER A HOUSE

The Life and Times of

Alice Walker Internationally celebrated author and activist Alice Walker, best known for her Pulitzer Prizewinning novel The Colour Purple is interviewed by Caroline Baum about her recent books and stunning body of work. She is joined on stage by special guest Archie Roach.

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY, 7 – 9PM, PIER 2/3 CLUB STAGE

Tim Finn:

White Cloud Iconic New Zealand singer-songwriter, Tim Finn (Crowded House and Split Enz) brings White Cloud to Sydney Writers’ Festival. This meditative performance about family, identity and home is a richly textured blend of beautifully melodic music and poetically evocative prose. White Cloud is written by Tim Finn and leading New Zealand playwright/screenwriter Ken Duncum.

THURSDAY 22 MAY, 6.30 – 7.45PM, CIT Y R ECITAL HALL

Eleanor Catton:

The

Luminaries Eleanor Catton’s dazzling epic has confirmed her as one of the literary world’s brightest rising stars. Her Man Booker Prize-winning second novel is a complex, exquisitely crafted tale of intrigue among the goldmines of New Zealand in 1866. Steven Gale speaks to the youngest winner of this prestigious prize about the extraordinary, ambitious literary accomplishment, The Luminaries. Supported by Man Investments.

T H U R S D AY 2 2 M AY, 8.30 – 9.30 PM, C I T Y R E C I TA L H A L L

Sandi Toksvig:

Valentine Sandi Toksvig – comedian, novelist, actor, broadcaster, show-off and international treasure – brings her smash-hit solo show to the Festival. The long-standing host of Radio Four’s News Quiz and Excess Baggage and regular QI panellist, performs her uniquely witty evening of stand-up, stories and fascinating facts. Supported by the City of Sydney.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 6.30 – 7.30 PM, SYDNEY TOWN HALL

What’s

Normal Anyway? It can be a terrifying moment to realise you are just like your parents. Finding no resemblance to your parents can be just as horrifying. A.M. Homes, Andrew Solomon, Jo Case and Robert Hoge discuss the search for identity with ABC RN’s Natasha Mitchell. Supported by the City of Sydney.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 8.30 – 9.30 PM, SYDNEY TOWN HALL

Humour and

Debauchery With a Few Manners in Between

Celebrate the start of the Sydney Writers’ Festival weekend with some of the most intriguing guests at this year’s Festival. Annabel Crabb speaks to Russian immigrant turned US literary celebrity Gary Shteyngart about Little Failure; Sandi Toksvig, one of the UK’s most loved comedians and broadcasters who has a thing or two to share about modern manners; and cult author of Trainspotting Irvine Welsh who reveals all about The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins. Supported by the City of Sydney.

SATUR DAY 24 MAY, 11.30AM – 12.30 PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

Reza Aslan:

Zealot Acclaimed writer and scholar Reza Aslan’s new book Zealot hit The New York Times #1 bestseller list after an interview with him went viral. He speaks to Steven Gale about this provocative biography that challenges assumptions about Jesus.

SATUR DAY 24 MAY, 1.30 – 2.30 PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

Art of Indignation

The

Taking offence is a new form of political currency, with indignation being whipped up in place of rational debate. Michael Leunig, Tim Wilson, Richard King and Neil James speak with Peter FitzSimons on the importance of argument in society. Supported by The Plain English Foundation.

SATUR DAY 24 MAY, 6 – 7PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

A.M. Homes:

May We Be

Forgiven Celebrated writer A.M. Homes speaks with Susan Wyndham about May We Be Forgiven, winner of the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange Prize). The novel is a breathtaking satire of modern American life that begins at full speed and never lets up.

SATUR DAY MAY 24, 7.30 – 9PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

The international live storytelling sensation returns to SWF. Five speakers, 15 minutes each: Emma Donoghue, best-selling author of Room, pursues women in pants; the man behind Black T-Shirt Collection, Nigerian-British spoken word artist Inua Ellams splits up in style; British fashion commentator Colin McDowell explains why we’re all fashionistas now; acclaimed theatremaker Wesley Enoch talks inheritance, and more.

SUNDAY 25 MAY, 11.30AM – 12.30 PM, PIER 2/3 MAIN STAGE

Enemy of the

State:

Jang Jin-sung

Jang Jin-sung offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of North Korea, one of the harshest dictatorships in the world. In discussion with Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson, Jin-sung talks about this totalitarian state, and its propaganda machine, as well as his book Dear Leader.

SUNDAY 25 MAY, 11.30AM – 12.30 PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

The Land of the

Fair

or No Go:

Has Australia Lost its Soul? Is Australia open or closed? Egalitarian or ever more unequal? Does it matter whether our national identity is reality or myth? What does this say about us and the stories we tell? Richard Flanagan, Thomas Keneally and Michael Leunig talk about the myth and reality of ‘the land of the fair go’ with ABC RN’s Geraldine Doogue.

SUNDAY 25 MAY, 1.30 – 2.30 PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

Irvine Welsh:

The

Sex Lives of Siamese Twins Since the infamous Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh has become a cult figure. Now over 20 years on, for his latest novel The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins he has created two of his most memorable female protagonists, and one of the most bizarre sado-masochistic folies à deux in contemporary fiction. He shares his stories with Angus Fontaine. Supported by Belgiovane Williams Mackay.

SUNDAY 25 MAY, 3 – 4PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

Sarah Blasko and Brendan Cowell:

On Writing, Music and

Everything in Between

It’s not every day you hear two peers interview each other. Consummate artist and performer Sarah Blasko and polymath Brendan Cowell dig deep into each other’s writing methods, greatest fears and creative inspirations. Watch these two good friends take turns in asking each other the big questions.

SUNDAY 25 MAY, 4:30 – 5:30 PM, SYDNEY THEATR E

Closing Address:

Giving

Readers

What They (Don’t Know They) Want For the Closing Address, Emma Donoghue speaks of the transformative powers of literature: the way it invites, provokes, charms, challenges and troubles readers. She shows how writers help change the world, one reader at a time.

THURSDAY 22 – SATURDAY 24 MAY, FESTIVAL CLUB

Festival Club Stay up late with Sydney Writers’ Festival and join us in the Festival Club. Sydney’s most exhilarating new and established writers alongside various personalities and musicians – all take their turn at entertaining you with their stories.

THURSDAY MAY 22, 7.30 – 8.30 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

Bedtime

Stories

With Story Factory

Sydney Story Factory invites you to tuck in and snuggle up for some incredible bedtime stories. We put some top comedic writers on the spot and beg them for very specific bedtime tales. There is also a performance of a brand new radio play, scripted by the students at Sydney Story Factory. Sleep tight!

THURSDAY 22 – SATURDAY 24 MAY, 9 – 10 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

The

Chaser’s Empty Vessel The Chaser’s Empty Vessel returns to lower the tone of Sydney Writers’ Festival for another year. Join Chris Taylor and Julian Morrow for more lively, irreverent and freewheeling discussions with some of the biggest and/or longest names at the Festival including Andrew Solomon, Jim Al-Khalili and Yasmine El Rashidi.

THURSDAY 22 MAY, 10.30 – 11.30 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

Erotic

Fan Fiction

Dan Ilic

Erotic Fan Fiction returns for one seedy night only with brand-new filth written by some of Australia’s most exciting authors. This event promises to conjure up a different kind of magic in an adults-only kind of way. Hosted by Eddie Sharp and featuring new stories from Annabel Crabb, Dan Ilic, AH Cayley, Astrid Lorange and Matt Kelly.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 7.30 – 8.30 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

Mixtape Memoirs Vanessa Berry The Lifted Brow presents Mixtape Memoirs. Eimear McBride, Vanessa Berry, Pip Smith, Aden Rolfe, Rebecca Giggs and Sam Cooney talk about a single song that impacted them in some way. Featuring live music and accompanying visuals from Australia’s best comics artists.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 10.30 – 11.30 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

Spoken Four Omar Musa The Festival’s best spoken word artists deliver powerful verse and breathtaking stories. Featuring Jesse Brand, Omar Musa, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Inua Ellams and DJ: Ribongia. Hosted by Miles Merrill. Presented with Word Travels.

SATURDAY 24 MAY, 7.30 – 8.30 PM, FESTIVAL CLUB

Story Club A themed, live storytelling night where exceptional people of the known and unknown variety sit in a giant armchair and read their true, hilarious stories out of a novelty-sized book.

The Food Society and Wines from the Bibliotheque will be at the Festival Club serving up quality Australian wines and award-winning Festival fare. Come along to Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a night of storytelling, wine and some of Sydney’s best eats. It’s a perfect night out.

MONDAY 19 MAY, 8 – 9PM, BONDI PAVILION

Sunburnt: Six True Tales of

Holidays From Hell Nakkiah Lui Nakkiah Lui, Adriano Cappelletta, John AD Fraser, Phil Spencer, Michael Hing and Annaliese Constable share stories about travel mishaps, awkward summer romances and overseas adventures. Presented by Rock Surfers Theatre Company.

WEDNESDAY 21 & THURSDAY 22 MAY, 8 – 9.15PM, BONDI PAVILION

Inua Ellams’

Black T-Shirt Collection Produced by Fuel. Award-winning spoken word artist Inua Ellams uses lyrical poetry and animation to tell a modern fable about two brothers and the consequences of success. Supported by the British Council.

FRIDAY 23 MAY, 8 – 9PM, BONDI PAVILION

Live on Air Stuck in suburbia, Poet Laureate Telia Nevile is doing the only thing a word-obsessed socially inept artiste can do. She’s broadcasting a radio show from her bedroom and you’re invited. Presented by Rock Surfers Theatre Company.

SATURDAY 24 MAY, 7 - 8PM, BONDI PAVILION

Bob McTavish:

More Stoked!

Told in Bob McTavish’s signature mixture of mischief and poetry, More Stoked! is a homage to 70s surfing as well as a coming of age story. He speaks with Tracks magazine editor Luke Kennedy. Presented by Rock Surfers Theatre Company.

SATURDAY 24 MAY, 8.30 - 10PM, BONDI PAVILION

Cut & Paste Playwrights, comics, musicians, poets, novelists and the occasional strong man are invited to try out a new 10-minute idea in front of the audience. Presented by Rock Surfers Theatre Company.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 6.30 – 7.30 PM, R IVERSIDE THEATR ES

Alice

Walker With Alexis

Wright Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Alice Walker and Alexis Wright, winner of the Miles Franklin Award, discuss their writing, activism and connection to place with writer Melissa Lucashenko. Supported by the University of Western Sydney and Parramatta City Council.

FR IDAY 23 MAY, 8 – 9 PM, R IVERSIDE THEATR ES

Christos Tsiolkas:

Australia Class and Sport in

Christos Tsiolkas looks at class envy, politics, migration and everpervasive sport in Australia. Malcolm Knox talks to Christos about his recent novel Barracuda and the pressures of growing up. Supported by the University of Western Sydney and Parramatta City Council.

SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS CORE FUNDERS

EXCLUSIVE LEGAL PARTNER

MAJOR PARTNERS

PARTNERS

CULTURAL PARTNERS

WestWords

Western Sydney Young People’s Literature Development Project

HOSPITALITY PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

captive moments in city life