Australiana: Designing a Nation
Bendigo Art Gallery, until 25 June
Curated and presented exclusively at Bendigo Art Gallery in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, this expansive exhibition showcases works by over 200 artists and designers, spanning the visual and decorative arts as well as photography, illustration, furniture, jewellery, moving image and fashion.
2 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
Image Credit: Ken Done, Sydney Sunday 1982, oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.
bendigoartgallery.com.au
The Festival zings into town on
Thursday 4 May, with the free Wordspot program for school groups in Ulumbarra Theatre and the Capital Theatre.
Wordspot features Kelly Gardiner, Gabrielle Wang, Craig Silvey, Ailsa Wild, Reece Carter and Lauren Mitchell. It’s fire and dragons, chasing the moon and ghosts, wild stories and feisty dogs, and it’s designed to get young readers writing, and young writers reading.
Thursday 4 May
WRITING IN THE METAVERSE: A WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION
Ivan Sun Emporium Hub in Mitchell Street
5pm-6.30pm Event 1+ Festival-Extra $15
FESTIVAL BANQUET
Alice Zaslavsky
MacKenzie Hall 7pm-9.30pm
Event 2+ Festival-Extra $120
Art exhibition
Thursday 4 May -
Thursday 11 May
Dudley House Main Gallery
Such is Life 3 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
Friday 5 May
FIRST NATIONS FIRST
Evelyn Araluen, Claire G Coleman, host Neane Carter
Capital Theatre 11am-12pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 3 Pass/Ticket
GOLDEN DRAGON LUNCH
Louisa Lim, host Simon Patton
Hawker Restaurant @
The Golden Dragon Museum
12pm-1.30pm
Event 4+ Festival-Extra $65
OLD IDEAS FOR NEW BOOKS
Reece Carter, Gabrielle Wang, Ailsa Wild, host Cecile Shanahan
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 12.30pm-1.30pm
Event 5 Pass
ART AND INFLUENCE
Imants Tillers, host Ian McLean
The Engine Room 1pm-1.45pm
Event 6 Pass
FANATIC HEART
Tom Keneally, host Sam Kane
Trades Hall 1pm-1.45pm
Event 7 Pass/Ticket
4 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
OVER THE GLASS CLIFF
Michelle Ryan, Kirstin Ferguson
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
2pm-2.45pm
Event 8 Pass
THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
Catherine Deveny, Tim Entwisle, Michael Pascoe, host Rosemary Cameron
Capital Theatre 2.30pm-3.30pm
Sponsored by Royal Historical Society of Victoria
Event 9 Pass/Ticket
A BRIEF AFFAIR
Alex Miller, host Fiona Parker
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
2.30pm-3.15pm
Event 10 Pass
WHO CARES?
Paul Cleary, Richard Denniss, Simon Holmes a Court, host Julie Rudner
Trades Hall 2.30pm-3.30pm
Event 11 Pass/Ticket
THE COST OF FREEDOM
Sadam Abdusalam, host Sophie McNeill
The Engine Room 3.45pm-4.30pm
Event 12 Pass
Such is Life 5 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Friday 5 May
Friday 5 May
HISTORICAL FICTIONS
– IMAGINED FUTURES
Claire G Coleman, Paul Daley, Jock Serong, host Kelly Gardiner
Capital Theatre 4pm-5pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 13 Pass/Ticket
A STELLA EVENT
Evelyn Araluen, Clare Wright, Stella ’23 winner, host Jaclyn Booton
Trades Hall 4pm-5pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 14 Pass/Ticket
ABC HEYWIRE WORKSHOP 1
Bendigo Library 4pm-5.30pm
Event 15+ Festival-Extra free for ages 16-22
WANDERER
Victor Kelleher, host Amy Doak
The Engine Room 4.15pm-5pm
Event 16 Pass
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Madelaine Lucas, host Christos Tsiolkas
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 5pm-5.45pm
Event 17 Pass
6 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
A TALE OF TWO MEN
Neil Balme, Anson Cameron, host Rosemary Sorensen
The Engine Room 5.30pm-6.30pm
Event 18 Pass
RACE POLITICS NATIONALISM
Ghassan Hage (onscreen), Randa Abdel-Fattah (onscreen), Michael Mohammed Ahmad, host
Sarah Ayoub
Capital Theatre 6pm-7pm
Event 19 Pass/Ticket
THE STORY BEHIND
‘FINDING FANNY FINCH’
Bill Garner, Alice Garner, Kacey
Sinclair, Sue Gore and musicians
Trades Hall 6pm-6.45pm
Event 20 Pass/Ticket
THE SOUL OF A PLACE
Oslo Davis, Louisa Lim, Lauren Mitchell, host Shannon Schubert
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 6.15pm-7.15pm
Event 21 Pass
FESTIVAL GALA – DREAM
Akuch Anyieth, Frank
ON
Bongiorno, Megan Davis, Joelle Gergis, host Clare Wright
Ulumbarra Theatre 7.30pm-9pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 22 Pass/Ticket
Such is Life 7 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Friday 5 May
MEMOIR INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Akuch Anyieth, Shannon Burns, Catherine Deveny, host Yves Rees
Capital Theatre 10am-11am
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 23 Pass/Ticket
ANOTHER AUSTRALIA
Claire G Coleman, Winnie Dunn, Sasja Sydek, host Esther Anatolitis
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 10am-11am
Event 24 Pass
PEACE AND JUSTICE
Antony Loewenstein, Elaine
Pearson, host Tasneem Chopra
Trades Hall 10am-11am
Event 25 Pass/Ticket
ABC HEYWIRE WORKSHOP 2
Bendigo Library 10am-11.30am
Event 26+ Festival-Extra free for ages 16-22
BLACK LIVES WHITE LAW
Kate Auty, Megan Davis, Russell
Marks, Aunty Kella Robinson, host Neane Carter
Capital Theatre 11.30am-12.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 27 Pass/Ticket
8 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
6 May
Saturday
GAME SET MATCH
Peter Doherty, host Gideon Haigh
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
11.30am-12.30pm
Event 28 Pass
SPOTLIGHT: SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM
Sophie Cunningham, host Jane Sullivan
La Trobe Art Institute 11.30am-12.15pm
Event 29 Pass
THE CULTURE OF POLITICS
Frank Bongiorno, Michael
Pascoe, Kristine Ziwica, host Kirstin Ferguson
Trades Hall 11.30am-12.30pm
Event 30 Pass/Ticket
DESIRE
Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Alice Boyle, Jessie Cole, host Prue Mansfield
The Engine Room 11.45am-12.45pm
Event 31 Pass
SPOTLIGHT: CRAIG SILVEY
Craig Silvey, host Cate Kennedy
La Trobe Art Institute 12.45pm-1.30pm
Event 32 Pass
OSLO’S DRAWING WORKSHOP
Oslo Davis
Bendigo Library 1pm-2.30pm
Event 33+ Festival-Extra $40
Such is Life 9 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Saturday 6 May
Saturday 6 May
INDEPENDENTS DAYS
Phil Cleary, Simon Holmes
a Court, Cathy McGowan, host Andrea Carson
Capital Theatre 1pm-2pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 34 Pass/Ticket
BAD DIARIES SALON: DREAM
Reece Carter, Dianne Dempsey, Biffy James, Jasper Peach, host Jenny Ackland
The Engine Room 1.15pm-2.15pm
Event 35 Pass
SEEING AND BELIEVING
Sally Aitken, Phil Craig, Tosca Looby, host Alex West
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 1.30pm-2.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 36 Pass
IN SEARCH OF BEAUTY
Christos Tsiolkas, host Bec Kavanagh
Trades Hall 1.30pm-2.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 37 Pass/Ticket
SPOTLIGHT: MELINA MARCHETTA
Melina Marchetta, host Jenny Mitchell
La Trobe Art Institute 2.15pm-3pm
Event 38 Pass
10 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
NOTHING TO HIDE
Sam Elkin, Yves Rees, Sasja
Sydek, host David Azul
The Engine Room 2.45pm-3.45pm
Event 39 Pass
DAVID AND GOLIATH
Paul Cleary, Joelle Gergis, Antony Loewenstein, host Liz Conor
Capital Theatre 3pm-4pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 40 Pass/Ticket
INFLUENCE AND INSPIRATION
Tim Entwisle, Imants Tillers, host Rosemary Sorensen
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 3pm-4pm
Event 41 Pass
FORGOTTEN PEOPLE
Sadam Abdusalam, Paul Daley, Russell Marks, host Tasneem Chopra
Trades Hall 3pm-4pm
Event 42 Pass/Ticket
SPOTLIGHT: GIDEON HAIGH
Gideon Haigh, host Jock Serong
La Trobe Art Institute 3.30pm-4.15pm
Event 43 Pass
Such is Life 11 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Saturday 6 May
Saturday 6 May
NOT THEN, NOT NOW, NOT EVER
Michelle Arrow, Meredith Burgmann, Michelle Ryan, host Frank Bongiorno
Capital Theatre 4.30pm-5.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 44 Pass/Ticket
INFLUENCE
Richard Denniss, Winnie Dunn, Rory Medcalf, host Alex Kelly
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 4.30pm-5.30pm
Event 45 Pass
REGENESIS
George Monbiot (onscreen), host Natasha Mitchell
Ulumbarra Theatre 5pm-6pm
Event 46 Pass/Ticket
DICKENS AND PRINCE
Nick Hornby (onscreen), host Benjamin Law
Ulumbarra Theatre 6.30pm-7.30pm
Event 47 Pass/Ticket
LITERARY DEATHMATCH
Akuch Anyieth, Sarah Ayoub, Phil Cleary, Sophie Cunningham, Oslo Davis, Melina Marchetta, Briar Rolfe, host Adrian Todd
Zuniga
Ulumbarra Theatre 8pm-9.15pm
Event 48 Pass/Ticket
12 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
WHAT IT TAKES
Sadam Abdusalam, host Elaine Pearson
Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
8.30am-9.15am
Event 50+ Festival-Extra $28
MINDFUL MUSIC
Michael Johnson (and harp)
The Engine Room 9.30am-10.30am
Event 51 Pass
DISH IT UP BRUNCH
Jess Ho, host Sonia Anthony
MacKenzie Hall
9.30-10.45am
Event 52+ Festival-Extra $45
TWO WORLDS
Don Watson, host Clare Wright
Capital Theatre 10am-11am
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 53 Pass/Ticket
GROWING PAINS
Alice Boyle, Biffy James,
Briar Rolfe, host Bec Kavanagh
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
10am-11am
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 54 Pass
Such is Life 13 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Sunday 7 May
A WOMAN’S PLACE
Michelle Arrow, Sarah Ayoub, Pip Williams, host Prue Mansfield
Trades Hall 10am-11am
Event 55 Pass/Ticket
THE BOOKS THAT MADE US
Sally Aitken, host Julie Amos
La Trobe Art Institute 10.30am-11.15am
Event 56 Pass
SUCH IS LIFE
Anson Cameron, Cate Kennedy, host Robyn Black
The Engine Room 11.15am-12.15pm
Event 57 Pass
#BOSSGIRL VS #QUIETQUITTER
Kirstin Ferguson, Celeste Liddle, Kristine Ziwica, host Richard Denniss
Capital Theatre 11.30am-12.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 58 Pass/Ticket
RADICALS
Meredith Burgmann, Margret RoadKnight, host Dianne Dempsey
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
11.30am-12.30pm
Event 59 Pass
ARE THE YOUNG RESTLESS?
Victor Kelleher, Melina Marchetta, Craig Silvey, host Anne Henshall
Trades Hall 11.30am-12.30pm
Event 60 Pass/Ticket
14 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
Sunday 7 May
HOW TO MAKE A DOCO
Tosca Looby, host Claire Jager
La Trobe Art Institute
12pm-12.45pm
Event 61 Pass
HOW TO CONFESS
Jessie Cole, Jess Ho, host Esther Anatolitis
The Engine Room 12.45pm-1.45pm
Event 62 Pass
HOW TO MAKE RADIO
Sam Elkin
La Trobe Art Institute
Event 63 Pass
1.15pm-2pm
FORGIVE AND FORGET?
Helen Garner, Shannon Burns, host Sophie Cunningham
Capital Theatre
1.30pm-2.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 64 Pass/Ticket
THE GUN CENTURY
Phil Craig, Rory Medcalf, Elaine Pearson, host Bec Strating
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital 1.30pm-2.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 65 Pass
RISE AND REVOLT
Tom Ballard, host Abe Watson
Trades Hall 1.30pm-2.30pm
Event 66 Pass/Ticket
Such is Life 15 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Sunday 7 May
GOOD PARENT
Jasper Peach, Ailsa Wild, host Sarah Lawrence
The Engine Room
Event 67 Pass
2.30pm-3.30pm
LOVE LETTERS TO READERS
Carmel Bird with Jane Sullivan
La Trobe Art Institute
Event 68 Pass
OUR STORIES
2.30pm-3.15pm
Kate Auty, Jock Serong, Alex
West, host Genevieve Barlow
Bendigo Bank Theatre @ The Capital
3pm-4pm
Event 69 Pass
SPECIAL EVENT TO BE ANNOUNCED
To find out about our international guest writer, see the website from 23 March
Event 70 Pass/Ticket
HEART TO HEART
Tom Keneally, Barry Jones, host Clare Wright
Capital Theatre
3.30pm-4.30pm
Presented by La Trobe University
Event 71 Pass/Ticket
BOUND BY WORDS
Pip Williams, host
Aleisha Verwoert-North
La Trobe Art Institute 3.45pm-4.30pm
Event 72 Pass
16 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
Sunday 7 May
Such is Life 17 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice Thanks to our partnership with Bookish.
will be
Festival
TO SHOW AND SHARE COUNTRY BENDIGO’S FIRST NATIONS GALLERY Located at Bendigo Visitor Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo Open daily 9am – 5pm Quality. Substance. Originality. bendigowritersfestival.com.au blackincbooks.com Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 is proudly supported by La Trobe University Press.
The Festival Bookshop is situated in the Banquet Room at The Capital, adjacent to the Box Office. It
open across the Festival long weekend, and you can meet writers in the bookshop for book signings following their
events.
Festival Venues
12km to the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
LA
DUDLEY HOUSE ULUMBARRA THEATRE
THE ENGINE ROOM
MACKENZIE HALL
FESTIVAL HQ INCLUDING: FESTIVAL HQ INCLUDING BOX OFFICE, BOOKSHOP, BENDIGO BANK THEATRE AND CAPITAL THEATRE
TRADES HALL
HARGREAVES STREET
BENDIGO LIBRARY
• Book accommodation, tours and tickets
• Explore with maps and guide books
• Discover unique gifts and souvenirs
• Connect with local artisans
Open everyday 9am - 5pm (except Christmas Day)
51 - 67 Pall Mall, Bendigo 3550 1800 813 153 • bendigoregion.com.au
#explorebendigo
Bendigo Visitor Centre
Congratulations to the Australian Society of Authors, celebrating their 60th anniversary at Bendigo Writers Festival.
20 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
Pall Mall St F rest S t McCrae St t S y d n u M Farmers Lane Vintage Talking Tram Route Hargreaves Mall e n a L y r e c n a h C aves St CharingCross BridgeSt P ark R d Barnard St nzie St t S l l u B Rosalind Park Sidney er Place Civic Gardens Park Rd Hall Fernery LAKE WEEROONA BENDIGO
Alexandra Fountain
CREEK
HAWKER RESTAURANT
EMPORIUM HUB
VIEW STREET
MALL
TROBE ARTS INSTITUTE
PALL
GAOL ROAD
Bendigo
Centre
Visitor
your Bendigo adventure by talking to a local
Start
Festival tickets
Immerse yourself in the full festival experience, or dip in for a day. However you choose to enjoy Bendigo Writers Festival, you’ll find our events are excellent value and designed to please.
Almost all our writers appear in-person onstage; those appearing live by video link are indicated in the program as “on-screen”.
With a 3-day Pass, you have access to 63 events: 18 on Friday, 24 on Saturday and 21 on Sunday.
3-day Pass $260 (Conc $220)
Friday Pass $110 (Conc $93)
Saturday Pass $130 (Conc $110)
Sunday Pass $120 (Conc $102)
Note: your Pass does not always guarantee a seat at your first-choice event, as some Pass events, particularly in the smaller venues, may reach capacity.
There are nine Festival-Extra events too, and ten childrens’ sessions, which are ticketed separately: See event details
Passes and Festival-Extra tickets on sale 10am Wednesday 8 March 2023.
Individual tickets for sessions in Capital Theatre, Trades Hall and Ulumbarra Theatre limited and subject to availability, on sale 22 March $28 (Conc $25)
Select festival sessions broadcast via australiandigitalconcerthall.com
bendigowritersfestival.com.au
Festival Box Office: The Capital, 50 View Street, Bendigo (03) 5434 6100
bwf@bendigo.vic.gov.au
Such is Life 21 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
details, writer information and
Program
bookings:
The Bendigo Writers Festival is produced by Bendigo Venues & Events, a unit of the City of Greater Bendigo.
With thanks to Festival Manager, Julie Amos and Festival Director, Rosemary Sorensen.
BV&E acknowledges that the City of Greater Bendigo is on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country.
We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Peoples as the traditional custodians of the lands where our venues stand and where we share stories through art and culture.
bendigowritersfestival.com.au
22 Bendigo Writers Festival 2023 Program correct at time of print and subject to change without notice
