New News
New News is an open conference, enabling the public to engage with media industry figures and academics such as Editorial Director of The New Yorker Henry Finder, Director of News for the ABC, Kate Torney and well known journalist Derryn Hinch. For two days, Federation Square (Friday) and the Wheeler Centre (Saturday) will buzz with news professionals, bloggers and citizen journalists, debating the future of news gathering and reporting. To find out more about our New News events and to book tickets, click here.
New News is sponsored by Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne, The Melbourne Press Club and the CAL Cultural Fund
Manhattan in Melbourne
In 2012, Melbourne Writers Festival welcomes an all-star team from the internationally iconic magazine, The New Yorker, and tickets are selling out fast! Urbane, informed and witty, The New Yorker has been home to some of the world’s finest journalists, authors and cartoonists for almost a century. Joining the festival’s stellar line up are Editorial Director Henry Finder, eminent art critic Peter Schjeldahl, reporter David Grann, pop-music critic Sasha Frere-Jones and the brilliant and much-loved cartoonist Roz Chast. To find out more about The New Yorker events, click here.
Paperback Pass
The Paperback Pass is perfect for people who want experience a range of festival events and access advantages such as discounted tickets and priority queuing. Saving you more than $50, this pass gives you access to five regular festival events, plus two bonus events on Fridays, all at a significant discount to the individual ticket price. Some exclusions apply. To purchase your Paperback Pass and start booking your events, click here.
Bali Dreaming
Enjoy an evening of Balinese cuisine and culture at the Wantilan Bali restaurant, in Hawthorn, accompanied by readings from three authors inspired by Indonesia: Inez Baranay (The Edge of Bali), Ruby J. Murray (Running Dogs) and Janet De Neefe (Fragrant Rice). This irresistible night of sensual delights includes a three course meal inspired by Janet De Neefe and accompanying wines. To book your tickets and to find out more about these three fascinating authors, click here.
Simon Callow
British actor, director and writer, Simon Callow is well known for his appearances in major feature films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Phantom of the Opera and Amadeus. Simon is also the author of thirteen books. His most recent, Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World (published in Australia as Dickens), discusses the importance of theatre to the life and work of one of the greatest storytellers in the English language. Indeed, the life and work of Dickens is a theme Callow continually returns to, and this ongoing engagement informs the sparkling biographical analysis in his latest book. Callow will be appearing in Keynote: Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World and The Actor's Life. He will also be giving his Keynote Address in Ballarart.
Liner Notes
Babble is back to rock the festival with Liner Notes, one of Melbourne's best-loved spoken word events - a poetic tribute to a classic album, song by song. This year, we salute David Bowie's leper Messiah from outer space, Ziggy Stardust, on the album's 40th anniversary. Featuring special guests Tim Flannery, Deborah Conway, Benjamin Law, Joumana Haddad and First Dog on the Moon, with Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M Whelan, Omar Musa, Yana Alana, Ben Pobjie and Alicia Sometimes, all led by MC Michael Nolan and the house band. Come celebrate a starman surely even Richard Dawkins believes in. To book your tickets, click here.
