Latest news with #MargaretRiverReaders&WritersFestival
The Age
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
An election and wild weather couldn't stop our most isolated writers festival
When Marcus Zusak came to Margaret River in 2000 to do a library reading from his first novel, nobody turned up. The librarian made him do the reading anyway. Twenty-five years later, when The Book Thief author returned, he was in a big theatre full of readers. 'It's amazing to us that you're still out there,' he said to his audience. 'It gives me hope. I feel like I'm looking at the last bastion of civilisation.' These last bastions crop up everywhere. In May alone we've seen events such as the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, the Melbourne Writers Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival, with the Sydney Writers Festival due to start on Monday. I attended the 17th Margaret River festival, in the southwestern corner of Australia, possibly the most isolated literary gathering in the world. That isolation, plus a federal election and wild weather, failed to stop a record crowd of more than 7000 watching more than 50 writers, including Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey, Booker finalist Charlotte Wood, feminist icon turned crime writer Jane Caro and bestselling Irish novelist Marian Keyes. The theme of the festival was 'the universe is made not of atoms but of stories'. Nobody actually agreed with this – of course the universe is made of atoms! – but Samantha Harvey put us in a humble cosmic mood with a reading from her novel Orbital evoking the vision of the universe as a calendar year, where humankind emerges in the last blink before midnight on New Year's Eve. British philosopher A. C. Grayling, billed as 'the rock star professor', said he went to bed with Jane Austen every Easter, and went on to analyse the philosophy of Pride and Prejudice. He wanted us to rescue the much-derided term 'woke' and wear it with pride. But he wasn't quite so keen on cancel culture: 'You should hear what they have to say, so you can challenge it.' And he revealed he'd been banned from Twitter 'by that defender of freedom of expression, Elon Musk'. Hannah Kent told us about her tough time as an exchange student in Iceland, the inspiration for her novel Burial Rites. She was brave enough to try the disgusting local delicacy, rotten shark meat. Another time she found herself in a mysterious meeting of Icelanders who decided she could be their slave and sweep up the blood. Fortunately, the blood was fake: they were actors in a play. Peter Godwin's memoir was full of distress, secrets and surprising humour. At the age of 90, his mother took to her bed for no apparent medical reason and began to let loose with uninhibited jibes, all spoken in a brand new frightfully posh voice.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
An election and wild weather couldn't stop our most isolated writers festival
When Marcus Zusak came to Margaret River in 2000 to do a library reading from his first novel, nobody turned up. The librarian made him do the reading anyway. Twenty-five years later, when The Book Thief author returned, he was in a big theatre full of readers. 'It's amazing to us that you're still out there,' he said to his audience. 'It gives me hope. I feel like I'm looking at the last bastion of civilisation.' These last bastions crop up everywhere. In May alone we've seen events such as the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, the Melbourne Writers Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival, with the Sydney Writers Festival due to start on Monday. I attended the 17th Margaret River festival, in the southwestern corner of Australia, possibly the most isolated literary gathering in the world. That isolation, plus a federal election and wild weather, failed to stop a record crowd of more than 7000 watching more than 50 writers, including Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey, Booker finalist Charlotte Wood, feminist icon turned crime writer Jane Caro and bestselling Irish novelist Marian Keyes. The theme of the festival was 'the universe is made not of atoms but of stories'. Nobody actually agreed with this – of course the universe is made of atoms! – but Samantha Harvey put us in a humble cosmic mood with a reading from her novel Orbital evoking the vision of the universe as a calendar year, where humankind emerges in the last blink before midnight on New Year's Eve. British philosopher A. C. Grayling, billed as 'the rock star professor', said he went to bed with Jane Austen every Easter, and went on to analyse the philosophy of Pride and Prejudice. He wanted us to rescue the much-derided term 'woke' and wear it with pride. But he wasn't quite so keen on cancel culture: 'You should hear what they have to say, so you can challenge it.' And he revealed he'd been banned from Twitter 'by that defender of freedom of expression, Elon Musk'. Hannah Kent told us about her tough time as an exchange student in Iceland, the inspiration for her novel Burial Rites. She was brave enough to try the disgusting local delicacy, rotten shark meat. Another time she found herself in a mysterious meeting of Icelanders who decided she could be their slave and sweep up the blood. Fortunately, the blood was fake: they were actors in a play. Peter Godwin's memoir was full of distress, secrets and surprising humour. At the age of 90, his mother took to her bed for no apparent medical reason and began to let loose with uninhibited jibes, all spoken in a brand new frightfully posh voice.
West Australian
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival weathers election weekend to entertain crowds with top talent
Organisers say this year's Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival was a hit with appreciative crowds despite the minor interruption of a Federal election. The 17th annual iteration of the popular festival took over the Margaret River Heart and other venues across a packed weekend of talks, writers' workshops, and standout events. Artistic and festival director Sian Baker said this year's theme 'The Universe is Made of Stories' was a reminder stories were more than just entertainment, but help people make sense of the world. 'This year's festival was a powerful reminder that stories are what anchor us — through uncertainty, they connect and uplift,' she said. 'It was incredible to see our local, regional, and literary communities — along with festival visitors from across Australia and overseas — come together in such strong numbers, despite elections, triathlons, and wild weather. 'The region was alive with big ideas, heartfelt conversations, and the unmistakable magic of people sharing stories together.' This year's festival saw strong attendance across 57 events including six sold-out sessions in Margaret River, a fully booked dinner and breakfast in Busselton, and appearances by a stellar line-up of local and international literary talent. Among the too-many-to-mention stars were bestselling author Marian Keyes, 2024 Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey and rock star philosopher AC Grayling. As well as eight of the 25-strong writers workshop program selling out, the Busselton Book Festival returned with numerous events catering to the north of the Capes. It included sold-out highlights such as a dinner with Booker Prize shortlisted author Charlotte Wood, breakfast with crime writer Chris Hammer, and an in-conversation session with international bestselling author Marian Keyes. Book launches and celebrations of Australian literary cultural icons including Markus Zusak celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Book Thief were also hosted. Funding from the State Government this year also supported a strong program of free events and workshops for children and younger readers during the festival fortnight. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk saluted the organisers who had taken the festival from 'humble beginnings' in 2009. 'The Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival has grown substantially and now attracts local, national and international emerging and established writers and storytellers,' the MP said. 'Showcasing storytelling in all its forms, this festival is designed to foster a love of literature and the arts for all ages throughout the community, inspiring new ideas and conversations. 'By supporting these sorts of initiatives, the Cook Government is helping to ensure our communities benefit from the social and cultural experiences these events provide, and the economic outcomes they also provide for the region.'
