Melbourne
in the middle of winter can be a pretty bleak place, even for
residents who revel in its myriad social activities. When it’s
cold and rainy, there’s nothing better than staying home
with a good book. But the organisers of the Melbourne Writers’
Festival hope to coax those readers out with the biggest line-up
of literary talent yet assembled for the annual event.
There will be 40 international, 71 national and
190+ local writers ranging from social and cultural commentators,
philosophers, crime writers, poets, screenwriters to historians
participating in the 10 days of literary events. Those events
themselves number around 300; and include author readings, in-depth
discussions with authors, panels, master-classes, ideas forums,
kids’ activities, debate and discussion, centred on the
heart of Melbourne at Federation Square.
Some of the “names” coming to MWF this
year include Augusten Burroughs, Andrew Davies, Orlando Figes,
Philip Gourevitch, Duncan Green, Germaine Greer, Tracie Morris,
Robert Muchamore, John Pilger, David Rakoff, David Sedaris and
Anya Ulinich.
One of the highlights will be the keynote address
by Germaine Greer, On Rage. In this keynote speech, to be introduced
by Louise Adler, Greer will reflect (“calmly” the
organisers assure us) on rage – its uses in achieving social
change, its waste when misdirected; its mythology and history.
Love her or hate her, it’s hard to ignore Greer and this
event is likely to cause something of a stir.
Below - Bio and interview with festival guest Augusten Burroughs
(12 mins) - well worth a look
Greer’s address will be followed by a late
night session with Running with Scissors author Augusten
Burroughs. Burroughs will explain to Jennifer Byrne why, in his
latest, A Wolf at the Table, he abandoned the deflecting
techniques of humour and opened himself up emotionally.
BIG IDEAS returns again for this year, with a panel
of commentators, academics, authors, philosophers coming together
to tackle some of the big issues of today, with a strong bent
towards the political. Among these is no less that former Prime
Minister, Paul Keating (one for the true believers, perhaps).
He will be joined by cultural historian Orlando Figes who will
talk about the demise of Russia under Stalin; Professor of International
Law, Philippe Sands who tells the story of how a memo lead to
the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, radical filmmaker
John Pilger on the complicity and compliance of the media, and
David Sedaris who will read from his collection, When You
are Engulfed in Flames, Michael Burleigh looking at the characteristics
of the terrorist. In addition, Philip Gourevitch, Don Watson and
Dennis Altman will take a look at the take a look at the American
mindset. Will a new President change the US? Can a new President
change the US? Is there any need to? Is there an American malaise
and, if there is, how deep does it run?
WordPlay @ ArtPlay is the festival’s children’s
component, providing weekend activities for the little ones. Some
of Australia's leading children's authors and illustrators will
offer a full-day of literary activities for kids; including the
chance for younger readers and their parents to hear their favourite
authors, including: Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, Jackie French,
Leigh Hobbs, Danny Katz, Mitch Vane, Ann James and Roland Harvey.
They will also be able to participate in workshops and to hear
tales from Indigenous storytellers. Children up to the age of
13 can come together in workshops to learn the art of illustration
and make a book of their own, plus lots of other literary activities.
No Country for Old PMs – An Evening with Max
Gillies promises to be one of the festival’s landmark events.
Australia’s foremost impersonator and satirist Max Gillies
presents a wicked evening of reminiscence of the statesmen, the
roosters, the feather dusters he has known. In a tribute to the
writers Don Watson and Guy Rundle who have provided much of his
material, Gillies brings Menzies, Fraser, Whitlam, Hawke, Keating
and Howard back to life from their political graveyards. If this
appeals however, you’ll have to be quick as Gillies will
be doing two dinner shows only at Grossi Florentino in Bourke
St.
One of the MWF’s most popular events, the
literary walking tour will also be back for 2008. Fiona Sweetman
will tour the luminous arcades and dank alleys of literary Melbourne,
where literary characters, real and fictional, spent their lives.
A particular feature of MWF 2008 will be the pairing
of literature with other aspects of Melbourne life. One such pairing
involves a staple of city life, fashion. Author of Schmattes and
filmmaker Lesley Sharon Rosenthal will retrace the history of
the city’s gutsy and glitzy fashion industry in Flinders
Lane, where the city’s rag trade once thrived. She’ll
revisit sites of the Lane’s long gone factories, showrooms
and warehouses while relating stories of the characters that made
it famous.
Books and food will come together via a walking
tour of Melbourne’s culinary history, conducted by Charmaine
O’Brien. She will be recounting anecdotes and bringing characters
to life from the city’s culinary past. Frank Camorra takes
a Spanish culinary adventure at MoVida in Hosier Lane, off Flinders
St. With his cookbook based on the menu at MoVida just released,
Camorra shares his passion for Spanish food and its history over
a set menu lunch. If Asian is more your style, lunch at Seamstress
with chef Janet de Neefe will provide an overview of Balinese
food and takes you through the menu, plate by plate, explaining
the provenance of each dish. And at The Press Club, George Calombaris,
Will Studd and Max Allen will provide a Greek food, cheese and
wine extravaganza.
Apart from all of that, there’s the (free)
Festival Club; featuring comedy, music, slam poetry from Tracie
Morris, interviews and the latest festival news.
The Melbourne Writers’ Festival opens on 22
August 2008 and continues in some 20 venues around the city until
31 August.
Melbourne
in the middle of winter can be a pretty bleak place, even for
residents who revel in its myriad social activities. When it’s
cold and rainy, there’s nothing better than staying home
with a good book. But the organisers of the Melbourne Writers’
Festival hope to coax those readers out with the biggest line-up
of literary talent yet assembled for the annual event.