St Kilda Writers Festival
February 1 - 16 at various locations
Preview by Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE— "Beyond Writing" is the theme of the 10th annual St Kilda Writers Festival. The theme is addressed in a number of events that look at writing and reading as creative acts.
A highlight of the festival is the visual text program, including the International Visual Poetry Exhibition at the St Kilda Public Library, which features the work of 80 visual poets from more than 20 countries.
Forums include "Writing the Past", with guest speaker Judith Raphael Buckrich (author of Melbourne's Grand Boulevard) looking at writing history, as well as outlining innovative approaches to making a career out of writing.
History is also the subject of "The Incomplete Unofficial History of St Kilda", an evening hosted by Theatreworks which reveals the inside story of the suburb through the verbal history of long-time local residents.
A "Language Forum" presented by Aboriginal writers is aimed at non-Aboriginal people who want to know more about Aboriginal writing, language and Aboriginal English.
In "New Short Works" and "Rough and Ready Readings", the focus is on the playwright and includes readings of new short plays in progress.
And of course there are a number of readings and launches of new works, including Pub Fiction, a collection of short stories edited by Leonie Stevens. Other events not to be missed include the Sisters in Crime's St Valentine's Day Crimesports Massacre, in which "the dames" take on "the dicks", and Ramsey St Comes to St Kilda, in which members of the cast of Neighbours read Daniel Keene's acclaimed play, Because You Are Mine.
This is only a taste of the wide range of events catering to writers, aspiring writers, readers and theatre-goers. For a full program of events telephone (03) 9209 6245.