2 September – 15 October: A Raisin in the Sun
Sydney Theatre company presents A Raisin in the Sun – a powerful portrait of one Black family’s struggle to hold onto hope in a society intent on keeping them down, and an iconic work of American theatre. This is the first time the play has been performed on an Australian mainstage.
15 September – 29 October: Chalkface
Playing at the Sydney Opera House, this new black comedy from Angela Betzien gives audiences will get a sneak peek into one of society’s biggest mysteries: the teachers’ staff room.
29 September – 8 October: Australian Muslim Writers Festival
Hosted by the Right Pen Collective, the second annual Australian Muslim Writers Festival will include a range of talks and events taking place over zoom and at selected Melbourne venues.
29 September – 8 October: National Young Writers’ Festival
An annual gathering of young writers to show work, share ideas, and learn. The programs are free, made by and for young writers who create across stage, page, web and beyond. In 2022, a digital program will exist alongside the in-person festival in Newcastle.
2 October – 30 October: Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival Tasmania
A month-long celebration of books, writing and community in the Huon Valley, Tasmania. The festival includes a public exhibition of writing and storytelling, alongside a series of book events, dinners, and writer development programs.
1 October – 6 November: Theatre – Looking for Alibrandi
A stage adaption of the much loved coming-of-age novel and film. Playing at Belvoir Theatre across October.
5 October: Book Launch – Iris
In Iris, acclaimed novelist and essayist Fiona Kelly McGregor dives into the underbelly of 1930s sly-grog Sydney, and the life of petty criminal and gunslinger Iris Webber. Join Fiona and Kate Holden at Gleebooks for the launch.
7 – 9 October: Haiku Down Under
Being held via zoom, this initiative will connect writers from New Zealand, Australia and beyond in a series of workshops, prompted writing sessions and presentations on writing haikus.
7 October: First Friday with Kate Mildenhall
First Friday, our monthly conversation with an industry professional, is a chance for our community to learn more about the writing and publishing industry. This October, we invite you to our online event with Kate Mildenhall, co-host of The First Time podcast.
8 October: Love Your Bookshop Day
An annual celebration of everything local bookshops do – from curating fabulous ranges to creating events programs to celebrate authors, readers, and the books they cherish. Visit your local bookshop or check out events and competitions across Australia.
8 October: Jennifer Wong presents FEAST
An hour of storytelling and discussion about how we eat and live. Expect to be entertained and moved as a range of writers, performers and comedians share their stories about food.
11 October: Author talk – Aaron Fa’Aoso
Join film producer, director, screenwriter, and actor Aaron Fa’Aoso as he discusses his memoir So Far, So Good with Rudi Bremer at the State Library of NSW.
12 October: Society of Women Writers Literary Workshop
Learn about the art of reviewing writing in this literary criticism workshop with Dr Susan Steggall. Participants are asked to bring in a book they’ve read for practical exercises.
12 October: Diana Reid in conversation with Jemma Birrell
Following the success of her debut novel Love & Virtue, join Diana Reid at White Bay Beer Company to discuss her latest book Seeing Other People.
12 October: Lessons from History
In Lessons from History, a diverse range of historians tackle some of Australia’s greatest challenges. Join GleeBooks for a panel event featuring some of the books’ contributors.
13 October: Book Launch: Admissions: Voices Within Mental Health
Admissions (Upswell Publishing, 2022) is a new anthology documenting the state of mental health in Australia, foregrounding a wide range of voices with lived/living experience defining themselves beyond a diagnosis. Join editors and contributors as part of this live readings launch.
13 October: Author Talk with Hayley Scrivenor
At Wollongong Library, local author Hayley Scrivenor will be talking about Dirt Town, her debut novel which won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award and was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize.
14 October – 9 November: Past the Shallows
Adapted by playwright Julian Larnach from the novel by Favel Parrett, this ATYP production of Past the Shallows is an ode to brotherhood and an exploration of mortality, family secrets and contemporary masculinity.
15 October: Book Launch – We Come With This Place
We Come with This Place is a profound tribute to family and the Gudanji Country to which Debra Dank belongs. Join Debra at GleeBooks for the launch.
15 – 22 October: Glebe Storytelling Festival
A celebration of people and place of past, present and future. Led by Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative, this festival features theatre, art, culture and story-sharing. The live storytelling night will take place on 18 October.
15 – 16 October: Southern Highlands Writers Festival
A range of writing events, panels and talks taking place over the weekend in different locations around Bowral, in the Southern Highlands.
17 – 23 October: Word Travels Story Week
Join Word Travels for a curated series of events and ‘Sharing Circles’ as part of their 2022 Story Week. Check out the full program here.
18 October: Craig Silvey in conversation with Tim Ross
Join Silvey at the Royal Oak in Balmain as he discusses his breakout book Jasper Jones, his 2021 release Honeybee, as well as his soon-to-be children’s classic, Runt.
18 October: Glebe’s Live Storytelling Night
As part of the 2022 Glebe Storytelling Festival, this community storytelling night celebrates diversity in Glebe. The theme of the event is ‘A moment when Glebe changed me.’ You can also register your interest to participate here.
18 October: Speaker Series: Nothing to Hide – Voices of Trans & Gender Diverse Writers
Join us at Marrickville Library in a discussion about Nothing to Hide – Australia’s first mainstream anthology of trans and gender-diverse writing. Nothing to Hide showcases the wealth of creativity within the trans and gender diverse community and provides illuminating insights into the challenges and joys of trans experience.
20 October: Jennifer Robinson: How Many More Women?
Join Jennifer Robinson live in-conversation with Jane Caro at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium in Kensington for an exploration of the Australian legal system. Jennifer breaks open the big judgments, developments and trends that have and continue to silence and disadvantage women.
21 October: Author talk with Anne Casey-Hardy
Join Anne Casey-Hardy and Tegan Bennett Daylight in-conversation to celebrate the release of Cautionary Tales for Excitable Girls. The talk will commence at 6:30pm at Better Read Than Dead in Newtown.
21 – 23 October: Berry Writers Festival
Three days of inspiration in the beautiful “town of trees,” featuring panels and conversations with well known, local and emerging authors, as well as workshops and social events.
21 – 23 October: Blue Mountains Writers Festival
Join some of Australia’s finest literary talent for an inspiring weekend in the Blue Mountains. Featuring speakers, author sessions, workshops, and special events.
23 October: National Poetry Slam Grand Final
Australia’s best poetry slammers will converge on the Opera House for the grand final of the nation-wide Poetry Slam competition. APS Slam Champion Huda the Goddess will deliver her finale performance before she hands over the crown.
25 October: Book Launch – The Tilt by Chris Hammer
Join Better Read Than Dead to celebrate bestselling author Chris Hammer’s latest thriller, The Tilt. The launch will take place at the Vanguard in Newtown from 6:30pm.
28 – 30 October: Headland Writers Festival, Tathra
A three day celebration of reading, writing, sharing stories and indulging the mind. Tathra Headland will serve as a backdrop to an abundance of author in-conversations, panels, workshops, poetry breakfasts, theatre and music performances.
29 October – 2 November: RBG: Of Many, One
Spanning her life from teenage years to her death in 2020, this STC production of RBG: Of Many, One brings Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fascinating life vividly to the stage. An intimate portrait of the woman who changed the face of the American legal system, performed by Heather Mitchell.
More from Writing NSW
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