September is shaping up as a month of left of field ideas and approaches to the way artists and writer are writing and conceptualising the current state of the world. Inspired by the Festival of Dangerous Ideas we’ve dug up a few talks, courses, panel discussions and theatre productions shaking up the local scene, in addition to the regular program we know and love.
Thur 1 Sept | 6:30pm | Newtown Public Library | Free
Join Solidarity Magazine to discuss the relationship between art and revolution, and art and socialism. Speaker: Adam Adelpour
Sat 3 Sep & Sun 4 Sep | Sydney Opera House | from $33
Explore The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, a compelling weekend of challenging, inspirational and robust discussion with powerful speakers from around the world, covering Dirty Politics, Disappearing Countries, Dealing in Death and Disruptive Behaviour.
Petersham Bowling Club Events
Spring Arising Festival: Sun 4 Sep, 1 till 4pm : Open mic poetry, artworks, acoustic music. Phone Mark: 0410054756
Poets at the Petersham Bowl: Tues 20 Sep (3rd Tues every month) 6.30 till 9.30pm : Open mic poetry, acoustic music, anecdotes, jokes, short stories, memoirs. Phone: Mark 0410054756
11th Sydney Latin American Film Festival
Thursday 8th – 12th Sep | Dendy Opera Quays | $19.50
Music, dance, a chance to win a trip to Buenos Aires and a fearless, bold and uncompromising film program. The 11th Sydney Latin American Film Festival is ready to show you another side of Latin America you have been been waiting to discover.
Kiera Lindsey — The Convict’s Daughter Talkabout
Thursday, 8 Sept, 12:30-1:30pm | Mitchell Theatre | Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts | Free
Keira Lindsey’s talk about her great, great, great aunt Mary Ann Gill who eloped at the age of 15 with gentleman settler, James Kinchela, and scandalous abduction trial which followed.
The Architecture of Political Hip-Hop and Poetry
Friday 9 Sept 7:30pm – Sun 11 Sep 3pm | Revolute Movement Academy | $199.54
This is a workshop unlike any before it. Over 2 days, Anthony Anaxagorou, Candy Royalle and Kaveh Arya will go deep into the conscience of all those attending and look at how we can conceptualise and deliver this innate call for justice, peace, equality and love. They will look at the complexities of identity, compassion and privilege through art, poetry and hip hop. The ultimate aim is to learn how to be both authentic and impactful.
Emily Bitto on David Malouf’s An Imaginary Life
Tues 13 Sept | 6.30-7.30pm | Sydney University | Free with online registration
Emily Bitto discusses the impact of An Imaginary Life and shares some of her thoughts about its symbolism and significance, both culturally and to her personally, as a writer.
Bad Women: A Discussion about Women, Writing, and Likability
Tues 13 September | 7pm | Better Read Than Dead, Newtown | Free
As women writers do we feel pressure to create likable female characters or a likeable female persona? What happens if we don’t? What expectations do readers bring to female characters and writers? Offering perspectives that are hilarious, heartfelt, and hardcore, Georgia Clark (The Regulars), Lauren Sams (She’s Having Her Baby), Caroline Kepnes (You, Hidden Bodies) and Summer Land (Summerlandish) will get down and dirty with writing by, for, and about women. In conversation with esteemed editor, Lex Hirst.
Society of Women Writers NSW – Literary Luncheon
Wed 14 Sep | from 10am | State Library NSW | $35 – $40
Workshop: Writing Picture Books Presented by Margaret Hamilton Margaret runs Pinerolo, the Children’s Book C Cottage at Blackheath and her publishing company Margaret Hamilton Books has won many awards and had considerable success internationally. She will discuss the steps involved from idea to finished book and share examples from her own work
Keynote Speaker Lynette Silver – Unmasking the Real James Bond: Lynette Silver’s interest lies in investigating various and little known aspects of Australian history
Guest Speaker Valerie Pybus – Quest for Green Gables: When the opportunity arose to visit Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, Valerie embarked on a once in a lifetime adventure through Nevada, bustling New York City and historic Nova Scotia.
16-18 September | St Albans, NSW
St Albans Writers’ Festival goes into its second festival in 2016, with their focus focus on bringing Australian writers and writing to this tiny village, for residents and visitors to enjoy an intimate weekend of words. The 2016 program includes Les Murray, Stan Grant, Jane Caro, Emily Maguire, Hugh Mackay, Richard Glover, as well as food experts Simmone Logue and Paul West. All together it adds up to an exciting program that encompasses fiction, crime, historical fiction, true crime, fairy stories, social commentary, politics, food and travel writing.
Anthony Anaxagorou – Sydney Main Event
Sat 17 Sept | 7:30pm | Red Rattler Marrickville | $24.99
After a successful 2014 Australian Tour, Anthony is returning once more to hypnotise the audience with his words. An award winning poet, prose writer, playwright, performer and educator, Anthony has now published eight volumes of poetry, a spoken word EP, a book of short stories and has written for theatre. Anthony will be supported by an array of renown Sydney artists.
Monday, 19 Sept, 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Tom Keneally Centre | Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts | Free
Minnie Bigg talk about her moving memoir, Shards of Ice, which revolves around the four years of her husband’s decline and death, her deep grief and eventual return to herself.
Tues 20 Sept | 6:30pm | Bordello Theatre Kings Cross | $15
Join Patrick Cornelius, the twin brother of playwright Patricia Cornelius, as he talks about why his sister hasn’t made it. He gives great insight into the mistakes Patricia has made and how if she’d played her cards better she could have gone a long way. He will be joined later by his sister who will take any questions
17 – 25 Sep |Sawmillers Reserve, McMahons Point | Free
As part of the Sculpture at Sawmillers 2016 a poetry prize of $350 awarded to the best poem on the subject of either Sculpture, Nature or Sydney Harbour. Live readings will take place at Sawmillers Reserve on Saturday 24 Sep at 2pm-3pm. Entries close 6pm, 18 September 2016.
High Tea with Melina Marchetta
25 Sep | 3pm | Better Read Than Dead, Newtown | $15
Join prolific and award-winning Australian author Melina Marchetta as she discusses her first adult novel Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil over a delicious high tea of scones, sandwiches, sweets and champagne.