The annual Perth Festival is Australia’s longest-running international arts celebration, and it is one to be marveled at, to say the least. Each year the people of Perth and beyond are graced with the opportunity to be dazzled with mesmerising performances, which aren’t only unique, but world-class.
And in 2023, there’s an entire weekend dedicated to literature and ideas, and Perth Festival has release the wonderous, full program for the Writer’s Weekend to get everyone raring to go on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February.
Literary luminaries Damon Galgut, Amy Bloom , Sequoia Nagamatsu, Ben Macintyre, Jane Harper and Holly Ringland are a few amongst a galaxy of stars in this year’s line-up at the Fremantle Arts Centre.
More than 50 mega sessions will explore the power of the stars and our connection to the greatness of the cosmos – in conjunction with Perth Festival’s 2023 theme, Djinda – the Noongar word meaning ‘star’.
Those keen to put their learning caps on can expect passionate debates and thrilling stories, as well as plenty of laughter across both days; “led by the writers, gurus and mavericks who are shaping the zeitgeist across pop-culture, social affairs, politics, history and all matters of the head and heart,” according to Perth Festival.
Open your ears and mind to urgent First Nations voices, famous foodies, men’s book-club favourites, artists, comics, poets, crime writers, hopeless romantics, music-makers, science pundits and even a reality television star or two.
Names you can count on to be spitting facts and knowledge around like nobody’s business are: Alice Nelson, Alice Pung, Ben Bravery, Chloe Hooper, Craig Silvey, Don Watson, Jackie Huggins, Jess Ho , Jessie Stephens, Hayley Scrivenor, Larissa Behrendt, Lee Kofman, Matt Agnew, Michelle Johnston, Mohammed Morsi, Ros Thomas, Shirley Marr, Tineke Van der Eecken, and Susan Midalia. And that’s just a few.
Kick off the brilliant weekend with All The Stars on Friday 24 from 6:30pm – a night-time soiree at the Fremantle Arts Centre with seven visionaries taking to the stage, as well as six DJ curators.
Or perhaps get the youngins started early with a special kids day out at Family Day In Freo on Sunday 26 from 9am to 12:30pm, where wee booklovers can get into the magical power of stories.
Writer’s Weekend of literature and ideas at Perth Festival will be held across Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2023. Check out the program in detail here and jot down the unmissable sessions!