Yarra Valley Writers Festival to switch to livestream event

The Yarra Valley Writers Festival isn’t letting a pandemic get in the way of its inaugural celebrations! Instead, the team have today announced a switch to a digital format, with a series of events streaming live on Saturday 9th May.

Festival programmer and playwright Hannie Rayson (Hotel Sorento, Inheritance) said:

‘’The way audiences experience art, culture and conversations has changed. For now. This is the time to be supporting Australian authors and celebrate writers who are prepared to challenge, enlarge and humanise our experience of the world,’’

For a small fee (which will be used to pay the authors), book lovers will be able to tune in and catch keynote speeches, author conversations, and performances – all from the comfort of their own home!

Authors taking part in the livestream include Rayson herself, Tony Birch (The White Girl)Alice Bishop (A Constant Hum), Chris Flynn (Mammoth), Tom Griffiths (The Art of Time Travel), Vicki Hastrich (Night Fishing), Eliza Henry-Jones (How to Grow a Family Tree), Lia Hills (The Crying Place), Elizabeth McCarthyMeg Mundell (The Trespassers), Sean O’Beirne (A Couple of Things Before the End), Ailsa Piper (The Attachment: Letters From A Most Unlikely Friendship)Angela Savage (Mother of Pearl), Jock Serong (Preservation), Michael Veitch (Hell Ship, Turning Point), Donna Ward (The Whole Bright Year), David Williamson (Don’s Party), Charlotte Wood (The Weekend) with more still to be announced.

Current tickets holders will be contacted by Yarra Ranges Council. For the rest of us, online viewing tickets will go on sale in early April. Check out the Yarra Valley Writers Festival website for more info!

Jodie Sloan

Living, writing, and reading in Brisbane/Meanjin. Likes spooky books, strong cocktails, and pro-wrestling.