Adelaide Writers' Week Announces First Round Of Authors For 2019

The much anticipated debut Adelaide Writers' Week from Director Jo Dyer will celebrate the best traditions of the world's oldest literary festival, whilst creating new ones, as the first round of authors and innovative events were announced today. Exploring the theme of 'Telling Truths', Adelaide Writers' Week 2019 will run from Saturday 2 March to Thursday 7 March as part of the 2019 Adelaide Festival, with the inaugural Opening Address on Thursday February 28.

55 local and international authors have confirmed for the program to date, including Ben Okri, Esi Edugyan, Paul Bloom, Chloe Hooper, Anuradha Roy, Leslie Jamison, Mohammed Hanif, Germaine Greer, Robin Morgan and Ahmed Sadaawi.

Director of Adelaide Writers' Week Jo Dyer said, "I'm excited to announce the first round of authors, writers and thinkers to stimulate, enthral and inspire our audiences next March. The diverse perspectives, deep thinking and amazing writing they offer are thrilling."

Six days of free open air readings, panel sessions and literary conversations will be presented in the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden where authors will address issues on the state of our institutions, gender relations, the impact of war and the importance of truth in our world.

New to Adelaide Writers' Week in 2019 are a series of free and ticketed events aimed to connect Adelaide audiences to the great ideas and challenges of our time. The inaugural Adelaide Writers' Week Opening Address will be delivered by Man Booker Prize-winning author, Ben Okri, on February 28. This one night only ticketed event takes place on the Palais in Elder Park.

Additional opportunities to enjoy Writers' Week after work include free Twilight Talks over two nights (Choose Your Moment on Monday March 4 and Talking Truths on Tuesday March 5). Guests can enjoy a glass of wine and music before hearing from a line-up of Writers' Week's most entertaining, provocative and personable authors.

Jo Dyer continued, "The Twilight Talks provide a great new opportunity for those who aren't able to attend Writers' Week during the day, to still experience the program in all its relaxed outdoor glory. We hope people will stop by the Garden on their way home from work, grab a drink and enjoy a Best of the Fest series: a compelling line up of authors responding to this year's Festival theme and talking their truths on power, politics, writing, life, humanity and everything in between".

Taking place over three nights at Elder Hall, The Zeitgeist Series features leading minds as they consider the pressing issues facing the world today. The series begins on Tuesday March 5 with The Corruption of American Leadership. David Frum, a leading American conservative thinker, former George W Bush speechwriter and author of the new book, Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic is in conversation with the Hon. Bob Carr about the US in the time of Trump.

On Wednesday evening Rage, Rape and Revolution sees feminist thinkers Germaine Greer, Sohaila Abdulali, Soraya Chemaly and Lucia Osborne-Cowley discuss the pervasiveness of sexual assault, the resilience of patriarchy and the debates within feminism about how to tackle them. This important discussion is chaired by activist, author, poet, broadcaster and co-founder of the international feminist movement, Robin Morgan.

Reframing the Future rounds out The Zeitgeist Series. Africa Rising Foundation founder and grandson of Nelson Mandela, Ndaba Mandela joins former MP for Iceland's Pirate Party, activist and "poetician" Birgitta Jónsdóttir and leading advocate for Australian Constitutional reform Professor Megan Davis. Together they will discuss whether we need a new form of leadership to address the world's current chaos in a session chaired by Scott Ludlam.

A thoughtfully curated program for children and young people takes place on the opening weekend. A magical day of stories with authors, actors and adventurers on Saturday 2 March will keep children entertained from 9.30am-3.30pm. On Sunday, in a Writers' Week first, writing in all its forms will be celebrated in a day for teens and tweens with music, spoken word and events from Australia's best authors writing for young people.

With the support of Office for the Ageing, Writers' Week will be livestreaming selected sessions (Sunday March 3 to Wednesday March 6) to schools, libraries and retirement villages around South Australia to ensure as many members of the community have access to the event as possible. ABC Radio Adelaide's Sonya Feldhoff will continue the tradition of broadcasting live at Writers' Week, featuring exclusive interviews and talk-sessions.

The full program will be announced January 2019.

ADELAIDE WRITERS' WEEK 2019
Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, King William Road, Adelaide
Saturday 2 March - Thursday 7 March
FREE - no bookings required

For Younger Readers
Kids Day: Saturday 2 March
A Day for Middle and YA Readers (Tweens and Teens): Sunday 3 March
FREE - no bookings required

Twilight Talks
Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, King William Road, Adelaide
Choose Your Moment: Monday March 4
Telling Truths: Tuesday March 5
FREE - no bookings required

Opening Address - Ben Okri: Imagination Redeems
Palais, Elder Park
Thursday 28 February, 6.30pm (1 hour)
Tickets: $25, Friends $20, Conc $15 - Transaction fees apply

The Zeitgeist Series
The Corruption of American Leadership - Tuesday 5 March
Rage, Rape and Revolution - Wednesday 6 March
Reframing the Future - Thursday 7 March
Elder Hall, 6.30pm
Tickets: $25, Friends $20, Conc $15 - Transaction fees apply

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