Celebrating its 13th year, the Bendigo Writers Festival returns to the City of Gastronomy this May with a literary banquet fit for a royal table.
Tree-changer, festival founder and director Rosemary Sorensen is joined this year by Clare Wright, historian, author and Professor of Public Engagement at La Trobe University. Together they’ve cooked up a program feast of words and wisdom from our favourite writers ready for avid readers and book lovers alike.
The Bendigo Writers Festival will run over four days from Thursday May 4 to Sunday 7 May taking place in the sumptuous historical surroundings in venues along View Street.
The Capital Theatre, a building which was saved from demolition by a community campaign and which turns 150 this year, will once again be the home of this festival in the heart of central Victoria.
Festival Director and arts journalist Rosemary Sorensen said: “I was a tree-changer, making my move to Bendigo 13 years ago. I remember standing on the steps of The Capital Theatre in View Street and thinking that it would be a perfect city for a Writers Festival. And when I said that to the local Council, they were very quick to take it up. It was very much a matter of right place, and right time, so it was clearly meant to happen.
“While much has changed in regional Victoria, Bendigo is now – more than ever – a perfect place for such an event with its creative community and engrained arts culture. It was a case of ‘right time, right place’, and that’s why we’ve themed this year’s festival with ‘Such Is Life’,” said Rosemary.
The Bendigo Writers Festival will feature a rich and diverse line-up of writers including Tom Ballard (I, Millennial), Melina Marchetta (Looking For Alibrandi), Pip Williams (The Dictionary of Lost Words), Peter Doherty (Empire, War, Tennis and Me), Sadam Abdusalam (Freeing My Family), Jess Ho (Raised By Wolves), Ghassan Hage (The Diasporic Condition) and Gabrielle Wang (Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased The Moon).
La Trobe University will present 17 events featuring writers, activists and conversationalists such as Megan Davis, Russell Marks, Kate Auty, Helen Garner, Joelle Gergis, Tom Kennally and Christos Tsiolkas.
Exclusive onscreen events including Nick Hornby live in conversation with Benjamin Law and George Monbiot live with Natasha Mitchell will take place at Ulumbarra Theatre.
A range of special word feasts will take place in Bendigo’s iconic foodie havens – Hawker Restaurant at the Golden Dragon Museum, the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion and a delicious banquet and brunch in one of the newest hospitality gems in Bendigo, Mackenzie Quarters.
Bendigo Venues and Events Manager Julie Amos said: “The festival has continued to grow over 13 years with audiences flocking to Bendigo for a whole weekend of talks and conversations. We are so fortunate to have Rosemary and Clare at the programming helm, providing the event with a boost of energy and expertise.”
Bendigo Writers Festival takes place in Bendigo, Victoria from 4-7 May 2023. To view the full program of events and secure your seat at the biggest writers festival in central Victoria visit: www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au