Festival

Latest News

Hon-Kim-Beazley-AC-web-1200x852.jpg
festivalnews

WA Governor New Patron of Festival

Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival (MRRWF) is pleased to announce the Governor of Western Australia, the Honourable Kim Beazley AC as the new patron of the annual literary festival which is set to take place again from 15-17 May next year.

The Honourable Kim Beazley AC succeeds long-time festival patron Barry House AM who was the President of the Legislative Council before retiring in 2017.

The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, which in 2020 will celebrate its twelfth year, is Arts Margaret River’s flagship annual literary event which aims to foster a love of literature, spark debate and ignite conversations amongst its audience of locals and guests from WA, interstate and overseas.

MRRWF Creative Director Tanya Perdue says it is an exciting time for the festival as the profile of the event continues to grow. “Barry House has made an outstanding contribution to the festival and has been with us the whole way, as we’ve changed the focus and direction of the event to appeal to a wider audience of arts and culture enthusiasts,” she said.

“The festival is delighted to officially welcome the Honourable Kim Beazley AC as Patron of the event going forward. We look forward to his contribution in this advocacy role, as he helps the festival to attract larger audiences from Perth and beyond, to experience Margaret River as a destination for literature and the arts.”

As an arts and culture advocate, the Governor said he was honoured to be selected as Patron for the festival, an important event that contributes significantly to the arts scene in regional WA.

“Advocating for the State as a rich and vibrant arts, cultural, educational and tourism destination is one of my priorities as Governor.  I am delighted to support the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival which makes an important contribution in enabling access to literature and the arts in South West WA,” he said.

“The festival has grown from a grass-roots initiative to one which plays an important role in the promotion of new ideas, debate and discussion and the sharing of Western Australian stories within that.  The cultural, economic and social benefits that flow on from the Festival continue to increase”.

This week, the festival has also unveiled its theme for next year’s event which will be Future Tense, showcasing stories which look at both possible and highly imagined futures through a literary lens to explore and share visions for the future from some of Australia’s most renowned writers, speakers and thinkers. The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival will be held from 15-17 May 2020 at the Margaret River HEART. To find out more visit www.mrrwfestival.com

Ends

Tanya

Clare-Bowditch-web.jpg
festivalnews

Clare Bowditch Book Tour

Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival (MRRWF) is excited to announce that ARIA Award-winning singer Clare Bowditch will appear in Margaret River on 9 November 2019 as part of a national tour for her new memoir Your Own Kind of Girl.

The event, which is being run as a fundraiser for the 2020 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival will see Clare Bowditch discuss her new memoir with Margaret River based writer & blogger Constance Hall and perform her music live. The talk and performance will be held at the Margaret HEART, in the newly opened main auditorium.

Clare Bowditch has always had a knack for telling stories and through her music and performing, has touched hundreds of thousands of lives. Your Own Kind of Girl reveals a childhood punctuated by grief, anxiety and compulsion, and tells how these forces shaped Clare’s life for better and for worse. In her book, Clare lays bare her truth in the hope that doing so will inspire anyone who’s ever done battle with their inner critic.

Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival’s Creative Director, Tanya Perdue said the event is touring the country with the likes of Berry Liberman (Byron Bay), Myf Warhurst (Brisbane), Sarah Wilson (Sydney), Yumi Stynes (Sydney), and in Melbourne Dr Susan Carland and Jamila Rizvi.

“To have the supremely talented, funny and honest Clare Bowditch speaking with Constance Hall here in Margaret River is certainly something special,” she said. “With Clare set to perform some of her music as part of the gig, it’s guaranteed to make for a really memorable evening. We’re thrilled that Margaret River is part of the national tour and to have this as an out-of-season event for the festival.”

Ms Perdue said the special event would resonate with adults and older teens and proceeds would go towards the 2020 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, which is set to take place from 15-17 May 2020.

Tickets are $15 (adults) or $10 (concession) and are available now from www.mrrwfestival.com, by phone 08 9758 7316 or in person from Arts Margaret River at the Community Centre on Tunbridge Street. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. The bar will be open with wine available for purchase and the Margaret River Bookshop will be there with opportunities to buy Your Own Kind of Girl and have it signed by the author herself.

Ends

Tanya

Tulip-Fever-Robin-Esrock-Media-Release-Pic-for-Web.jpg
author talkfestivalfundraisermovie

MRRWF Kicks Off 2018 with Fundraising Events

Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival (MRRWF) is kick starting the New Year with two stellar events to get the conversation started for its 10th anniversary festival to be held from 01 -03 June this year.

Festival Director Kerrie Yabsley said there were some great opportunities coming up for locals to be entertained and inspired while supporting the festival, which is a not-for-profit event.

“While the festival will again bring an array of thought-provoking writers to the region, the importance of these fundraising events can’t be underestimated,” she said. “With added costs this year, due to the relocation of the festival because of the Cultural Centre upgrade, it’s more important than ever before to garner community support and funds in the lead up to the event. I also hope to get people excited and inspired to support the event and hear from some interesting authors and speakers throughout the year,” she said.

The movie screening of Tulip Fever, adapted from the novel by Deborah Moggach is a historical drama film set against the backdrop of the 17th century Tulip Wars which stars Alicia Vikander, Christoph Waltz, Judi Dench and Cara Delevingne. Tickets to the screening at the Margaret River Cultural Centre on Sunday 14 January are $20 and the bar will open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

For the travel buffs, best-selling Vancouver-based author, journalist, blogger and broadcaster Robin Esrock will be talking travel, based around his latest book The Great Global Bucket List. For over a decade, Robin Esrock has sought out the extraordinary, visiting 110 countries on 7 continents in search of the adventures, destinations and cultural spectacles that make life worth living. With tickets just $10, this not-to-be-missed event will be held on Wednesday 24 January at 6.30pm, with books and drinks available for purchase from 6pm.

Tickets to both events are available from www.mrrwfestival.com/whats-on, by phone 08 9758 7316 or in person at the Margaret River Cultural Centre Box Office, 51 Wallcliffe Road, Margaret River and all funds will contribute to the 2018 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival.

Ends

Tanya

Voyager-Estate.jpg
festivalnews

2018 Festival to be held at Voyager Estate

30 November 2017

Arts Margaret River is gearing up for the 10th anniversary of its annual Readers & Writers Festival to be held on the long weekend from 01-03 June 2018. Following on from this year’s line-up which featured British headliner Michael Palin, the festival plans to showcase another entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring array of literary talent with the new theme ‘Stories that shape us’.

In a festival first, the hub of the three-day storytelling spectacular will be held at Voyager Estate winery, due to the scheduled upgrade of the Margaret River Cultural Centre which is envisaged to commence in March. The grounds of Voyager Estate will become a hive of activity with up to 50 writers and presenters expected to draw crowds locally, from other parts of WA and interstate.

Festival Director Tanya Perdue said the 2018 event would be a standout. “With the 10th anniversary of the festival and the 40th anniversary of the vines at Voyager Estate, there’s even more reason to make this a truly unique festival like no other. We have some fabulous authors in the pipeline from overseas, interstate and locally and will be finalising the program in the coming months,” she said.

“Voyager Estate were an invaluable sponsor for us in 2017 and we look forward to further cementing that partnership with the opportunity to hold the festival on their beautiful grounds,” she said. “This festival is certainly going to be one not to be missed.”

Voyager Estate Managing Director, Alex Burt says she’s delighted to be supporting the festival.

“We have really enjoyed our association with the Readers and Writers Festival, so it is a tremendous pleasure to be able to host the 2018 event”, she said.

“The Festival has such a great energy and the team puts together an amazing collection of writers every year.  We are thrilled that this one-off opportunity to host the 10th anniversary coincides with our own celebrations.”

The festival program and tickets are expected to be released in March 2018. Stay tuned to www.mrrwfestival.com for details. The State Government is proud to support the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program.

Ends

Tanya

Older Posts