Sharing books, writing and ideas with Writers’ Festival
This year, the line-up includes a number of Jewish voices, joining some of the world’s best novelists, poets, journalists, public intellectuals, economists, politicians, podcasters and scientists.
Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF) is back for 2023, once again bringing together a broad range of diverse writers and thinkers from Australia and around the world.
This year, the line-up includes a number of Jewish voices, joining some of the world’s best novelists, poets, journalists, public intellectuals, economists, politicians, podcasters and scientists.
According to the SWF website, “more than 400 writers take part in over 300 conversations, debates, performances and panel discussions to audiences of more than 80,000” each year.
The Sydney Jewish Museum will be hosting five survivors and family members. Olga Horak, Francine Lazarus, Paul Drexler and Richard Haber will read extracts from their memoirs, and Lotte Weiss, who passed away in 2021, will be represented by her son, Johnny Weiss.
Australian social entrepreneur and founder of the food rescue charity OzHarvest Ronni Kahn will be taking part in the Future Food panel, discussing what many have termed a “broken” food system, that focuses on ultra-processed products, exploited workers and massive food waste.
The panel will consider possible solutions and discuss a path towards a better food future.
Speaking of food, beloved Jewish chef, “cookery columnist, broadcaster, and vegelante” Alice Zaslavsky will be appearing in two sessions, including the headline Sydney Town Hall event The Dinner That Changed My Life, in which a stellar crew of cooks, writers and storytellers will share the dining experiences that, quite literally, changed their lives.
Zaslavsky will also be on the panel at Home Comforts, a session that looks at how home cooking is truly at the heart of culture.
Panellists will be sharing their own home cooking and their cultures, comparing comfort dishes and will discuss how they prepare their home comfort meals.
Heather Mitchell, who recently spoke to The AJN about her recent performance as Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Sydney Theatre Company, will take to the stage for a very special conversation alongside RBG: of Many, One playwright Suzie Miller.
Author, creative director and culture critic Jonathan Seidler, who earlier this year released his memoir It’s a Shame About Ray, will be in conversation with Michaela Kalowski.
As well as this, he will be appearing at Our Fathers, alongside Bertie Blackman and Sam Vincent as they reflect on the impact their fathers had on them and the complex bonds they each shared.
He will be pairing his words with sound and imagery in a one-man coda called It’s a Shame About Ray: Rearranged and he will sit on the panel for Soundtrack of Our Lives.
Geraldine Brooks, Lev Grossman, Michaela Kalowski and Sarah Kanowski will also be featured in various panels and sessions.
It’s definitely one not to be missed. According to Ann Mossop, artistic director of the festival: “The 2023 Sydney Writers’ Festival offers you a world of writing and ideas to explore, from the regular sustenance of favourite daily reads, to some very special performances and experiences.”
For full program and tickets, visit swf.org.au
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