Best Sydney Writers Festival Podcasts (2024)

1
In Conversation: 2024 Stella Prize Winner Alexis Wright 47:39

1d ago47:39

47:39

“Praiseworthy is mighty in every conceivable way: mighty of scope, mighty of fury, mighty of craft, mighty of humour, mighty of language, mighty of heart.” – Stella Prize Hear from the winner of this year’s Stella Prize, Alexis Wright, as she joins judging panel chair Beejay Silcox in conversation to discuss her creative inspirations, writing proce…

1
TGIF debates the debate 51:41

21h ago51:41

51:41

Richard Glover is joined by James O’Loghlin, Jennifer Wong and Shane Jacobson.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Man of Two Faces 50:50

3d ago50:50

50:50

“I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces”, begins Viet Thanh Nguyen’s debut novel, The Sympathizer, the internationally acclaimed bestseller that was recently adapted into an HBO series starring Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr. This duality is also at the heart of Viet’s highly original memoir, A Man of Two Faces, which details with sardo…

1
A Pulitzer Prize-winning play counts the Cost of Living 26:21

4d ago26:21

26:21

Dan Daw rose to prominence as a dancer who makes his distinctive body the centre of his work. Now, he takes to the stage as an actor, in a bold and witty play that was a Broadway hit. Cost of Living is about the complex relationships between those living with disability and their carers. But it also wrestles with other, sometimes overlooked, factor…

1
Wherefore, Shakespeare? 04 | Race 28:12

4d ago28:12

28:12

While some critics believe that plays like Othello and The Merchant of Venice are inherently racist, others argue that they simply portray, perhaps even criticise, the racist attitudes of the time. Wherefore, Shakespeare? is a series that explores the dilemmas, conflicts, and controversies in Shakespeare's major plays. In our fourth instalment, we …

1
Ann Patchett on Ordinary Joys 59:39

8d ago59:39

59:39

“How other people live is pretty much all I think about,” writes Ann Patchett. Since her breakthrough novel, Bel Canto, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Ann’s clever, compelling and expertly crafted portraits of other people’s lives have enamoured readers and critics alike. The author of bookshelf staples like Commonwealth and The Dutch House ret…

1
Closing Address: Kate Manne on the Future of Misogyny 42:13

10d ago42:13

42:13

[Content warning: misogynistic violence, sexual assault] When Kate Manne’s first book Down Girl, a tightly argued analysis of misogyny, was published shortly after the full exposé of Harvey Weinstein, she became ‘the philosopher of #MeToo’ – someone who could explain in crisp and compelling terms what misogyny is and how it works. With her trademar…

1
Come hear the music play at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 54:04

11d ago54:04

54:04

Pull up a chair to your lamp-lit table and enjoy cabaret performances from some of Australia's finest musical talent. Gathered around the piano at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, we're joined by artistic director Virginia Gay, musical theatre luminaries Swing on This (Luke Kennedy, Matt Lee, Ben Mingay and Bert LaBonté), performer and late-night sal…

1
TGIF goes #boysober 43:10

15d ago43:10

43:10

On Thank God it’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Alice Fraser, Tommy Dean and James Colley as they discuss the supposed egg shortage, the trend to swear-off men and the politics of our pets.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
'We are here, we belong' — The unifying impact of Counting and Cracking 54:06

18d ago54:06

54:06

S. Shakthidharan's award-winning epic, Counting and Cracking, won seven Helpmann Awards and drew a huge audience to a story that many of them knew little about. Five years after its world premiere, Counting and Cracking is on in Melbourne as part of the RISING festival, after which it transfers to Sydney's Carriageworks and then New York. In 1972, …

1
TGIF goes on the road to the Wagga Comedy Festival 43:26

22d ago43:26

43:26

On Thank God It's Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Dane Simpson, Tommy Dean and Rebecca de Unamuno live from the Wagga Comedy Festival.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Jonathan Biggins is closing the book on Keating and The Wharf Revue 54:04

25d ago54:04

54:04

Former prime minister Paul Keating was one of the great parliamentary performers. His ruthless wit and self-confidence takes centre stage in Jonathan Biggins' hugely popular tribute to Keating, The Gospel According to Paul. The upcoming season at the Sydney Opera House may be Jonathan's final outing as the boy from Bankstown. Also, with her new sho…

1
TGIF courts trouble 44:41

29d ago44:41

44:41

Gary Eck, Tommy Dean and Bridie Connell join Richard Glover as they discuss Trump's conviction, Sydney's new housing rules and the so-called "loyalty tax."By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Bangarra looks to the horizon for its first cross-cultural collaboration 26:31

1M ago26:31

26:31

Perhaps no dance company has done more to expand the horizons of Australian audiences than Bangarra Dance Theatre. Now they expand those horizons further, presenting their first mainstage cross-cultural collaboration. Horizon includes work choreographed by Deborah Brown, a descendent of the Wakaid Clan and Meriam people in the Torres Strait, with M…

1
Wherefore, Shakespeare? 03 | Horror 28:12

1M ago28:12

28:12

William Shakespeare's plays feature witchcraft, murder, ghosts and bloody revenge. Are his displays of blood and gore simply meant to entertain us or do they have more to say about the human condition? Wherefore, Shakespeare? is a series that explores the dilemmas, conflicts, and controversies in Shakespeare's major plays. In our third instalment, …

1
TGIF at the Sydney Writers' Festival 44:40

1M ago44:40

44:40

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Tommy Dean, Jean Kittson and Gary Eck at the Sydney Writers Festival.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
'I've had this career against all odds' — Bonachela's twisted path to Sydney Dance 54:04

1M ago54:04

54:04

A childhood love of dance and a challenging homelife drove Rafael Bonachela to leave his native Spain at just 17 years old and seek his fortune in the dance studios and theatres of London. The celebrated choreographer was then beckoned to Australia, where he has led the Sydney Dance Company since 2009. Also, in The Audition, we meet a group of asyl…

1
TGIF budgets on change 43:14

1M ago43:14

43:14

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Alex Lee, Colin Buchanan and Tommy Dean as they discuss the Federal Budget, the stormy descriptions of Trump, and Australia’s new trip on the sheep’s back.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
From Europe to the USA, this Australian theatre company keeps on winning 54:04

2M ago54:04

54:04

For decades, Australia's Back to Back Theatre has been delighting audiences with shows performed and devised by an ensemble of artists who are neurodivergent or living with a disability. Following their most recent major international award win, we visit the ensemble at their Geelong headquarters as they rehearse their new show: Multiple Bad Things…

1
TGIF bags a better bottom. 42:30

2M ago42:30

42:30

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Alice Fraser, Dane Simpson and Tommy Dean as they discuss the new “Wonderbra for bums”, the ban of library books on same-sex parenting by one Sydney council, and the way people now refuse to answer the phone.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Audra McDonald & Jason Robert Brown — Tony-winning Broadway icons 54:04

2M ago54:04

54:04

It's Tony season on Broadway and this week we have two major figures of American theatre who have won nine Tony Awards between them: Audra McDonald and Jason Robert Brown. Performer Audra McDonald is currently on a concert tour of Australia. Her first Tony Award came for her breakthrough role in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel and she's added five…

1
TGIF shares the glory 44:36

2M ago44:36

44:36

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Bec Melrose, Gary Eck, and Tommy Dean who discuss Chiko Rolls, a 24-toilet house and the “age verification” questions that could separate young people from their elders.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Simon Burke's wonderful (and Wicked) 50 years in the footlights 25:44

2M ago25:44

25:44

Simon Burke is one of Australia's most cherished entertainers. 2024 marks his 50th year performing on stage. He made his professional stage debut at just 12 years old and shortly after won an AFI Award for his performance in Fred Schepisi's film The Devil's Playground. He's since become renowned as a musical theatre performer, having had major role…

1
Wherefore, Shakespeare? 02 | Gender 28:12

2M ago28:12

28:12

What does it mean to defy the conventions and test the boundaries of gender? These are questions posed by some of Shakespeare's most famous characters. Wherefore, Shakespeare? is a series that explores the dilemmas, conflicts, and controversies in Shakespeare's major plays. In our second instalment, we place gender in the spotlight. We're joined by…

1
TGIF live at the Sydney Comedy Festival 45:13

2M ago45:13

45:13

On this week's TGIF, Richard Glover is joined by Kirsty Webeck, Jennifer Wong and Tommy Dean live from the Chatswood Concourse as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
After a celebrated Ring Cycle, a director ventures to Lammermoor 54:04

2M ago54:04

54:04

Suzanne Chaundy is one of Australia's most in-demand directors of opera. Last year, she had the triumph of a lifetime with her direction of opera's most daunting challenge: Wagner's Ring Cycle. Now she's back with another big opera, Lucia di Lammermoor at the Melbourne Opera. So, what does it take to direct an opera? Also, in Lose to Win, which ope…

1
TGIF rues the day 43:51

2M ago43:51

43:51

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Pat Sunderland, Bridie Connell and Tommy Dean as they discuss the discovery of giant kangaroos in Australia’s past, the threat to imprison the boss of Woolworths and the accidental free money given out at a Sydney casino.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
'I didn't want sangría and bulls' — A timeless and brutal Carmen 54:07

2M ago54:07

54:07

Choreographer Johan Inger's first narrative work is a radically contemporary take on Carmen, which employs Bizet's famous score but draws on the confronting violence of Mérimée's original novella for its story. The ballet earned the Prix Benois de la Danse and is now being presented by The Australian Ballet. Also, Victor Hugo's novel about an orpha…

1
TGIF trains on the wrong tracks 46:28

3M ago46:28

46:28

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Tommy Dean, Rebecca de Unamuno and Tahir as they discuss the racehorse found wandering in a Sydney train station, the litigious Lothario in America who is suing his dates, and why cash should still be king.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Angus Cerini delivers an Australian gothic trilogy 54:04

3M ago54:04

54:04

Angus Cerini has been writing plays for 25 years, but his recent experiences as a farmer have inspired his latest play, Into the Shimmering World. The acclaimed writer of The Bleeding Tree and Wonnangatta now introduces us to two aging farmers, played by Kerry Armstrong and Colin Friels, struggling against relentless adversity. Also, Wild Dogs Unde…

1
TGIF tries it fast 44:26

3M ago44:26

44:26

On Thank God It’s Friday, Richard Glover is joined by Colin Buchanan, Jennifer Wong and Tommy Dean as they discuss the trend for “speech fasting”, the war on superbugs and the gym-junkies who now want a tax break.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
West Side Story comes to Sydney Harbour 54:02

3M ago54:02

54:02

Opera Australia's annual production on Sydney Harbour is a highlight of the performing arts calendar. This year, the floating stage hosts West Side Story and it stars First Nations soprano Nina Korbe. The musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is Nina's professional debut, but not her first time performing in a spectacular outdoor settin…

1
The writer of The Whale makes a case for the existence of God 26:11

3M ago26:11

26:11

A Case for the Existence of God is by the American playwright Samuel D. Hunter. It is a two-hander that explores the unlikely connections between two men unalike in class, race and sexuality. Samuel is also the creator of the very unsettling hit play The Whale, a film adaption of which earned two Academy Awards. Two separate productions of A Case f…

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