Melbourne welcomes new literary fest

Celebrating the best in literature from Australia and South Asia, taking part will be local George Megalogenis

George Megalogenis at the launch of his book, 'Australia's Second Chance – What Our History Tells Us About Our Future'. Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch.

27 January 2017 9:51am

Instagram

In a celebration of the best writing and ideas from across South Asia and Australia, Melbourne is getting a brand- new summer festival.

To make it possible, the Melbourne Writers Festival has joined forces with Jaipur Literature Festival to create JLF Melbourne, which will transport the magic, colour and excitement to Federation Square.

“JLF Melbourne will bring ‘the greatest literary show on Earth’ to Australia’s City of Literature for just one weekend,” MWF festival director Lisa Dempster said.

“This thrilling pop-up festival will connect the unique identities of South Asia and Australia. Through talks, performances, music and poetry, JLF Melbourne will explore culture, migration, identity and gender issues, politics, the environment, travel and history.”

Among the impressive local talent taking part is Greek Australian journalist and political commentator George Megalogenis, writer and academic Tony Birch, journalist and screenwriter Benjamin Law and award-winning poet Michelle Cahill.

Megalogenis will be a part of a session titled ‘Present Tense: Way of the World’, which will attempt to examine the social realities and context of the changes around us.

Meanwhile, a number of international stars will also be travelling Down Under to join in, including transgender rights activist, dancer and actress Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Indian politician and award-winning writer Shashi Tharoor, travel writer and former reporter Mishi Saran and singer and songwriter Sofia Ashraf.

A weekend of free events, taking place from 11-12 February, JLF Melbourne will also feature a gala evening event, including a smorgasbord of food, drink and not-to-be-missed live performances.

“Just like its Jaipur namesake, JLF Melbourne will be a fluid event where guests can move freely from session to session and really soak up the atmosphere,” Ms Dempster said.

JLF Melbourne is held in collaboration with Melbourne Writers Festival, Teamwork Arts, Fed Square and Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Asia TOPA, with Readings as the festival’s official bookseller.

To see the full program, visit mwf.com.au/jlf-melbourne