Auckland Writers Festival Unveils Its Whopping 2019 Lineup
Seven days of ideas, readings, debates, stand-up poetry, literary theatre, children’s writers and free public events.
The Auckland Writers Festival is recognised as one of the best literature celebrations in the world, with seven days of ideas, readings, debates, stand-up poetry, literary theatre, children's writers and free public events. For its 19th outing more than 230 of the planet's best writers have been booked to bring a world of stories and ideas to the city from 13 to 19 May.
Appearing exclusively at the festival is memoirist and founding member of American rock band Wilco, Jeff Tweedy. Taking the stage at ASB Theatre Aotea on Friday, May 17, Tweedy will open up about his creative process and the people and places that have shaped him before ending the session with a musical performance.
He joins a stellar lineup including NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern; British historian Sir Antony Beevor; former Straitjacket Fits frontman Shayne Carter; English writer, mathematician and concert pianist Eugenia Cheng; best-selling children's writer turned erotic fiction author Sally Gardner; 2018 British Women's Prize-winning novelist Kamila Shamsie; 2018 American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Andrew Sean Greer; South Africa's Sisonke Msimang who was born in exile to freedom fighters; award-winning English hip-hop artist, writer and poet Akala, and more. See the full lineup here.
Elsewhere on the program, a short detective story from Liam McIlvanney will be read in the Central Library basement by ultraviolet torchlight; an esteemed panel will explore Every Day Acts of Racism; concert-opera experience Man, Sitting in a Garden will see the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra collaborate with writer Witi Ihimaera, composer Kenneth Young and tenor Simon O'Neill; Māori Myths Retold will present an hour of mythic Māori magic; the festival's free family day will include a 50th birthday edition of Margaret Mahy's The Lion in the Meadow, and True Stories Told Live: Under Cover will see seven-minute true stories performed prop-less and script-less.
For 2019, the festival is also proud to introduce its Māori name, Waituhi o Tāmaki, with its many poetic resonances with water, writing and story-telling.
Go to writersfestival.co.nz for more information on appearing writers and events.
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