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Treading the Boards: Creative Writing For Beginners

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Event Status

Join the cream of Australia’s theatre crop for this very special event to celebrate the publication of Colin Batrouney’s second novel, Creative Writing for Beginners.

Actor Geoffrey Rush, director Neil Armfield and comedian Denise Scott have known Colin Batrouney since his early days of treading the boards as an actor – and their careers have all transformed and flourished in fascinating ways since.

Creative Writing for Beginners tells the twinned stories of an aspiring writer and his flatmate, Nomee, a budding actress who has just landed a career-changing leading role in Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece The Seagull.

The lures and limitations of fame, the tyrannical pull of audience expectations and the perilous crafts of writing and acting are at the core of both Colin’s novel and Chekhov’s classic play.

These timeless themes are well known to anyone who pursues a creative career – and especially to our panelists. Join us for a timely discussion on the transformative power of the arts, how actors embody and enliven their characters night after night in front of a live audience, and what influences these acclaimed writers, performers and directors.

Featuring

Neil Armfield

Neil Armfield is a leading Australian director of theatre, opera and film. He was co-founder of Sydney’s Belvoir Theatre and its Artistic Director for 17 years, during which time he directed over 50 productions. Neil’s notable productions include Cloudstreet (toured to London twice, Dublin, Zuri... Read more

Colin Batrouney

Colin Batrouney is a Melbourne-based writer. His second novel, Creative Writing for Beginners, is published by Affirm Press in 2013. He has occasionally worked in professional theatre as both an actor and director. He has never attended a creative writing course.

Geoffrey Rush

Geoffrey Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He has won one Academy Award for acting (from four nominations), three British Academy Film Awards (from five nominations), two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is the foundation president of the Australian Academy of... Read more

Denise Scott

Denise Scott first started working as a professional actor and comedian nearly thirty years ago, but it has been in the last six years that she has been selling out theatres, scoring herself a regular gigs on high rating national television shows and seeing her two books creep towards bestseller sta... Read more

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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