Partner
Celebrate the opening of the inaugural Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo with an Up Late event featuring readings from some of Australia’s most acclaimed graphic storytellers.
Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo (MAKE) is a new festival celebrating all things comics, graphic novels and graphic storytelling.
For their opening gala, host Aaron Billings welcomes a line-up of critically acclaimed and experimental graphic greats – Rachel Ang, Eloise Grills, Mandy Ord, Joshua Santospirito, Bailey Sharp and Shaun Tan – who will each take the stage for a live reading of their comics accompanied by projected artwork.
Join the artists for a toast and an evening of stories brought vividly to life before MAKE unfolds across the city over an inspiring weekend.
Content Warning:
This event may include references to sensitive content. The authors will share relevant content warnings with the audience before their readings.
Presented in partnership with Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo
Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Friday 9 October
8.00 - 9.30pm
Tickets
$15.00
Full
Location
Accessibility
Accessible toilets available
Assistive Listening
Auslan interpreting available by-request
Companion tickets available
Registered Assistance Animals welcome
Wheelchair accessible
For information regarding accessibility at The Wheeler Centre, click here.
Please notify us of all access requirements when booking online so we can assist you with your visit. If you require further information, please contact ticketing@wheelercentre.com.
Additional Notes
Participating speakers will be signing books after the event.
Featuring
Rachel Ang
Rachel Ang is an artist and writer who makes comics. Their comics and words have been published in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Meanjin, Overland, Kill Your Darlings, Cordite and Loom. Their latest ...
Eloise Grills
Eloise Grills is an award-winning artist and writer living on unceded Wada Wurrung land. Her illustrated memoir-in-essays, big beautiful female theory was published by Affirm Press in 2022. The book has been shortlisted ...
Mandy Ord
Mandy Ord is a Naarm (Melbourne) based cartoonist with a long history of self publishing. Her book When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over published by Brow Books was longlisted for The Stella Prize ...
Joshua Santospirito
Joshua (he/him) is a multimedia artist, musician and graphic novelist living in Nipaluna, Lutruwita (Tasmania). His writing, editing, comics and illustrations have appeared in the Monthly, Overland, Meanjin and ...
Bailey Sharp
Bailey Sharp is a cartoonist, publisher and educator, originally from Atlanta, now living in Naarm. She is one of the administrators of Glom Press, a Risograph printer and comics publisher and co-organiser of the ...
Shaun Tan
Shaun Tan grew up in Perth and works as an artist, writer and filmmaker in Melbourne. He is best known for illustrated books in a variety of styles combining surrealist imagery and social commentary, widely ...
Aaron Billings
Aaron Billings is an artist and writer, making comics, textile work and paintings. He is the cofounder of Pink Ember studio in Coburg. He is the illustrator and comic artist of The Paris End, and regularly ...