The 2019 Emerging Writers’ Festival launches with a night of readings. What, exactly, is an ‘emerging’ writer? At what point do you come out of the chrysalis?
At this special opening-night event, hear from Kat Clarke, Vidya Rajan, Sumudu Samarawickrama and Ahmed Yussuf, as they each tell us about the first time they considered themselves a writer. Hosted by the artistic director of the Emerging Writers' Festival, Izzy Roberts-Orr, and program coordinator Aïsha Trambas.
Presented in partnership with the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Who?
Izzy Roberts-Orr
Izzy Roberts-Orr is a Melbourne-based poet, playwright and editor who grew up between Alice Springs and Footscray. She is the current Festival Director and Co-CEO of Emerging Writers' Festival.
Izzy is interested in making work that is political, personal and accessible, engaging particularly with debates around feminism, class, internet culture and the sociopolitical landscape in Australia.
Aïsha Trambas
Aïsha Trambas is an Afro-Greek arts worker based on Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung land. Aïsha is currently the Program Coordinator of the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Vidya Rajan
Vidya Rajan is an award-winning writer, comic, and performance-maker working across stage, screen, and page. She has trained and performed extensively in improvisation and sketch in Australia and the United States. She has recently worked with QPF, Melbourne Festival Director’s Lab, ABC Comedy, Theatreworks and is a 2018 recipient of Screen Australia’s Developing the Developer initiative. She is a current writer in residence at the Malthouse Theatre.
Kat Clarke
Kat Clarke is a writer, artist and Indigenous consultant. Being a proud Wotjobaluk woman from the Wimmera, Kat gradually developed her craft by combining her skills and knowledge in community engagement, mentoring, music, the arts, screen, and education.
Ahmed Yussuf
Ahmed Yussuf is a writer and journalist. He co-edited Growing Up African in Australia, the first non-fiction anthology of African-diaspora stories in Australia. His work has featured in Acclaim Magazine, the Guardian, TRT World and Jalada Africa. He was also an artist in the 2018 Digital Writers Festival.
Sumudu Samarawickrama
Sumudu Samarawickrama is from Werribee. Her work has appeared in Boston Review, Overland, Meanjin and the Lifted Brow. She co-produced Sidekicked 2017 Melbourne Fringe Category Award Winner 'Best Words and Ideas'. She was a Witness Performance New Critic in 2018. She wants to use art to powerfully challenge the status quo of the structures that underpin our society. As part of FCAC’s West Writer's Group, she is interested in how anger can be a tool towards community. She is on a journey to decolonise her soul.
