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Ubud brings the world to Perth

The West Australian
Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse will be guests at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) Perth.
Camera IconGina Williams and Guy Ghouse will be guests at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) Perth. Credit: Supplied

Writing WA has launched the full program for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Perth, an exclusive international collaboration that brings one of the world’s leading literary events into the Perth CBD.

Hosted at The Rechabite Hall in Perth from October 8-10, UWRF Perth features three days of conversations and performances with international and Australian literary talent. Headlining the festival is Amitav Ghosh — the winner of the 54th Jnanpith award, India’s highest literary honour.

UWRF Perth is a unique hybrid event, combining live events and presenters on the ground at the Northbridge and in Bali, with international and interstate speakers participating live virtually.

Writing WA CEO Sharon Flindell said: “It is a thrill and an honour to collaborate with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival on this innovative program to mark the 18th year of this celebrated international literary event. Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Perth will bring renowned international authors, artists, activists, and communicators together with an incredible line-up of Australian writers.”

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Alongside Amitav Ghosh, the program features Australian talent including: Christine Helliwell, Julia Baird, Meg McKinlay, Stephen Smith, Elfie Shiosaki, Emily Sun, Anne Aly, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Victoria Midwinter Pitt, Krishna Sen, Brigid Lowry, Gina Williams, Guy Ghouse, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, Gillian O’Shaughnessy, Rebecca Higgie, David Allan-Petale, Meg McKinlay, Cass Lynch, Hassan Al Nawwab, Fred Leone, Jarrad Travers, Sarah Yeung, Iain Grandage, Brigid Lowry and Michael Done.

Brigid Lowry.
Camera IconBrigid Lowry. Credit: Will Yeoman/The West Australian

Indonesian writers and speakers include Ayu Utami, Desi Anwar, Evi Mariani, Felix K. Nesi, Cok Sawitri, Gede Robi Supriyanto, Dandhy Laksono, and Johannes Widodo, and American author and journalist Vincent Bevins.

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Perth is the culmination of a ten-year working relationship between UWRF and Writing WA, which included sponsoring various West Australian authors to travel to the festival over the years and hosting the Kembali 2020 event in Perth last year.

This year’s theme is Mulat Sarira, interpreted in English as Self-Reflection. Following three days of UWRF Perth, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival will continue in Bali until October 18.

Details and bookings: uwrfperth.writingwa.org

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