The Writers in the Sky event is held at Scenic World, Katoomba. The event runs for 90 minutes, and includes a complimentary drink and light snacks.
There are three separate 25-minute performance events in the cableway. Your ticket to Writers in the Sky includes entry to one of these performance events (as listed below). Single tickets to the first session (Outspoken with Madison Godfrey) are still available and can be purchased here. Alternatively, gold passes include entry to your choice of Writers in the Sky event.
/ 5:30pm - 6:10pm Outspoken (with Madison Godfrey), hosted by James Valentine /
Hear from one of Australia’s most celebrated spoken word artists Madison Godfrey, as they deliver an enthralling and captivating poetic performance that will transcend the written word atop the signature blue haze of the ancient eucalypts below.
/ 6:10pm - 6:50pm Reconnecting with Stories with Paul Callaghan, hosted by James Valentine /
How can you make your life the best story possible? Listen to Worimi storyteller Paul Callaghan share stories that bring meaning and wonder both to his life and to the lives of others. Reflect on the beauty of Country as you watch the sun set over Gundungurra land. Hosted by James Valentine.
/ 6:50pm - 7:30pm The Biggest Risk You Ever Took, (with Maeve Marsden, Nardi Simpson, Kgshak Akec and David Stavanger) /
Join Maeve Marsden as she shares tales tall and true, about the greatest risk they ever took, with storytellers Nardi Simpson, Kgshak Akec and David Stavanger. Prepare to laugh and gasp in this event.
Tickets for this event are currently only available via a gold weekend pass. Subject to availability, single tickets may also be available from 19 September.
Madison Godfrey lives on Whadjuk Noongar land and is a writer, editor, educator, and the author of Dress Rehearsals. Madison has performed poetry at the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury Festival. They are also the previous recipient of the Western Australia Youth Award for ‘Creative Contributions’ to the state.
James Valentine is a musician and ABC radio presenter, known for being a movie reviewer on Showtime, a reporter and commentator on Sunrise, It Takes Two, Midday, Good Morning Australia and TVTV. James has also featured as the narrator of Come Dine With Me Australia as well as the writer of regular columns for publications including The Australian.
Paul Callaghan is an Aboriginal man belonging to the land of the Worimi people, located on the coast of New South Wales. Paul works as a consultant, motivational speaker, storyteller, dancer and author, whose book, The Dreaming Path, a national bestseller, won the ABIA 2023 Small Publishers’ Book of the Year.
Maeve Marsden is a writer and theatre maker, having written, directed and performed in a number of critically acclaimed theatre productions. Maeve curates national storytelling project Queerstories, and her writing has appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian Australia, Junkee and Archer Magazine, among others.
Kgshak Akec is a South-Sudanese writer, performing artist and storyteller. A migrant and non-native English speaker, Kgshak has just published her debut novel, Hopeless Kingdom. Inspired by her own journey of migrating to Australia, this novel was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin award.
Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay author, storyteller and performer dedicated to the making and sharing of culture. Nardi’s debut novel, Song of the Crocodile, was published in 2020. The novel received significant recognition, including being longlisted for the Stella Prize and the Miles Franklin Award, and shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing.
David Stavanger is a poet, performer, cultural producer, editor and lapsed psychologist living on Dharawal land. His first full-length poetry collection, The Special, was awarded several prizes and his most recent, Case Notes, won the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry.
You will be welcome to stay in the lounge area before and after the performance event of your choice, where you’ll be entertained by lively jazz from The Lounge Catz.
Please note: Standing room only. Due to the nature of the cableway, rows are tiered from the bottom up where the stage is located. If you have trepidation about heights or suffer from vertigo then please consider whether this event is appropriate for you.
Transport
There will be a shuttle bus between The Carrington Hotel and Scenic World for the Writers in the Sky events.
Festival Ticket Information
Tickets for this event are available via a gold weekend pass, or, subject to availability, you can also purchase a single ticket (see below).