Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival tickets go live

Tickets are now on sale for the region’s most anticipated literary festival, which will return to Margaret River next month.

The Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival released tickets as well as a preview of this year’s attractions on Monday, with some familiar faces returning alongside Australian writing legends.

The theme for this year’s theme is “no word limit” and headliners include famed barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC, broadcaster and Walkley Award-winning columnist Jane Caro and authors Kathy Lette, Julia Baird, Heather Morris, Saul Griffith and Lynne McGranger.

Those guests will be joined by a rich array of WA writers such as Natasha Lester, Craig Silvey, David Whish-Wilson, David Allen-Petale, Cindy Solonec and Josh Kemp.

Frane Lessac, Kylie Howarth, Steve Heron and Esther Krogdahl will feature in the free “Storytelling Snug” interactive storytelling sessions to inspire youngsters’ creativity and foster a love of reading and writing.

The Margaret River Heart will be home base again this year, with multiple stages as well as art exhibitions, food and drink vendors, the foyer bar and free family entertainment.

Sian Baker, in her second year as festival director, talked up this year’s offering.

“The program is incredibly diverse, offering readers and writers a range of exciting events in our beautiful regional setting,” she said.

Much of the program would also be live-streamed, catering to interstate and international audiences unable to make the trek to Margaret River.

“The livestreams allow lovers of literature and writing from all over Australia and the world to join us here in Margaret River virtually – an experience we hope they can enjoy in person at future festivals,” Baker said.

The festival also features a comprehensive program of talks, workshops, networking events and special exhibits.

International jurist and human rights advocate Robertson will provide the festival’s keynote address, followed by a question-and-answer session which is expected to book out fast.

The barrister was on the road promoting his latest book Bad People – and How to Be Rid of Them: A Plan B for Human Rights when it was cancelled last year by COVID-19.

Caro will use the festival as a springboard to launch her new novel The Mother and evergreen writer Lette brings her new book Till Death, or a Little Light Maiming, Do Us Part, to the festival.

The festival runs this year from May 13 to 15. For more, visit www.mrrwfestival.com.