The Wheeler Centre has announced a wide-ranging winter program, bringing together established voices, emerging writers and public thinkers for a series of events across politics, literature and performance.
The new lineup places a strong focus on current affairs, with multiple editions of its flagship series The Fifth Estate. Host Sally Warhaft will lead conversations with figures including Paul Kelly on the shifting fortunes of Australian politics, alongside a panel examining contemporary Iran featuring Shokoofeh Azar, Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Omid Tofighian. Later in the season, Warhaft will also sit down with Stan Grant to discuss his latest work.
Elsewhere, political discourse continues with a panel on the rise of far-right extremism in Australia, bringing together writers, organisers and legal experts to examine how these movements are evolving and what responses are available.
The program also leans into creative practice. In partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, writer Maxine Beneba Clarke will host a session responding to the NGV’s MOTHER exhibition, with new works from Rachel Ang, Lulu Houdini and Edwina Preston exploring ideas of motherhood and identity.
For younger audiences and families, Alison Lester will present an interactive celebration of Noni the Pony, while R.A. Spratt brings a reimagined take on The Odyssey to the stage.
Emerging voices are also a focus, with The Next Big Thing returning to showcase new writers across fiction, poetry and memoir. Community driven sessions like Shut Up and Write will offer dedicated space for participants to work alongside others in a low pressure environment.
Wheeler Centre CEO Erin Vincent said the program reflects the organisation’s broad scope.
“These events captures the breadth of what The Wheeler Centre does best, from sharp and timely conversations about current events to joyful and imaginative experiences for children and families, our winter lineup reflects the Centre’s ongoing commitment to bringing audiences together around ideas, stories and conversations that matter.”
For more information on the full lineup, please visit wheelercentre.com/events
