The Glen Eira Storytelling Festival is back this winter with a packed 17-day program transforming libraries, cinemas, local venues and even the historic Rippon Lea Estate into hubs for live storytelling, comedy, performance and conversation.
Running from 18 June to 5 July across Glen Eira, the festival is once again proving storytelling can stretch far beyond traditional author talks and quiet book readings.
This year’s lineup leans heavily into interactive and performance-based experiences, with one of the standout events, Plot Twist, seeing crime writers Gabriel Bergmoser and Laura McCluskey improvising an entirely new novel live on stage.
Meanwhile, Murder in the Mansion will transform Rippon Lea Estate into a fully immersive murder mystery complete with high tea, adding a theatrical edge to the festival’s literary focus.
Comedy also plays a major role across the program. Dead Comics Society brings together comedians Andrea Powell and Francis Greenslade for literary-themed performances, while 95-year-old performer Liz Hicklin will take to the stage with her own comedy show.
Poetry lovers can expect workshops and open mic sessions hosted by Brian Nankervis, alongside a Multilingual Storytelling Showcase celebrating voices and stories from Glen Eira’s diverse community.
Elsewhere, bigger conversations around history, reading and Australian identity will unfold through sessions featuring Mark McKenna, Jack Latimore and Benjamin Law.
Blending live performance, workshops, comedy and conversation, the festival continues to position storytelling as something vibrant, social and deeply connected to the community spaces where it unfolds. To explore the full program and book tickets, visit storytellingfestival.com.au
