Thursday Evening Events

To make a booking phone 03 8664 7099, email bookings@slv.vic.gov.au or book online through What's On.

Audio recordings

A number of the Independent Type Thursday evening events have been recorded. Follow the links on this page to listen to a lecture or discussion online.

Literary landscapes: From Hanging Rock to Footscray
What is the significance of place in telling our stories? Move through landscapes vividly depicted in Victorian literature, from eerie Hanging Rock on a hot summer's day to colourful pre-gentrified Fitzroy, Footscray and Richmond. The Age literary journalist Jane Sullivan will chair this discussion with a panel including Susan Martin, Senior Lecturer in English at La Trobe University and authors Tony Birch and Alice Pung.
Time: Thurs 7 May, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the panel discussion >

Hot ink: Radicals and rascals
Victorian writers have always pushed the boundaries – political, social and artistic. Join Rod Quantock for a storm of discussion about controversy, blasphemy, literary scandals and hoaxes, with a provocative panel including Radical Melbourne co-author Jill Sparrow, crikey.com founder Stephen Mayne, columnist Catherine Deveny and Des Cowley, the State Library's Rare Printed Collections Manager.
Time: Thurs 21 May, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Hypothetical: So you want to be a YA writer?
Is there a young adult novel burning a hole in your bottom drawer? Learn the secrets of publishing and banish the myths. This enlightening discussion will feature authors James Roy, Alison Goodman and Bernard Beckett, plus Erica Wagner (Allen & Unwin), Kristin Gill (Penguin Books), Dmetri Kakmi (Penguin Books), Leesa Lambert (The Little Bookroom), Rayma Turton (Magpies magazine) and Kate Marquard (University High School). Presented by the Centre for Youth Literature.
Time: Thurs 28 May, 7–8.30pm
Venue: Storey Hall, RMIT, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Cost: $15 (bookings required)
(Free to Centre for Youth Literature Booktalkers subscribers)

Word juggling: Poetry and performance
A madcap celebration of freestylin' wordspinning, perceptive poetry and spoken-word wizardry. Join some of Melbourne's best word-artists for drinks, music, competitions and some poetry along the way. Hosted by the wordylicious alicia sometimes, with folk-rock sensation Mihirangi, EZB, Si, Myron Lysenko, Josephine Rowe and hip-hop outfit the Yung Warriors. Drinks at bar prices.
Time: Thurs 4 June, 6–7.30pm
Venue: Queen's Hall
Cost: $5 (bookings required)

View from the outside: Migrant stories 
Hear Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jan Sardi as he explores the migrant experience and connections with place in Victorian literature with a panel of writers including philosopher and memoirist Raimond Gaita, author and human-rights advocate Arnold Zable and rising star Amra Pajalic.
Time: Thurs 18 June, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the panel discussion >

Carnegie Down Under: A century of the Dunedin Public Library
(2009 Foxcroft Lecture)
Mary Ronnie, one of New Zealand's most distinguished librarians, will give an insightful account of the history of the Dunedin Public Library. She was Dunedin City Librarian from 1968 to 1976, and was National Librarian of New Zealand, Auckland City Librarian and Head of the Graduate Department of Librarianship, Archives and Records at Monash University. The annual Foxcroft Lecture honours pioneering Melbourne bibliographer AB Foxcroft (1884–1938). Presented in partnership with the Centre for the Book, Monash University.
Time: Thurs 25 June, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the lecture >

The Book-to-Film Club: The Getting of Wisdom
The Getting Of Wisdom (1978, PG, 98 mins) is director Bruce Beresford's adaptation of Henry Handel Richardson's autobiographical novel, featuring Sigrid Thornton, Kerry Armstrong and John Waters. Headstrong Laura Tweedle Rambotham is sent from her home town in country Victoria to a Melbourne boarding school where popularity depends on fitting in, at any price. See it on the big screen (introduced by The Age film critic and senior arts writer Philippa Hawker), then discuss the film (and book) over a drink. Courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.
Time: Thurs 2 July, 6pm
Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Collection reflection: Zines
Get a glimpse of the fascinating world of zines and how they reflect the state of contemporary counterculture. Discover fabulous zines from previous decades in the State Library's collection, showcased by a collection specialist.
Time: Thurs 9 July, 6.30–7.30pm
Venue: Experimedia
Free (bookings required)

Reading by design 
Join an expert panel as they review the evolution and future directions of book design in Australia, where current trends reveal a passion for typography and for the book as a crafted object. Chaired by Tracy O’Shaughnessy, Publisher, The Miegunyah Press, with award-winning cover designers Mary Callahan and Trisha Garner, and Stephen Banham of Letterbox typographic studio. Presented in association with the State of Design festival.
Time: Thurs 16 July, 1–2pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the panel discussion >

The Book-to-Film Club: Monkey Grip
Monkey Grip (1982, M, 101 mins) is the film adaptation of Helen Garner's 1977 novel. Set in inner-city Melbourne, it focuses on Nora's relationship with daughter Gracie and her affair with Javo, a drug-addicted, struggling actor. Noni Hazlehurst as Nora won an AFI Best Actress Award, and Colin Friels plays Javo. See it on the big screen (introduced by critic and screen scholar Brian McFarlane), then discuss the film (and book) over a drink. Courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.
Time: Thurs 16 July, 6pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

The Book-to-Film Club: Romulus, My Father
Based on Raimond Gaita's memoir, Romulus, My Father (2007, MA, 100 mins) is the story of a boy growing up in 1950s rural Victoria, witness to the complicated relationship between his Romanian migrant father and German mother. Featuring Eric Bana as Romulus. See it on the big screen (introduced by critic and screen scholar Brian McFarlane), then discuss the film (and book) over a drink. Courtesy of Arenafilm and Footprints Film.
Time: Thurs 23 July, 6pm
Venue: Experimedia
Free (bookings required)

Literary subscriptions
Do you subscribe? Victoria's robust and often feisty literary magazine culture provides readers with innovative fiction, drama, poetry and artistic miscellany. From early publications such as Melbourne Punch to long-standing journals like Overland, Meanjin and Going Down Swinging, and next-generation Torpedo and The Lifted Brow, this culture has influenced and nourished Australia's intellectual and artistic life. Join exhibition curator Steve Grimwade, former editor of Going Down Swinging, as he leads a discussion about literary journals in Victoria with Chris Flynn, editor of Torpedo, Peter Rose, editor of Australian Book Review and Morry Schwartz, publisher of The Monthly.
Time: Thurs 6 August, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the panel discussion >

Script: Writing for stage and screen 
From the world's first feature-length film, Ned Kelly, to cutting-edge productions at La Mama and the Pram Factory, and popular TV shows like Homicide and Neighbours, Victoria has been at the forefront of great writing for performance. Hear an entertaining panel discuss how Victoria has fostered the writers who have created some of our most beloved characters and compelling stories (not found in bookstores!). With media studies academic Sue Turnbull, award-winning playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, La Mama founder Betty Burstall and TV comedy writer Mark O'Toole.
Time: Thurs 13 August, 6–7pm
Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the panel discussion >

Collection reflection: Illuminating children's illustrations
We all treasure our favourite childhood picture books. Join a collection specialist to sample the Library's huge collection of illustrated books that have captivated children for generations.
Time: Thurs 20 August, 6.30–7.30pm
Venue: Experimedia
Free (bookings required)

The Melbourne Beat
Melbourne has been home, launching-pad and inspiration for some of Australia's best-known singers and songwriters. Join rock wizard Brian Nankervis for a lyrical discussion about the art of songwriting, with guests including queen of jazz and pop-rock Rebecca Barnard and Casey Benetto, award-winning composer of Keating, the Musical.
Time: Thurs 10 September, 6–7pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the discussion >

Film classics: The Castle
The Castle (M15+, 82 mins) is a classic Australian comedy by the Working Dog crew, about the Kerrigans, a suburban family living next door to an airport. Faced with compulsory acquisition of their home to extend the airport sprawl, the Kerrigans fight for their 'castle' all the way to the High Court. Featuring Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Eric Bana, Tiriel Mora, Sophie Lee and Bud Tingwell. Courtesy of Roadshow Films.
Time: Thurs 24 September, 3pm
Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Film classics: The Magic Pudding
An animated adaptation of Norman Lindsay's timeless classic, The Magic Pudding (G, 75 mins) will enchant young and old. Featuring the voices of John Cleese, Geoffrey Rush and Sam Neill as the cantankerous pudding, the poignant koala and his penguin pal, it's as Australian as a gum leaf. Courtesy of ABC DVD.
Time: Thurs 1 October, 3pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe St)
Free (bookings required)

Melbourne: Books or bogans?
In 2008 Melbourne was named a UNESCO City of Literature. But is Melbourne really a city of literature, or are we just bogans in berets? One year on, comedian Andy Muirhead will moderate this passionate debate. Featuring a panel of opinionated Melburnians, including the multi-talented Jane Clifton, writer Tony Wilson, comedian Tony Martin and journalist Catherine Deveny.
Time: Thurs 15 October, 6–7.30pm
Venue: Experimedia
Cost: $15 ($12 concession, $10 Library Foundation)

The evolution of storytelling
The storytelling tradition is as old as humankind, but since the technological revolution much of our storytelling happens on screen or online. Join a fascinating panel discussion of storytelling, from the oral tradition to contemporary formats. Presented in association with the Storytelling Guild of Victoria.
Time: Thurs 22 October, 6–7.30pm
Venue: Experimedia 
Free (bookings required)

Listen to the discussion >

Illustration

Helen Garner, Monkey Grip, McPhee Gribble, 1977 (photo by Ponch Hawk, detail)