Our much-loved Festival Gala returns for a surprising and delightful opening night adventure. Eight writers take to the stage to share a seven-minute true and personal tale, without prop or script, inspired by this year’s ‘prompt’. Celebrating being able to come together again in a changed world – our prompt this year is “In Real Life’. Taking to the stage will be – best selling author Hinemoa Elder (Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi), Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, TS Eliot prize-winning poet Anthony Joseph, Korean-Kiwi author Graci Kim, Vietnamese novelist Dr Que´ Mai Nguye˜n Phan, filmmaker Gaylene Preston, food writer William Sitwell and Oji-Cree author Joshua Whitehead.

Supported by Craigs Investment Partners.

AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL 2023, WAITUHI O TĀMAKI THURSDAY 18 MAY 2023 – 7.00-8.30PM KIRI TE KANAWA THEATRE, AOTEA CENTRE