This event has now sold out. We are delighted by that celebration of In Real Life has reached so many people. The Festival Gala Night video footage will be uploaded to our website once the festival has wrapped.

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.