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OzAsia Festival’s Weekend of Words

Opening Night Gala

“I was supposed to be…”
Talks
Dunstan Playhouse
WOW 2560x1280 opening gala FA
1 date

Dates

  • Times

    • Friday
      6:00 pm — 7:30 pm

Accessibility


Register your interest in this session to receive a reminder email in the week before the event. Your registration of interest is not a booking, and all events are free to attend.


Prices

Admission

FREE

Join us for an unforgettable evening as a stellar line-up of literary talents complete the sentence: “I was supposed to be…”

These acclaimed authors and storytellers will share their unique journeys and the unexpected paths their lives and careers have taken.

Dive into their compelling narratives, where personal aspirations and cultural identities intertwine, creating stories that resonate with authenticity and depth. Don’t miss this captivating celebration of the power of storytelling.

This is a free event hosted by Program Curator Sami Shah.


Accessibility
Runtime

Part of

Beverley Jason Sami on Stage

OzAsia Festival's Weekend of Words: A vibrant celebration of Asian and Asian Australian literature, writing, and ideas. Curated by Sami Shah. Discover, engage, inspire.

Discover Weekend of Words


Speakers include:

Sara M. Saleh

Bidjigal Country, Sydney, Australia 

Sara M. Saleh is a writer, human rights lawyer, and the daughter of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Egyptian migrants. Her first novel Songs for the Dead and the Living and first poetry collection The Flirtation of Girls were both released in 2023. 

Appearing in: Session 4, Session 14, Opening Night Gala 

Sara M Saleh

Vajra Chandrasekera

Colombo, Sri Lanka 

Vajra Chandrasekera is from Colombo, Sri Lanka and is online at vajra.me. His debut novel, The Saint of Bright Doors, won the Nebula, Locus, and Crawford awards, and was a New York Times Notable Book of 2023. His second novel Rakesfall is out now. 

Appearing in: Session 2, Session 16, Opening Night Gala 

VAJRAC 2

Qin Qin

Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra, Australia 

Qin Qin’s mission is to live consciously and help others do the same. Born in China and raised in Canberra, she defied expectations to find success on her own terms. Her memoir, Model Minority Gone Rogue, details her journey of choosing love over fear. 

Appearing in: Session 8, Opening Night Gala 

Qin Qin

sydney khoo

Dharawal Country, Sydney, Australia 

sydney khoo is a nonbinary and aromantic asexual writer, born on Dharawal Country, to Malaysian Chinese parents. Though typically drinking bubble tea in Cabramatta, or reading fanfiction in a McDonald’s carpark, they can occasionally be found writing at cafés with their dog Gizmo. 

Appearing in: Session 2, Session 16, Opening Night Gala

SYDNEY 2

Anton Hur

Seoul, South Korea 

Anton Hur is the author of Toward Eternity and No One Told Me Not To. As a translator, he was double longlisted and shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize. Anton resides in Seoul. 

Appearing in: Session 10, Session 16, Opening Night Gala 

Anton Hur

Siang Lu

Turrbal Country, Brisbane, Australia 

Siang Lu is the author of Ghost Cities and the multi-award-winning The Whitewash, which won Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 ABIAs and the Glendower Emerging Writer Award at the Queensland Literary Awards. He was named a Top 40 Under 40 Asian Australian in 2023. 

Appearing in: Session 13, Opening Night Gala 

Siang Lu

Lawrence Leung

Naarm, Melbourne, Australia 

Lawrence Leung is a screenwriter, actor, and award-winning standup comedian. He created the ABC1 comedies Lawrence Leung’s Unbelievable and Choose Your Own Adventure. He also hosted the TV series Our Brain and was recently a writer/performer for WTFAQ on ABC1. 

Appearing in: Session 5, Session 15, Opening Night Gala 

Lawrence Leung

Sami Shah

Host

Naarm, Melbourne, Australia 

Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, and broadcaster. His autobiography I, Migrant was nominated for major literary awards, and his urban fantasy novel Boy of Fire and Earth and non-fiction work Islamic Republic of Australia received critical acclaim. He’s written multiple documentaries, and serves as Ambassador-at-Large for PEN Melbourne. 

Appearing in: Opening Night Gala, Closing Night Debate, Book Club 

Sami Shah

Performance Location: Dunstan Playhouse

Dunstanplayhouse 900x600

You can enter Dunstan Playhouse by foot from North Ter­race, Ade­laide Rail­way Sta­tion, Ade­laide Oval, or King William Road. 

From North Ter­race, walk down the laneway along­side SkyC­i­ty Casi­no. From King William Road, you can walk over Fes­ti­val Plaza (there’s a lift and esca­la­tor down to the Dunstan Play­house lev­el) or along the Walk of Fame from Elder Park.

Directions via Google

Accessible drop off

There is an acces­si­ble drop off area locat­ed off Fes­ti­val Dri­ve under the River­bank Footbridge.

A des­ig­nat­ed dis­abil­i­ty drop off is also avail­able 45 min­utes before per­for­mances. To access this drop off area, turn onto Fes­ti­val Dri­ve from King William Road, pass the Fes­ti­val Plaza car park entrance and stay left, dri­ving through the EOS Hotel vis­i­tor drop off loop to arrive at the Dun­stan Play­house & Space Theatre access drop off. 

Taxi services

The best place to be dropped off by taxi is on King William Road at the Fes­ti­val The­atre or on North Terrace. There is also a drop off area locat­ed off low­er Fes­ti­val Dri­ve under­neath the River­bank Footbridge. 

Car parking

The nearest car park is the Convention Centre Riverbank Car Park

  • Open: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Location: Festival Drive (adjacent Montefiore Road), Adelaide
  • Entry: Festival Dr via King William Rd (Height: 2.0m) | Festival Dr via Montefiore Rd (Height: 2.0m)

Once you've parked, the eastern lift will take you to the promenade level where it's a short walk to the theatre. 

Go to Adelaide Convention Centre website

Public transport

Accessible by many forms of public transport including trains, buses, the tram (stop at Railway Station) and a free bus service that operates on a loop throughout the city and North Adelaide with stops on the corner of King William Road and North Terrace.

Go to Adelaide Metro website

Accessible seating

Boxes 1 and 4 plus selected seats in row L have removable seats to accommodate patrons who wish to remain seated in their wheelchair or transfer to a theatre seat.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available at all Adelaide Festival Centre venues.

Assistance animals

Every theatre and event/function area of Adelaide Festival Centre is assistance animal friendly. 

Audio assistance

Festival Theatre and Dunstan Playhouse have hearing loop facilities, limited to particular seats in the venues.

Audience members who require hearing assistance are now able to enjoy the show via the Beyerdynamic Hearing System.

More about our Access Services

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The Playhouse & Space Foyer Bar

The perfect meeting place for a pre-show drink or snack.

Located in the foyer of Dunstan Playhouse, The Playhouse & Space Foyer Bar offers a great selection of South Austra…

June 2021 Catering ACF21 Festival Theatre Foyer Claudio Raschella

Malt Shovel Taphouse Adelaide

Great beer, delicious food and river views

Celebrating all things craft beer and flavoursome, authentic food, the Taphouse is a destination that offers unique exp…

Malt Shovel Taphouse Adelaide

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