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Student Sessions Livestream
Our Student Sessions Livestream event broadcasts the magic of the Sydney Writers’ Festival to schools in New South Wales.
With sessions led by world-renowned writers, Student Sessions is designed to bring the NSW Stage 6 English curriculum to life. Students can build on their classroom learning, extend their capacity for critical thinking and engage in thoughtful discussion and meaningful debate – all without leaving the classroom.
Recommended for Years 11 to 12. Each session runs for 45 minutes.
Tickets
For a single booking of $35 per school, tune in to three sessions as they take place in real time on Wednesday 21 May. Livestreams for individual sessions are not available for purchase.
10–10.45am: The Craft of Poetry with Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay is one of the most renowned poets of the 21st century, highly sought after for his dynamic live appearances and performances. Following a tumultuous upbringing, Lemn used poetry to express his emotions, publishing his first poetry pamphlet at the age of 17 and his first poetry book at age 21. Having once mused that if aliens arrived on Earth, they would discover more about the human condition from the poets than the politicians, Lemn joins us to discuss his approach to poetry and its power to connect with people and affect change.
11.30am–12.15pm: Spotlight on Shakespeare’s Women with Harriet Walter
Dame Harriet Walter is one of Britain’s most esteemed Shakespearean actors, having played most of Shakespeare’s women. She Speaks! is her inventive reimagining of what these oft-sidelined women might have said with supplementary speeches that offer a fresh insight into Shakespeare's work. Dame Harriet will share her approach to crafting them, discussing the silencing of women in Shakespeare’s texts and the joy of unleashing their inner thoughts. This session is appropriate for all students studying Shakespeare, offering a new perspective on a range of his works.
Presented in partnership with Bell Shakespeare.
1–1.45pm: The Craft of Short Fiction with Debra Adelaide & Melanie Cheng
Some consider short fiction more challenging to write than a novel. Certainly, it requires great discipline and precision with language. Whilst existing as its own artform, short fiction can also serve as a training ground for writers before embarking on long-form adventures. To examine the artform in more detail, we are joined by Associate Professor Debra Adelaide, who teaches creative writing at the University of Technology Sydney, and Melanie Cheng, the esteemed author of the short story collection Australia Day.
Presented in partnership with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
