Take Me Away Q&A with Oliver Twist

As May rapidly approaches, we are so excited to welcome you to the Festival and to introduce you to the writers who make it all worthwhile. To awaken your Festival spirit, we're got a series of Q&As to introduce some of the 2024 participants. Get to know them as we discuss their reading, their writing practice and the Festival theme, Take Me Away.

Oliver Twist is a writer and actor. He has toured Australia with his critically acclaimed shows Griot and Jali, which he has now adapted into his debut book.

Is there a book you wish you could read for the first time again? 

Renata Adler's Speedboat, an elusive and lucid book! Endlessly giving wonder. 

What kind of books do you get lost in while reading?

Ones full of complete ideas, fraudulent people and ambiguous voices. 

What made you want to write Jali?

Desire had little to do with writing this book. I felt compelled to write a story and I got very lucky to write this one in the way it came out.

How did you find the transition from writing for the stage to writing a memoir?

Writing for the stage is wonderful because your litmus tests are the audience's minds, while a book is a work of real solitude. 

What kind of reception have you received from readers of your book?

I'm not sure, I rarely take that kind of inventory. The people who have given me their full reviews have been friends and they might just be loyally nice. 

What events are you looking forward to attending at the Festival?

I most look forward to Viet Thanh Nguyen: A Man of Two Faces and more locally, Poetry Prescriptions!