A Musical for ANZAC Week

Dear Heart stars Stuart Halusz and Rebecca Davis

Agelink Theatre Inc is celebrating 20 years of creating theatre from oral histories, entertaining the public and affirming the value of our seniors.
Back by popular demand and proudly supported by The City of Perth and the State Library as part of ANZAC week, Agelink presents the critically acclaimed play DEAR HEART for three only concert style performances from Friday 19 April to Tuesday 23 April 2013 at the State Library of WA in the Perth Cultural Centre.

DEAR HEART, by Jenny Davis, is a true love story, based on her aunt’s WWII letters to her young husband, a prisoner of war in Java. DEAR HEART is a tribute to those who waited at home for news and to the endurance of the young men behind barbed wire. The play has has been published as a novel by Allen & Unwin.
Don’t miss this poignant story of love, hope and courage, featuring live music from WWII.
 
“Agelink Theatre is theatre of the heart.” Tim Minchin

 
DEAR HEART by Jenny Davis Starring Rebecca Davis and Stuart Halusz, Musical Director Craig Skelton, Featuring vocals by Alinta Carroll
Venue: State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre Dates: three Performances Only Friday 19 April, Saturday 20 April, Tuesday 23 April at 11am Duration: Approx 70 minutes
*Special guest appearance Tuesday 23 April by Opera Australia star, Lisa Harper-Brown
Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com Ticket prices: $20 full, $15 concession

Two FREE Oral History Workshops in association with the Battye Library
Come and share your stories and listen to the stories of others, or simply become inspired to record your own or your family’s recollections for posterity. Each workshop will feature members of the AIF and RAAF from WWII, as well as members of the home front. All reminiscences are welcome.
Why not attend a workshop followed by a performance of Dear Heart? Sat April 20 and Tues 23 April at 9.30-10.45am Great Southern Room, 4th Floor State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre
Registrations essential Ph 9384 8158

2011 WA Premier’s Book Awards

Visit our new site: Premier’s Book Awards – http://pba.slwa.wa.gov.au/.

Last night Premier Colin Barnett announced Fiona Skyring’s Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia as winner of the 2011 Premier’s Prize worth $25,000.

Highly acclaimed Western Australian author Tim Winton was inducted into our Hall of Fame.

2011 Western Australia’s Premier’s Book Awards Category Winners

• Non-Fiction:  Alice Pung, Her Father’s Daughter
  Published by Black Inc.
• Fiction:  Anna Funder, All That I Am
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Scripts:  Tim Winton and Ellen Fontana, Cloudstreet: The Screenplay
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Children’s Books:   Michelle Gillespie and Sonia Martinez, Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck;
  Published by Fremantle Press.
• Poetry:  Tracy Ryan, The Argument
  Published by Fremantle Press
• Young Adults:  Penni Russon, Only Ever Always
  Published by Allen & Unwin
• State Library of Western Australia WA History:  Fiona Skyring, Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
  Published by UWA Publishing
• Digital Narrative Award:  Max Barry, Machine Man
  Published by Scribe Publications
• People’s Choice Award:  Anna Funder, All That I Am
  Published by Penguin Group (Australia)
• Premier’s Prize:  Fiona Skyring, Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia;
  Published by UWA Publishing

Congratulations to all of the winners & publishers.

Paul Carter author talk at SLWA

PAUL CARTER AUTHOR TALK   
6:30 –7:30PM   WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE
BOOKINGS required: 9427 3111

Q: Who knows which best-selling Australian author:
 ·       Has been served cocktails by an orangutan on an ocean freighter?
·       Almost drowned when the Russian oil-rig he was working on started capsizing?
·       Has been shot at, hijacked and held hostage?
·       Has been locked in the toilet by his own monkey?
·       Circumnavigated Australia on an underpowered experimental motorcycle which ran on used cooking oil?
And has written hilarious books about all of the above?

A:If you answered, Paul Carter, great news: you’re correct!
Strap yourself in for an exhilarating, crazed, sometimes terrifying, usually bloody funny ride through one man’s adventures in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
WHEN: Wednesday 20 June, 6:30-7:30pm
WHERE: State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia
COST: FREE
BOOKINGS: (required) 9427 3111
Copies of the books will be available for purchase and signing on the day.

 

Take3 author talks at the State Library – Wednesday 23 May

The State Library of Western Australian invites you to join us for this National Year of Reading event in celebration of Western Australian writing…

Fans and supporters of the Western Australian writing community are invited to hear insights and stories from children’s author/illustrator James Foley, fiction writer Natasha Lester and travel writer Stephen Scourfield.

James Foley recently won the prestigious Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ 2012 Crystal Kite Award (along with author Norman Jorgensen) for their wonderful children’s book The Last Viking; a fun picture book about a boy who outwits local bullies by channelling his inner Viking.

Natasha Lester, who courageously left her career as Brand Manager for Maybelline Cosmetics to become an author, was rewarded for her efforts with the acclaimed TAG Hungerford Award for Fiction for her moving novel What is Left Over, After.

Stephen Scourfield, author and Travel Editor for The West Australian, has impressed readers with his new work, Unaccountable Hours, which evokes landscapes of Cottesloe and theSwanRiver,Perth;Cremona,Italy; and the Little Sandy Desert, Western Australia.

Books by each author will be available for purchase and signing on the night.

This celebratory event complements the State Library’s current exhibition; Write On!, which features profiles of WA authors and illustrators as well as original manuscripts, illustrations and research material of selected works. Write On! is on display in the ground floor gallery space adjacent to the Theatre, so can be viewed on the evening.

This National Year of Reading event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and get inspired by the diversity of Western Australian writing.

• WHEN: Wednesday 23 May 2012. 6:00pm for wine and cheese, event begins at 6:30pm
• WHERE: State Library Theatre, State Library ofWestern Australia
• COST: FREE
• RSVP: Please note that as capacity is limited, reservations are essential. Please call 9427 3111 to reserve your place.

Love2Read Cafe opening soon!

Visit the Love2Read Café this summer!

The Love2Read Café will be open from Saturday 21 January – Sunday 26 February, and is situated in the canopied area out the front of the State Library. It will be filled with brightly coloured chairs and tables, and book trolleys featuring a range of reading materials for all ages and interests. There will be a range of programs and events which are free, with no bookings required.

The launch event showcases author Adam Morris and his Murder Mouse Blues Band on Friday 20 January from 4.30 – 5.30pm, then author Andrew Relph will speak about his book, Not drowning, reading on Saturday 21 January from 3.30 – 4.30pm.

For additional events, please check the events page on the website – there are hints and tips about writing, a crafternoon for families, and every Saturday visitors to the café can Play with Words borrowing a variety of word games. On Sunday afternoons at 5.00pm, classic Australian films based on books will show on the big screen. People will be able to share a quote from their favourite book on the Reading Wall inside the library.

The Café is open from Monday – Thursday (10:00am – 7:30pm), Friday (10:00am – 5.00pm) and Saturday and Sunday (10:30am – 5.00pm).

Love2Read Café program brochures can be downloaded from the website, and collected at the State Library and in public libraries soon.

Call for Entries to the 2011 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day yesterday announced the Call for Entries for the 2011 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.

Mr Day said “The State Government recognises the importance of literature and stories to inspire creativity and record the history of a culturally rich society. The Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, now into its 30th year enables the celebration of the best writers and publishers in this country.”

“The Awards have historically attracted a high calibre of entries, with Miles Franklin Award and Oscar Award winners amongst the contending authors.”

Entries for the 2011 Awards are now open and the online entry form and guidelines can be found on the State Library of Western Australia’s website www.slwa.wa.gov.au. To be eligible authors must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia, or their work must have Australia as its primary focus.

The closing date for entries is 5pm Tuesday 31 January 2012.

The Award categories are: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Books, Writing for Young Adults, Poetry, Scripts, West Australian History, and the Digital Narrative Award, which recognises the use of new media in storytelling/writing. The popular People’s Choice Award to select the favourite book from the shortlist in one category will again be held for these awards

The Premier’s Prize of $25,000 is presented to the overall winner, who is chosen by the Judges from the category winners.

“The State Government is proud to make the prize pool available for these Awards and I would like to acknowledge the State Library for managing the Awards and also sponsoring the West Australian History Award”, said Mr Day.

Short listed entries will be announced in June 2012 with the winners announced in late August 2012.

• Go to the Online Entry Form
• Go to the 2011 Guidelines (Word 342 KB)
• Go to the Digital Narrative Guidelines (Word 296 KB)
• Media Statement: Authors can book place in Premiers awards (Word 146 KB)

Love2Read? Need some suggestions??

We couldn’t think of just one book that describes what it means to live in Australia, so the search has begun, for not one book, but eight, that together paint a picture of the Australian people and the land we live in.

This is your chance to read the short list of books representing each state and vote for the one you think best represents your state or territory, to become part of the National Year of Reading collection.

Check out the books and cast your vote here:

http://www.abc.net.au/arts/yearofreading/wa.htm

Tell a friend, get your bookclub involved, curl up with these great books and start reading!

Victoria Laurie talks about the Kimberley

Come and be part of the Commonwealth Festival at the State Library Theatre. Journalist Victoria Laurie will speak about Kimberley Crossroads – the beauty and rarity of the region. See more…

When: Thursday 27 October at 5.30pm.

The session is free but bookings are essential: call 9427 3111 to book your place.

And the winner is …

The Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards were announce on Friday by Hon John Day, Minister for Culture and the Arts, you can find out all the winners over on the SLWA site.

WA author and Miles Franklin winner, wins the Premier’s Prize. With Lisa Lang winning the People’s Choice Award.

Voting now open Premier’s Book Awards People’s Choice

Voting is now open in the 2010 Western Australian Premier’s Book Award People’s Choice. So go vote for your favourite fiction book from 2010, and if you have not read then all yet, visit your local library before 11 September 2011, the date voting closes.