The Wheeler Centre has revealed a fascinating lineup of talks, keynote sessions and Q&As for its Season Four selection.
Expect to witness some of Australia’s most influential personalities in conversation with the likes of Jad Abumrad, Anthony Albanese, Alan Brough and many more set to grace the stage. The Di Gribble Argument returns for a third year, taking on one of the more intractable conversations in Australian public life: stopping the boats. YAS KWEEN: Girls on Screen sees Judith Lucy lead an all female panel to tackle gender representations in celebrated television shows, Broad City, Freaks and Geeks, The Katering Show, Puberty Blues and Mean Girls.
Dual premiership coach of the Geelong Cats, Mark Thompson, will be in conversation to discuss his 34 years in football as well as his new autobiography Bomber: The Whole Story. His involvement in the supplement saga that plagued the Essendon Bombers is sure to be discussed as well as the personal cost which coaching has dealt him.
Robert Lepage is one of the greats of contemporary theatre and in typically sumptuous fashion, he’ll be chatting to Richard Watts about his most imminent responsibility, 887 as part of Melbourne Festival’s 2016 program. Conversation about his autobiography, renowned theatrical practice and his view on the wider world will also be features of the discussion.
October will see a brand new series come to the Wheeler Centre. HEY GIRL is a week-long festival of events celebrating girlhood, for and about girls. Question Time: Raising Girls will see Madeleine Morris discuss girls’ education, friendship, sexual health, role models and the unique challenges facing girls from diverse backgrounds.
Other features of HEY GIRL include Fighting Like a Girl in the 21st Century, presented by established feminist voices Clementine Ford and Anne Summers. They’ll explore how the feminist fight has changed as well as what the future looks like for Australian girls.
Influential transgender role model Georgia Stone became the youngest Australian ever to access puberty-blocking medication when she was 11. Now a thriving 16-year-old, Stone is an advocate for trans teenagers and was recently interviewed for Australian Story. Alongside her mother, Rebekah Robertson, Stone will be involved in conversation with Natasha Mitchell in As You Are: A Trans Teen Story.
For full program details and bookings, head to The Wheeler Centre.
