Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Wednesday 15 July
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
‘Highly-awaited’ wouldn’t do it justice – but justice here is paramount.
To greet the release of Harper Lee’s long lost Go Set a Watchman, we’re presenting a unique, immersive tribute to its legendary companion, To Kill a Mockingbird. First published 45 years ago to immediate acclaim (and a swift Pulitzer gong), To Kill a Mockingbird’s influence runs deep – through the legal and political establishment as well as the literary world.
In one unique evening, we'll pull apart and rebuild Mockingbird with the help of six writers, thinkers and artists, and playwright Anne-Louise Sarks. They’ll take us through the key moments of the story so well-loved, exposing its incisive relevance through discussions of its major concerns: themes such as race, class and gender, and laws written and unwritten.
Come and delight in the crisp observation and wry humour of a true American classic – and explore a landmark fiction soon to be forever altered.
As Atticus Finch once said, ‘you never really understand a person … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it’. To that end, Nicola Roxon, Lex Lasry, Tony Birch, Virginia Gay, Jennifer Byrne and Bruce Gladwin will traverse multiple moments and characters from the text as they celebrate a legacy – and a completely rare occasion – half a century in the making.
Featuring
Anne-Louise Sarks
Anne-Louise Sarks is the resident director at Belvoir. She works professionally as an actor, director and dramaturg.
In 2011, Anne-Louise held the positions of Associate Artist for Belvoir and Director in Residence at the Malthouse Theatre Company. From 2010–2013 she was Artistic Director of The Hayloft Project.
For Belvoir, Anne-Louise has directed Stories I Want to Tell You in Person, directed and co-wrote Medea, was assistant director on The Wild Duck and dramaturg on Thyestes. Her most recent work Medea won five 2013 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction, Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work. It was also awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Play and nominated for four 2013 Helpmann Awards including Best Direction, Best New Australian Work and Best Play.
Her other theatre credits include The Seed (Melbourne Theatre Company); The Nest, Yuri Wells and By Their Own Hands (The Hayloft Project). Her acting credits include The Suicide, By Their Own Hands (B Sharp/ The Hayloft Project); 3XSisters, The Only Child (The Hayloft Project, Best Independent Production, Sydney Theatre Awards); Return to Earth (Melbourne Theatre Company); The Spook (Malthouse Theatre) and Starchaser (Arena Theatre Company)
Nicola Roxon
Nicola Roxon became Australia’s first female Attorney- General in 2011, a culmination of a stellar political career and impressive legal background. As Health Minister, she negotiated reforms to Australia’s public hospital, primary care and preventative health systems. Roxon retired from politics in 2013, and is now an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University's College of Law and Justice.
Lex Lasry
The Hon. Lex Lasry is one of Australia’s most prominent barristers and jurists, and a longtime advocate of the abolition of the death penalty.
He represented Van Nguyen, an Australian who was executed in Singapore in 2005, and has long been a vocal proponent of abolition.
Tony Birch
Tony Birch is the author of four novels, five short fiction collections, and two poetry books. His most recent book is the novel, Women and Children (UQP).
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Virginia Gay
Virginia Gay graduated WAAPA, then spent four years pretending to be a nurse on All Saints, six months pretending to be cop on Savage River (ABC), and then five years on Winners & Losers, where she pretended to know a lot ...
Bruce Gladwin
Bruce Gladwin (born 1966) is an Australian artist and performance maker. He has been the Artistic Director of Back to Back Theatre since 1999. The work Gladwin has created with the company is recognised for innovation and excellence, touring regularly to major international arts festivals and institutions.
Jennifer Byrne
Jennifer Byrne is a senior journalist and broadcaster who has worked in all arms of the media: print, radio and television.
Having done her cadetship at the Age and worked on UK’s Fleet Street, she was a founding reporter with Channel Nine’s Sunday programme and spent some 12 years traveling the world for 60 Minutes and as anchor for Foreign Correspondent. She was publishing director of Reed Books, morning presenter on ABC radio, won national awards as interviewer and columnist for the Bulletin and, in May 2006, returned to TV to create the country’s first televised Book Club, which ran on the ABC for 11 years until December 2019.
Alongside books, Jennifer’s favourite pastime – far too serious to be called a hobby – has since the age of two been the playing of games. Including quizzes, cards, board games, and crosswords (physical and electronic). To be invited to become the first Australian host of Mastermind – a show she grew up watching, of course – is the realisation of a dream she didn’t know she had. Jennifer hosted series two of Mastermind plus Celebrity Mastermind in 2020.