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Reality Bites: A Night of Coming-of-Age Stories

Live EventPay What You Wish / FreeYoung Audiences

Six storytellers take to the stage to share fictional works inspired by the everyday realities of growing up in the next instalment of the Wheeler Centre’s Telling Tales. 

Remove the rose-tinted glasses and delve into the nitty-gritty of adolescence with a night of stories that explore the ups and downs, the heartache and joy, and the triumphs and tribulations of coming of age. Hear from beloved Young Adult writers Kelly Gardiner (The Firewatcher Chronicles), Will Kostakis (We Could Be Something, The Sidekicks) and Alice Pung (Laurinda, One Hundred Days) as they join three emerging teen writers to captivate you with six tall tales in the latest Telling Tales storytelling session, hosted by Jes Layton.   

Artwork by Pilgrim Hodgson.

About Telling Tales

From fantastical realms to gritty realities, Telling Tales is the perfect series for young adult bookworks and genre enthusiasts alike.  

Event and Ticketing Details

Dates & Times

Friday 02 June
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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Accessibility

Accessible toilets available

Assistive Listening

Wheelchair accessible

You can learn more about the Wheeler Centre’s accessibility policies here. Please notify us of all access requirements when booking online so we can assist you with your visit. If you require further information, please contact reception on 03 9094 7800 or ticketing@wheelercentre.com.

Additional Notes

In preparation for the next instalment in the Telling Tales series, Reality Bites, we asked the event’s official bookseller The Kids’ Bookshop for some coming-of-age book recommendations. Read more

Featuring

Alice Atkinson

Alice is an optimistic, 15 year old arts nerd who is most commonly found dancing, playing music, painting, writing or talking the ear off of anyone who will listen. As a young artist, passionate about making change, her art ...

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Kelly Gardiner

Kelly Gardiner writes historical fiction and fantasy for all ages. Her latest middle-grade series is The Firewatcher Chronicles and her other books include 1917, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize ...

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Ada Horsfall

Ada is a 14 year old writer, a lover of reading, drawing, writing, music and any other arts subject she can get her hands on. At any given moment she can be found rehearsing, painting, reading and/or desperately procrastinating the work she should have done last week. A fan of both Greek mythology and ancient science fiction books.

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Will Kostakis

Will Kostakis is an award-winning author for young adults. He’s been at it fifteen years, but his mum insists it’s just a phase and any day now, he’ll pursue a real career. He is best known for his contemporary novels, The First Third, The Sidekicks, and the recently released We Could Be Something.  
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Jes Layton

Jes Layton invented writing, the airplane, and the internet. He was also the first person to reach the North Pole. Jes is an author and illustrator currently living and working on Wurundjeri Land. He is the current co-CEO/Executive Director of the Emerging Writers' Festival and ...

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Alice Pung

Alice Pung OAM is the author of the bestselling memoirs Unpolished Gem and Her Father’s Daughter, and the essay collection Close to Home, as well as the editor of the anthologies Growing Up Asian in Australia and My First Lesson ...

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Astrid Raab

Astrid is a 14-year-old writing enthusiast, she loves reading, poetry, and writing songs. Her favourite pass time is curled up on the couch scribbling away in her journal with a nice cup of tea. Astrid has been writing and since ...

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