Words & Ideas
This year's words and ideas component of Darwin Festival includes an interesting mix of local storytelling, history and science.
A favourite on the festival program, Darwin’s live storytelling night SPUN is this year themed around the idea of ‘home’ – and all the ways we find it.
Six local storytellers will share their true, personal stories on stage at The Lighthouse about their experiences of home. A loaded concept, or the joy of family? A place of safety or a surprise destination?
SPUN is dedicated to unearthing the Territory’s diverse stories to a wide audience and will likely sell out, so be quick if you want tickets.
NT Library artist-in-residence Sarah Pirrie brings a uniquely Darwin activity to a festival audience with her Rocksitting at NT Library. If you’ve ever wanted to take part in this odd tradition, which legend has it was started by a group of journos in 1974 and involved copious amounts of alcohol, now is your chance – minus the drinking. Pirrie will have portable rocksitting placemats for participants to watch the sunset and share stories about the coast.
To further stir up the grey matter, the free Sunday at CDU program brings together panels of leading Australian and international thinkers and writers for one thought-provoking afternoon.
Festival guests like Alanna Mitchell will join ABC’s Robyn Williams and academics to discuss science and art, journalism and climate change, as well as ‘questions for the nation’.
SPUN: Home | Tue 22 Aug | 8.30pm | The Lighthouse
Rocksitting at NT Library | Wed 16 Aug | 5.30pm | NT Library
Sunday at CDU | Sun 20 Aug | 2-6pm | Charles Darwin University Theatre