David Leser interrogates his own privilege and role in the patriarchy as he explores misogyny and how history brought us to the #MeToo movement. To be launched by Vanessa Gorman.

When: Friday 2 August, 6.30pm—7.30pm
Venue: The Book Room, Byron Bay
Cost: Free, no bookings

Tim Costello’s evocative memoir, A Lot with a Little, explores the people and experiences that have shaped him into a socially active fighter for the world’s most challenging issues. This is a book about faith and its power to sustain in the face of the world’s big issues.

When: Friday 2 August, 7pm—8pm
Venue: The Byron at Byron
Cost: $25

EVENT PARTNER   The Byron at Byron

Hung Le is a Vietnamese refugee who has no math, medical or musical abilities. To compensate, he has carved out an international career in comedy and playing the violin out of tune. He’s currently the world’s first, best and tallest Vietnamese comic and author who has never found his land legs.

When: Friday 2 August, 7pm—8pm
Venue: Byron Theatre
Cost: $25

Join celebrated Australian foreign correspondent Peter Greste and stellar guests – incarcerated prize-winning writer Behrouz Boochani (live-streamed from Manus Island), his collaborator and translator Omid Tofighian with PEN International Chair and American-Mexican author Jennifer Clement in a pivotal discussion of the challenges to and seminal importance of press freedom.

When: Friday 2 August, 7—8.15pm
Venue: Banksia Pavilion, Elements of Byron Resort
Cost: $25 with a portion of proceeds donated to charity

An edgy, provocative, funny play that challenges our feelings with cleverly crafted, insightful dialogue. It explores efforts to sustain our fragile world, our flawed relationships, and corruption of our institutions. Extinction is a must see!

When: Friday 2 & Saturday 3 August, 7.30pm. Sunday 4 August, 5.30pm
Venue: Drill Hall Mullumbimby
Cost: $30/22 (Friday, Saturday) or $40/32 (Sunday, inc. Q&A with Hannie and refreshments)

EVENT PARTNER   Drill Hall Theatre

From page to the stage, let the words take flight! Come experience a literary & loud line-up of some of Australia’s most vibrant performance and slam poets, who are all featured within the groundbreaking new spoken word anthology Solid Air.  Featuring Pascalle Burton, Tug Dumbly, David Hallett, Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, Anisa Nandaula, Omar Sakr, David Stavanger, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, plus special feature sets by Tishani Doshi and champion beatboxer Hope One.

When: Friday 2 August, 8.30pm—9.30pm
Venue: Byron Theatre
Cost: $15

A performance poetry competition for young people aged 10 to 18yrs. Entrants present a 2-minute spoken word poem on any theme. First prize $500.

When: Saturday 3 August, 3.30pm—4.30pm
Venue: Byron Bay Library
Cost: Entry is free
More info: [email protected]

Featuring 2018 Australian Poetry Slam champion Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, with MC Miles Merril.

When: Saturday 3 August, 5.30pm—7.30pm
Venue: Byron Bay Library
Cost: Free, bookings essential
More info: australianpoetryslam.com

EVENT PARTNER   Word Travels

Ailsa Piper returns to Lismore Regional Gallery with a performance inspired by the current exhibition, Object Therapy. Using both found and crafted words, Ailsa will re-flect, re-mind and re-work the way you think about the place of things in your life.

When: Saturday 3 August, 6.30pm—7.30pm
Venue: Lismore Regional Gallery
Cost: Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER   Lismore Regional Gallery

Fire has preoccupied American Professor Stephen Pyne for decades. He has published 35 books, mostly on fire (including Australia) but others on topics like Antarctica and the Grand Canyon. He brings to fire a deep comparative perspective and sense of history. He lives on a small urban farm in Arizona.

When: Saturday 3 August, 6.30pm—7.30pm
Venue: Byron Theatre
Cost: $25

Story Club is a live, themed storytelling night featuring true, hilarious stories by some of Australia’s finest raconteurs. This edition, Working for the Man, features Benjamin Law, Scott Ludlam, Kate McClymont, Sisonke Msimang and Story Club co-creators Zoë Norton Lodge and Ben Jenkins.

When: Saturday 3 August, 8pm—9.15pm
Venue: Byron Theatre
Cost: $25

Dominic Smith, the acclaimed author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, takes us back in time to the birth of cinema during a discussion of his research and experience writing his latest book The Electric Hotel.

When: Sunday 4 August, 11am—12pm
Venue: Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
Cost: Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER  Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre

The 27th anniversary of Writers at the Rails featuring Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, Tug Dumbly and David Hallett.

When: Sunday 4 August, 2.30pm—4.30pm
Venue: The Rails Hotel, Byron Bay
Cost: Free, no bookings