Castlemaine State Festival’s Dialogues 2022 event kicks off this Thursday with a visit by special guests Bill and Chloe Shorten at The Goods Shed.
The theme of the second Dialogues series is ‘Change Your Thinking’ and will see dynamic writers and theorists from a diverse range of fields come together for a collaborative reflection on the issues of ‘Change’.
Dialogues curator Kristin Gill of Northern Books said the concept was so well received at the 2021 festival they decided to bring it back in 2022.
Taking place from the April 7-10 at The Castlemaine Goods Shed and venues throughout Castlemaine, Dialogues 2022 aims to stimulate active discourse where speakers and audiences challenge, inform, reassure and inspire each other.
Speakers across 11 events will include writers and authors, musicians, journalists, mental health experts and more discussing topics such as climate change, the impacts of COVID on regional communities, food, politics, family, the environment and even exploring subjects such as death and dying.
Kristin said that Chloe Shorten visited Castlemaine for one of Northern Books’ Books in the Brewery sessions at Shedshaker Brewing and her talk was really well received.
“Chloe has introduced Bill before but this is the first time the pair will feature on stage in conversation together. They will be talking candidly and with good humour about family life, politics and everything in between,” Kristin said.
This session is being hosted by Sally Warhaft and presented in partnership with the Wheeler Centre as part of their long-running series providing in-depth analysis of politics and current affairs, The Fifth Estate.
The entire Dialogues 2022 program will be livestreamed allowing accessibility for audiences who cannot attend physically due to health vulnerabilities or disability.
For more information and tickets visit castlemainefestival.com.au