Sydney Writers' Festival Celebrates Women

This year's Festival celebrates the strength and creativity of women, with a range of writers and thinkers whose work explores what it is to be a woman. We launch London's Southbank Centre's WOW - Women of the World - Festival in Australia, featuring Ruby Wax in the Opera House on how to find calm in a frenetic world; the WOW Lecture by Shami Chakrabarti, the Director of UK rights organisation Liberty; bestselling author Kate Mosse; Jude Kelly, the Artistic Director of Southbank Centre and founder of WOW; a speed mentoring session for women; WOW Bites showcasing women's life stories; and at Town Hall, a panel with Dale Spender, Mia Freedman, Jamila Rizvi and more, that ponders the question, I'm a Feminist - Can I Vajazzle? There are so many fabulous women in the program: bestselling author and feminist Naomi Wolf; Rachael Treasure, rural romance icon; Anne Summers on The Misogyny Factor; Cheryl Strayed of Wild and "Dear Sugar" fame; some "Digital Divas"; Anna Goldsworthy and Monica Dux on motherhood; and artist Wangechi Mutu exploring sex and representation. There are also Stella Prize events, the Griffith REVIEW examining women and power, and Jane Caro and Destroying the Joint contributors. To check out all of the Celebrating Women events CLICK HERE.  Wild And Sinning Across Spain: Lost And Found Writers Ailsa Piper (Sinning Across Spain) and Cheryl Strayed (Wild) have both turned to travel in a bid to find redemption and connection. They talk with Caroline Baum about the call of the road and the journeys which led them to become who they are today. Ailsa trekked 1300 kilometres across Spain from Granada to Galicia in a bid to walk off the sins of others, while Cheryl trekked 1770 kilometres along the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in order to save herself. When: Thursday 23 May 10-11am Where: Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay Cost: $20/$14 Bookings: 9350 1988, swf.sydneytheatre.org.au BOOK NOW I'm a Feminist - Can I Vajazzle? In an era of slut-shaming and porn-on-demand, what does it mean for a woman to own her own body? If you pole dance for exercise and love your Brazilian, does that dent your feminist credentials? And where is the line between choice and pressure? Jude Kelly (Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director and founder of Women of the World WOW Festival), speaks with Shami Chakrabarti (Director of UK’s Liberty), Mia Freedman (Mamamia), Ruby Wax (comedian and writer), Dale Spender (feminist, author and editor) and Jamila Rizvi (editor and columnist) as they battle it out, discussing one of the most divisive topics in contemporary feminism. Come and contribute your view on vajazzling, lipstick and leg hair. Presented with Southbank Centre's WOW. When: Saturday 25 May 8.30pm - 10pm Where: Sydney Town Hall Cost: $25/$20 Bookings: 9350 1988, swf.sydneytheatre.org.au BOOK NOW The Artist Of Disappearance: Anita Desai With Deborah Levy Anita Desai discusses The Artist of Disappearance and her extraordinary body of work, with 2012 Man Booker finalist Deborah Levy. Firmly established as the most revered Indian novelist of her generation, Anita Desai’s writing spans decades, continents and emotional landscapes. With her singular voice, she deals with issues of identity, place, language and loss. Anita has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize three times, has received the Sahitya Akademi Award and The Guardian Prize. In this conversation, Anita discusses the forces and motivations behind her incredible literary works. Supported by the City of Sydney. When: Thursday 23 May 8.30pm - 10pm Where: City Recital Hall Angel Place Cost: $32/$25 Bookings: 9350 1988, swf.sydneytheatre.org.au BOOK NOW Ruby Wax's Guide To A Sane New World Ruby Wax - comedian, writer and mental health campaigner - shows us how our minds can jeopardise our sanity. With her own periods of depression and now a Masters from Oxford in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to draw from, she explains how our busy, chattering, self-critical thoughts drive us to anxiety and stress. If we are to break the cycle, we need to understand how our brains work, rewire our thinking and find calm in a frenetic world. Helping you become the master, not the slave, of your mind, here is Ruby Wax's guidance to saner living. Followed by a conversation with Jude Kelly, Southbank Centre's Artistic Director. Presented with Southbank Centre's WOW. When: Wednesday 22 May 8.30pm - 10pm Where: Sydney Opera House Cost: $45/$35 Bookings: 9350 1988, sydneyoperahouse.com BOOK NOW A Pretty In Pink Night Out Join 80s icon and Hollywood sweetheart Molly Ringwald in a Sydney Writers' Festival special event as she discusses her life from screen to stage to page. Then head across the road to the ArtHouse Hotel to make it the ultimate girls' night out with a Pretty in Pink + Drink deal! Simply show your tickets to 'Molly Ringwald: When It Happens to You' at The Arthouse Hotel bar to receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. *Offer only valid for ticket-holders to SWF event #200 and can be redeemed on the evening of Saturday 25th May 2013 from 7-9pm. When: Saturday 25 May 6-7pm Where: Sydney Town Hall Cost: $30/$25 Bookings: 9350 1988, swf.sydneytheatre.org.au BOOK NOW