Trues Stories Told Live for Christchurch
Media Release: September 22
The New Zealand Book Council, the Auckland Museum and Unity Books have gathered a talented, literate and entertaining
bunch of people to raise money for the Christchurch Red Cross Appeal.
Oscar Kightley, Emily Perkins, Don McGlashan, Eve De Castro-Robinson, Steve Braunias, Arthur Meek, Noelle McCarthy,
Simon Wilson, Marti Friedlander, Hamish Keith, Russell Brown, Leanne Pooley will all tell a true story on the night of
September 30 on the theme of SURVIVAL.
Internationally, live storytelling events are the hot new literary ticket, especially in the US and UK. Trademarked
storytelling organizations such as The Moth or The Scoop have been selling out within 48 hours and creating the sort of
buzz that rock concerts are usually famous for.
The Book Council has brought live storytelling to Auckland this year with its hugely popular True Stories Told Live events. Seven ordinary folk with extraordinary stories deftly weave together life, truth, reality and a creative
approach to fact.
Now, rallied by the Christchurch earthquake, seven of New Zealand’s leading arts and media talents will gather for what
is expected to be the biggest True Stories event so far.
At True Stories Told Live, the story must have a beginning, middle and an end and it must be true, says Book Council Communications Manager
Susanna Andrew.
“Although therein lies the debate. Where in storytelling does non-fiction stop and fiction start?
“It’s the compression, the construction and the sheer originality of each person’s retelling that makes being in the
audience so fascinating,” she says.
“The length, for one, is too short to be boring and yet long enough for plot, pace, adventure and humour to sneak in and
light up the threads, the contradictions and the beauty of the life story. “
Writer Emily Perkins, who is part of next week’s line up, is already a fan.
‘True Stories Told Live. Amazing to be in presence of people remembering, shaping stories in the moment. Funny, awkward,
moving, beautiful . . ’she tweets.
True Stories Told Live
Where : Auckland Museum
When: September 30 bar open at 7pm
Starts 7.30pm
Tickets: www.aucklandmuseum.com $25.00
Doors sales unless sold out prior
ENDS