The Capitol acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. We respectfully acknowledge their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. We also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

Lighting Off
Presented in partnership with Melbourne Writers Festival

Douglas Stuart: Shuggie Bain

Crossing live from New York, Douglas Stuart reveals how he shaped the world of his Booker Prize–winning novel Shuggie Bain.

Following the extension of Melbourne’s lockdown, and with the safety of staff, artists and audiences front of mind, Melbourne Writers Festival has made the difficult decision to cancel its live events as part of this year’s program, planned to be delivered from Friday 3 to Sunday 12 September.

All tickets to in-person events will automatically be refunded in full, and anyone who wishes to donate the value of their ticket or make a tax-deductible donation to support MWF is welcome to do so.

The MWF Digital program will be brought forward to give you access to online events from home, streaming for an extended period from 3–15 September. Read further details here.

Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain won the 2020 Booker Prize for its unsparing yet tender portrayal of an alcoholic mother and her son in Thatcher-era Glasgow. Informed by Stuart’s own childhood and likened to the writing of Hanya Yanagihara (A Little Life), the novel is an exploration of queerness, abuse and poverty, buoyed by the unsinkable love of young Shuggie for his ailing mum. Appearing live on screen from New York, the author speaks with an on-stage interviewer about the book’s runaway popularity, the complex filial bond at its heart, and why the story still rings true after years of austerity in the UK.

Supported by ARA.

Presented in partnership with RMIT University – Learning Partner for Melbourne Writers Festival.