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Kerrie O’Brien

@kobrienwriterau

Senior writer, culture, for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald

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28.11.2024
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Latest posts by Kerrie O’Brien @kobrienwriterau

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Adelaide Festival nearly imploded in its lead-up. So, how did things play out? Chaos engulfed the South Australian capital’s main event before it started. Now, the city is heaving, the sun is shining and there is an air of expectation.

Adelaide Festival nearly imploded in its leadup, so how did things play out? www.theage.com.au/national/ade...

05.03.2026 06:24 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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She was a loving witness to our changing city. How did we forget her? An exhibition of Viva Gibb’s remarkable photographs evokes an inner-city Melbourne that is long gone.

She was a loving witness to our changing city - how did we forget her? www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

05.03.2026 01:30 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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After 17 years, the Maza sisters return to the stage The last time they performed together, they played sisters. Now, two decades later, they are back – and playing sisters.

After 17 years, the Maza sisters return to the stage for a show that ‘breaks all the rules’ www.theage.com.au/culture/thea...

18.02.2026 03:23 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Palestinian-Australian academic to headline Sydney Writers’ Festival The announcement comes just weeks after the Adelaide Writers’ Week event collapsed following a mass boycott when the Palestinian-Australian academic was dumped from the program.

Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah to headline Australia's biggest literary festival www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

18.02.2026 00:06 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
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‘Imagine six impossible things before breakfast’: Star writer’s plan to inspire young readers Andy Griffiths, the author of beloved books such as the Treehouse series and the BUM trilogy, is Australia’s new Children’s Laureate – and he is on a mission.

Imagine six impossible things before breakfast: star writer's plan to inspire young readers www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

10.02.2026 03:46 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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This musical collective puts the heart in art This extraordinary collective, made up of “the full spectrum of humanity”, is about to wow audiences in Melbourne.

From the Wiggles to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, this creative collective puts the heart in art www.theage.com.au/culture/musi...

08.02.2026 02:03 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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‘Bloodbath’: Washington Post axes a third of its staff After a company-wide online meeting, staff members began receiving emails with one of two subject lines.

Washington Post axes a third of its staff www.theage.com.au/business/com...

05.02.2026 00:04 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Louise Adler and Randa Abdel-Fattah headline rebel Adelaide literary festival A rebel literary festival created in direct response to the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week will feature the two women at the centre of the major event’s implosion.

Louise Adler and Randa Abdel-Fattah headline rebel Adelaide literary festival, Constellations www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

04.02.2026 03:10 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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‘Face like a fist’ and ‘Pure, endless hell’: Critics slam Melania doco Dubbed propaganda and an infomercial, the doco has been roundly canned after it opened with only a handful of tickets sold in cinemas.

'Face like a fist' and 'Pure, endless hell': reviews of the Melania Trump doco are in, and they're scathing www.theage.com.au/culture/movi...

01.02.2026 03:00 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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These tiny bugs are in most of our homes. I can’t unsee them As part of a celebration of art, a new work invites us to take a closer look at a polarising creature – and think more deeply about what we can learn from it.

These tiny bugs are in all our homes. I can't unsee them. www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

30.01.2026 05:02 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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This was a big swing for the ABC. Can Tony Armstrong turn it into a series? “I can’t believe we’re saying this on telly”: the former News Breakfast host reflects on Wednesday night’s big change of pace.

This was a big swing for the ABC. Can Tony Armstrong turn it into a series? www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-a...

22.01.2026 07:51 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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‘Human beings ache to be in each other’s company’: Why sharing stories matters Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and novelist Suzie Miller on the power of theatre to effect change.

Acclaimed writer Suzie Miller (Prima Facie, Inter Alia) joins Melbourne Theatre Company board www.theage.com.au/culture/movi...

21.01.2026 02:00 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst dies after cancer battle Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has died at the age of 70, his bandmates have confirmed.

Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst dies www.theage.com.au/culture/musi...

20.01.2026 07:53 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Adelaide Festival apologises for debacle, invites ousted writer to 2027 event The Adelaide Festival has apologised to Palestinian-Australian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah and offered to include her in the 2027 Adelaide Writers’ Week.

Adelaide Festival apologises to ousted writer, invites her to 2027 event www.theage.com.au/national/ade...

15.01.2026 01:13 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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From counter-culture to suburban nudes: Melbourne lives captured through a lens Like Helen Garner, Ponch Hawkes has documented the lives of Melburnians. Her acclaimed photographs are a window on decades of social change and everyday moments.

Ponch Hawkes on the wild ride that was Melbourne in the 70s, being uncurated and making art www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

14.01.2026 02:28 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 0
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Adelaide Writers’ Week cancelled after director quits The event will not proceed this year following author boycotts and resignations over the decision to dump a Palestinian-Australian writer from the program.

New board for Adelaide Festival after Louise Adler's resignation www.theage.com.au/national/can...

13.01.2026 08:07 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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‘Cannot be party to silencing writers’: Louise Adler resigns from Adelaide Writers’ Week The head of one of Australia’s most loved writers festivals has resigned over the removal of a Palestinian-Australian from this year’s program.

I cannot be party to silencing writers: Louise Adler resigns as head of Adelaide Writers' Week www.theage.com.au/national/can...

12.01.2026 22:17 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Chair quits Adelaide Festival board as writers’ week crisis continues Four board members have now resigned, while more than 50 authors have pulled out of the event after it dropped a Palestinian-Australian writer from the program.

Chair quits Adelaide Festival as writers' week crisis continues www.theage.com.au/national/cha...

12.01.2026 01:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thanks for your always brilliant work Cathy.

11.01.2026 11:46 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Board members quit Adelaide Festival as dumped writer calls in lawyer Pressure to reinstate Palestinian-Australian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah to the line-up of one of the country’s best-loved writers’ festivals is mounting.

Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah calls in lawyer as Adelaide Festival fallout grows www.theage.com.au/national/pal...

11.01.2026 09:00 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Star British author Zadie Smith joins dozens of authors boycotting Adelaide Writers’ Week Local and international writers have pulled out of one of the country’s best-loved writers’ festivals after Palestinian-Australian Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah was removed from its program.

British author Zadie Smith joins Richard Flanagan and Helen Garner in boycotting Adelaide Writers' Week www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

09.01.2026 06:47 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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A look at some of the most controversial pieces in Melbourne and Victoria’s galleries In this special summer series, we asked galleries around Victoria to nominate the most scandalous or controversial item in their collections.

What does some of the most controversial work in our art galleries look like? www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

27.12.2025 09:30 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Bendigo Writers Festival unlikely to go ahead next year The regional festival was decimated when a controversial code of conduct was issued, prompting authors to boycott the event.

Bendigo Writers Festival unlikely to go ahead next year www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

12.12.2025 09:40 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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State Library abandons controversial restructure plan Ahead of a planned public protest on Saturday, a reorganisation of Victoria’s most significant public library has been dropped.

State Library Victoria abandons controversial restructure plan www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

12.12.2025 01:48 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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Helen Garner, Trent Dalton lead outcry on State Library cuts Planned changes include reducing the number of reference librarians available, and fewer computers for the public.

Helen Garner, Trent Dalton, Geraldine Brooks and Alexis Wright lead outcry against proposed State Library Victoria cuts www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

03.12.2025 22:50 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Bluesky

Twas a joy to chat with @willdalrymple.bsky.social about truth-telling in history, the indigenous people of Palestine, and the massive, often overlooked, contributions made by India to the world. Listen here podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/g...

28.11.2025 05:46 👍 15 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
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State Library proposes major cuts to staff and services The library plans halve the number of reference librarians it employs and reduce the number of computers available for public use in a move that has outraged staff.

Despite many being in acting positions, State Library Victoria management are proposing wholesale cuts and changes to the services it provides. Staff are alarmed, anxious and stressed www.theage.com.au/national/vic...

22.11.2025 03:59 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 1
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How this artist is reinventing the idea of an Aussie, one poster at a time Peter Drew’s “Aussie” series of works on walls across the country asks questions about identity and who belongs in this country – but not everyone is happy to see them.

How this artist is reinventing the idea of an Aussie one poster at a time www.theage.com.au/culture/art-...

17.11.2025 08:31 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Sacked pianist Jayson Gillham’s case against MSO to run for three weeks At the heart of the issue is freedom of expression for employees – especially artists.

Sacked pianist @JaysonGillham’s case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to run for three weeks www.theage.com.au/culture/musi...

12.11.2025 10:27 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Beware political attempts to rewrite history: William Dalrymple The Scottish author and podcaster says anyone wanting to manipulate the truth of times past must be stopped.

Beware politial attempts to rewrite history: @willdalrymple.bsky.social www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-a...

31.10.2025 21:54 👍 32 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 0