StorySaloon: Short Stories, Centre Stage

For culture seekers and story enthusiasts, StorySALOON is your mid-week adventure, offering three short stories, brought to life on stage by talented actors. Each monthly StorySALOON Live and StorySALOON Podcast showcases brilliant short stories by new and established Australian writers, selected to move, illuminate and entertain.

• Katie Beckett reads ‘Clatter Tongue’ by Ren Wyld ‘More weaponry fell from her mouth. Soon, a pile of rusted metal, many pieces with bone or wood handles, reached to her knees.’ Writer K.A. Ren Wyld is of Martu descent. ‘Clatter Tongue’ won the 2020 Borderlands First Nations Writing Award for a Short Story. Katie Beckett is an award-winning actor and playwright.

• Amber McMahon reads ‘The Couples Therapist’ by Abigail Ulman ‘The couples therapist told us to stop in the middle of a fight and say, “I love you.”’ Abigail Ulman’s acclaimed short story collection is Hot Little Hands. Amber McMahon is a star of the stage and screen.

• Suzi Dougherty reads ‘Golden Hour’ by Claire Aman ‘It’s the shape Dawn’s mouth is making that stops Faye from saying her piece. Don was always the softie. “Something must have happened,” he says.’ Claire Aman’s short stories have won numerous awards and have been published widely in Australian journals. ‘Golden Hour’ won the esteemed Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize 2022. Suzi Dougherty is a star of the stage and screen, and founder of the Wallace Co-Op.

Hosted by StorySALOON founder and director, Jane Messer.