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StorySALOONStorySALOON 2025 wrap: Until next seasonWe're wrapping up our first year of growing the audience for Australian short stories and writers.
Check out the 24 episodes we've produced this year and head to our website to subscribe to our e-news for updates on the new live shows, regional tours and podcast episodes which we're underway planning for in 2026.
StorySALOON: Short Stories, Centre Stage was made possible in 2025 with the support of Australian Government through its arts and advisory body Creative Australia; the NSW Government through Create NSW; and Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
Thank you to our partners and collaborators N...
2025-12-1601 minStorySALOONIn the SALOON with Luke Johnson and Michelle HamadacheIn our latest 'In the SALOON with…', host Jane Messer talks with writers Luke Johnson and Michelle Hamadache. We delve into their short stories 'Ferocious Animals' and 'The Crane Flies', their creative processes, writing craft, and discuss why literary journals have a key role for creative writers and readers.
Luke Johnson is the author of the short-story collection Ferocious Animals (Recent Works Press) which takes its title from today’s short story, and an acclaimed poetry collection titled Kangaroo Unbound (Puncher & Wattman). He has won or been listed for numerous national prizes over his writing life, incl...
2025-12-0146 minStorySALOON'The Crane Flies' by Michelle Hamadache, read by Charlotte SalusinszkyIn this episode we’re going to hear the short story ‘The Crane Flies’ by Michelle Hamadache, read by Charlotte Salusinszky at StorySALOON's Nov 4, 2025 show.
Michelle Hamadache is a writer of short stories, essays and reviews, with publications in Australian, British and US journals. She’s had short stories long listed for the Elizabeth Jolley and short-listed for the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Michelle is also a lecturer in creative writing at Macquarie University and has been a fiction editor with the journals Southerly and Mascara Literary Review.
Reading the story is the talented Charlott...
2025-11-2427 minStorySALOON'Ferocious Animals', by Luke Johnson, read by Bayley PrendergastIn this episode we’re going to hear the short story ‘Ferocious Animals’ by Luke Johnson, read by Bayley Prendergast.
Johnson is the author of the short-story collection Ferocious Animals (Recent Works Press) which takes its title from today’s short story, and an acclaimed poetry collection titled Kangaroo Unbound (Puncher & Wattman). He has won or been listed for numerous national prizes over his writing life, including the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize.
His short story ‘Ferocious Animals’ is read for us by Bayley Prendergast. Bayley is a rising talent who has had roles in numerous sta...
2025-11-1819 minStorySALOON'Zucchini' written and read by Monikka EliahIn this episode we hear 'Zucchini' written and read by Monikka Eliah. Eliah is a talented emerging writer and playwright from Fairfield, located Sydney's western suburbs.
Monikka has published short stories, poetry and essays in Australian literary journals and sites including SBS Voices, Meanjin, Southerly, and Kill Your Darlings, and as an emerging playwright and fiction writer has received new work development awards and residencies from the Wheeler Centre and Creative Australia, National Theatre of Parramatta’s Page to Stage program, CuriousWorks Breakthrough Screen Writing Program, Netflix and Co-curious’ On The Brightside Screenwriting Program and STC’s Rough Draft.
2025-11-1420 minStorySALOON'Zucchini' by Monikka EliahIn this episode we hear 'Zucchini' written and read by Monikka Eliah. Eliah is a talented emerging writer and playwright from Fairfield, located Sydney's western suburbs.
'Zucchini' is a comedic and tender short story about young womanhood, bro' boys, and learning how to make prakhe, stuffed zucchinis, the Assyrian way.
Monikka has published short stories, poetry and essays in Australian literary journals and sites including SBS Voices, Meanjin, Southerly, and Kill Your Darlings, and as an emerging playwright and fiction writer has received new work development awards and residencies from the Wheeler Centre and Creative A...
2025-11-1220 minStorySALOONIn the SALOON with Ren Wyld and Katie BeckettIn our latest 'In the SALOON with…', host Jane Messer talks with writer Ren Wyld and actor and playwright Katie Beckett. Together, we delve into Wyld's short story 'Clatter Tongue' which Katie Beckett read at StorySALOON Live on Oct 7, 2025. We explore the two artists' creative processes, challenges and pleasures of writing, what's current in contemporary First Nations narrative and theatre, and much more. We recommend that you listen to Katie Beckett reading of 'Clatter Tongue' beforehand; it's episode 17 on StorySALOON Podcast.
Ren Wyld is South Australian writer of Martu descent. Their story 'Clatter Tongue' won the won...
2025-11-0353 minStorySALOON‘The Couples Therapist’ by Abigail Ulman, read by Amber McMahonIn this episode we’re going to hear ‘The Couples Therapist, by Abigail Ulman from our October 7 show.
Abigail Ulman is a talented short story writer whose first book Hot Little Hands received rave reviews. Her stories have appeared in Australian and international journals including The Monthly where this story was first published, and New England Review, Best Australian Stories, BBC Radio 4, Elle, Frankie, Literary Hub, and elsewhere.
Reading ‘The Couples Therapist' is Amber McMahon, star of stage and screen, and a Helpmann Award-winner twice. Recent stage work includes roles at Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Festival, C...
2025-10-2725 minStorySALOON'Golden Hour’ by Claire Aman, read by Suzi DoughertyIn this episode we’re going to hear ‘Golden Hour’ by Claire Aman, from our October 7 show.
Claire is the consummate short story writer, and ‘Golden Hour’ is just one of it’s just one of her many prize-winning stories. The story was first published in the journal Overland, and she’s published an acclaimed collection of short stories, Bird Country.
In this story we meet Faye and Dawn, two neighbours. ‘Golden Hour’ is a story about small towns, the small loan of money, mothering and childlessness, and a son that went missing decades ago.
Reading ‘Gold...
2025-10-2021 minStorySALOON‘Clatter Tongue’, by K.A. Ren Wyld, read by Katie BeckettIn this episode we’re going to hear ‘Clatter Tongue’, by K.A. Ren Wyld, from our October 7 show.
Ren Wyld is a South Australian writer of Martu descent. This prize-winning short story combines realism with the fantastic. The young girl Treanna finds herself struggling to speak; instead of words other things come out and as the story unfolds we come to understand how her Aboriginal voice is profoundly linked to missing family and histories that can't be ignored.
Wyld has written and published multiple works about Indigenous experiences and history – fiction including for children, and adul...
2025-10-1300 minStorySALOONIn the SALOON with Jake Dean and Adam DunnIn our latest 'In the SALOON with…', host Jane Messer talks with writer Jake Dean and actor and film writer Adam Dunn.
We take a deep dive into Jake Dean's short story ‘Apocalypse, then?’, performed by Adam Dunn at StorySALOON’s September 2025 live show. Dean speaks about the writing of ‘Apocalypse, then?’, the unique aspects of the short story as a genre, while Dunn discusses acting and preparing for the role, along with what makes a story or line comedic and what it is that apocalypse themed stories have to offer creatively.
Jake Dean writes shorts stories and rides waves on Kaurna C...
2025-09-3059 min
All The BestIt’s the end of the world as we know it Dome Sweet Dome by Year 8 students In this story, Year 8 students imagine a world where meteors poison the skies and zombies spread from Bankstown to Campbelltown. Trapped inside a glass dome with zombies banging on the walls outside, they piece together what makes life worth living. And in the end, humanity is saved by Kendrick Lamar’s zombie-proof backboard and a slam dunk from LeBron James. Written by: Year 8 students Produced by: Year 8 students and Philip Wilcox. Sound design and production by: Milku. Apocalyps...
2025-09-2331 minStorySALOON'Apocalypse, then?' by Jake Dean, read by Adam DunnIn this week's episode we're going to hear 'Apocalypse, then?' by Jake Dean, read by Adam Dunn.
Jake Dean writes shorts stories and rides waves on Kaurna Country in South Australia. His writing is razor sharp, and not surprisingly he’s been published widely in Australian journals including Griffith Review, Going Down Swinging, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Overland, Kill Your Darlings, Crikey, and Surfing World.
His story ‘Apocalypse, then?’ is a comedic satire of a writer’s lust for fame. An Adelaide teacher’s short story is accepted for publication by The New Yorker. But...
2025-09-2325 minStorySALOON'Dance Hall Days' by Christos Tsiolkas, read by Alex DimitriadesIn this week's episode we're going to hear 'Dance Hall Days' by Christos Tsiolkas, read by Alex Dimitriades.
Tsiolkas is the Melbourne-born, Greek-Australian author, playwright, essayist, and screenwriter internationally known for his award winning novels, Dead Europe, Loaded, The Slap, and Barracuda.
In this story, we meet Dimitri and Marlene, former friends who haven’t seen each since the 1980s Melbourne’s party and music scene. The story is from the anthology Into Your Arms: Nick Cave’s Songs Reimagined. Twenty Australian writers were asked to write a short story in response to a Nick Cave son...
2025-09-1624 minStorySALOON'The Skit' by Roanna Gonsalves, read by Vinaya ElijalaIn this week's episode we're going to hear 'The Skit' by Roanna Gonsalves, read by Vinaya Elijala.
Gonsalves’ short story ‘The Skit’ is from her collection titled The Permanent Resident, winner of the 2018 Multicultural NSW Award. Roanna is a writer of short stories, long fiction and radio essays, and has been published widely in Australian and international journals and anthologies. She is a lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of New South Wales.
Her story ‘The Skit’ is a tough and comedic snapshot of Indian expat and student life in Sydney and is as relevant t...
2025-09-0923 minStorySALOONIn the SALOON with Margo Lanagan and Paul CapsisIn our latest 'In the SALOON with…', host Jane Messer talks with writer Margo Lanagan and performer, Paul Capsis.
We take a deep dive into Margo's short story ‘Singing My Sister Down’ which was performed by Paul at StorySALOON’s June live show. In this episode, Margo speaks about the original writing of 'Singing My Sister Down', and the unique aspects of the short story as a genre. Paul discusses his performance of the work, and his own life as a performer, and the impact of his family on his work and his reading of 'Singing My Sister...
2025-06-3050 minStorySALOON'In Disguise, Lying Low' by Anne Casey-Hardy, read by Esha JessyIn this week's episode we’re going to hear ‘In Disguise, Lying Low’ by Anne Casey-Hardy, read by Esha Jessy.
The story is taken from Anne’s debut collection of short stories, wickedly titled Cautionary Tales for Excitable Girls (published by Scribner https://shorturl.at/Wk1To). Her acclaimed short stories are wonderfully sharp, irreverent tales of sisterhood, motherhood and friendships. In the words of one reviewer, her stories “crackle with energy and desire.”
Reading ‘In Disguise, Lying Low’ tonight is the Esha Jessy — a recent graduate of NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Esha’s been quick...
2025-06-2321 minStorySALOON'Singing My Sister Down' by Margo Lanagan, read by Paul CapsisIn this episode we’re going to hear Margo Lanagan’s short story ‘Singing My Sister Down’, read by Paul Capsis. This is a story with a big heart that may well move you to tears.
Margo Lanagan is one of Australia’s most outstanding writers of short stories and novels for adults and young adults. Her work has been published widely in Australia and internationally.
For those amongst you who’re unused to the fantasy genre, what you’ll find in 'Singing My Sister Down' is that you recognise the community and characters, but there are litt...
2025-06-1733 minStorySALOONThree flash fictions by Gillian O'Shaughnessy, read by Monica SayersIn this episode we present three flash fictions by West Australian writer Gillian O'Shaughnessy, from our June live show.
Gillian is an award-winning writer whose flash fictions and short stories have been published widely in Australian and international journals and anthologies.
The reading is by Monica Sayers, returning to StorySALOON a second time. Sayers is a proud Australian born Chinese actor, director, and voice artist. She has acted in many film and television roles, and with major theatre companies including the Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, and Hayes Theatre.
Gillian O...
2025-06-1014 minStorySALOON'In the SALOON with' Paddy O'Reilly and Monica SayersWelcome to 'In the Saloon With...', where StorySALOON host Jane Messer meets with an author and actor from the live show for a deep-dive into the writing of the short story and the actor's performance of it.
In this episode we talk with Paddy O'Reilly, author of 'Baggage Claim' and Monica Sayers, who read the story live for StorySALOON's May 2025 show.
Paddy's novels and short stories have been published, anthologised and broadcast in Australia, Europe, China, the UK and the USA. Her most recent book, the novel Other Houses, was shortlisted for the Prime M...
2025-06-0200 minStorySALOON'Baggage Claim' by Paddy O'Reilly, read by Monica SayersOur final story from StorySALOON's live 6 May show is 'Baggage Claim' by Paddy O'Reilly. Paddy's novels and short stories have won and been shortlisted for a number of major awards, and been published, anthologised and broadcast in Australia, Europe, China, the UK and the USA.
'Baggage Claim' was read by Monica Sayers, a proud Australian born Chinese artist who works as an actor, director, and voiceover artist. Her tv and stage roles have included The Messenger, Rake, Love My Way and Romeo and Juliet (Bell Shakespeare) Chimerica and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui with Hugo Weaving (Sydne...
2025-05-2719 minStorySALOON'GPS' by Cate Kennedy, read by Jules BillingtonThis week's short story is 'GPS' by Cate Kennedy. It's a short story for lovers of twisted fairy tales and bushland suspense. Every girl should have a grandmother like this one in their lives.
Cate Kennedy has been writing and publishing short stories, along with poetry, novels and essays for over three decades. Recent short stories have been published in The Saturday Paper, and the anthologies The Scarlet Stilleto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice, and Into Your Arms : Nick Cave’s Songs Reimagined. When not in Castlemaine, Victoria, Cate can be found teaching on the faculty of...
2025-05-1900 minStorySALOON'Aitu' by Oliver Coulter, read by Chris AlosioThis week's short story is 'Aitu' by Oliver Coulter, was performed live by Chris Alosio for StorySALOON on May 6, 2025 at The Vanguard, Newtown. A young man of Samoan heritage is driving along a Northern Territory highway carrying special cargo. It's a road story that's both spiritual and darkly funny, and is about the importance of knowing your culture. In Polynesian languages the word 'aitu' refers to ghosts or spirits.
Oliver Coulter is a Samoan-Australian writer raised in the Northern Territory. He has won a NT Literary Award and his work has also featured on ABC Radio National.
2025-05-1312 minStorySALOON'In the SALOON With...' Nic Low and Taofia Pelesasa and host Jane Messer
Welcome to the first of our in-depth conversations, 'In the Saloon With...', where StorySALOON host Jane Messer meets with an author and actor from the live show for a deep-dive into the writing of the short story and the actor's performance of it.
In this episode we talk with Nic Low, author of 'Octopus' and Taofia Pelesasa, who read the story live for StorySALOON's April 2025 show.
Based in Melbourne and New Zealand, Nic Low's Ngāi Tahu Māori and European heritage shape the short story 'Octopus', which is set in Rotorua on New Zea...
2025-04-2948 minStorySALOON'Protocols of Transference', by Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker, read by Dakotah LoveThis week's short story is 'Protocols of Transference' by Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker, a Nyungar technologist, writer, and digital rights activist living on Whadjuk Noongar boodjar, Western Australia.
Build a mechanical brain to hold and remember First Nations stories. 'Protocols of Transference's' narrator is a First Nation person who is gathering and saving Indigenous stories. They do this by building a digital and mechanical brain to hold the many stories that have been taken from Australia’s first peoples, and which they collectively mourn the loss of – and in this story - work to recover and revive.
The...
2025-04-2210 minStorySALOON'Octopus' by Nic Low, read by Taofia PelesasaThis week's short story is 'Octopus' by Nic Low, a writer of Ngāi Tahu Māori and European heritage. Based in Melbourne and New Zealand, Nic is the author of three acclaimed books, Arms Race, Uprising, and Little Doomsdays. 'Octopus' is set on New Zealand's South Island. It is about a rowdy road gang and an octopus, a story in which myth and reality energetically collide.
It is read by Taofia Pelesasa, Western Sydney creative practitioner of Tokelauan and Samoan heritage. Pelesasa has worked as an actor, writer and filmmaker in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and...
2025-04-2121 minStorySALOON"Tinder Date" by Monique Choy, read by Zoe CaridesThis week's short story is "Tinder Date", written by Sydney fiction and travel writer Monique Choy. It's an inner city - rural love story. Set in a Marrickville bar. City Celia meets farmer Alistair. It’s hilarious and excruciating. How will the date go?
Performed live by Zoe Carides at The Vanguard, Newtown. Zoe Carides' TV and film career includes Death in Brunswick, the Netflix TV drama Pieces of Her and thriller Interceptor, Top of The Lake, Rake, Pieces of Her, Brilliant Lies, and Mystery Road.
‘Tinder Date’ by Monique Choy was first published in Soak: U...
2025-04-0822 minStorySALOONIntroducing StorySALOON: Short Stories, Centre StageStorySALOON Podcast is your listen-anytime creative fix— contemporary short stories published in our best journals and anthologies, written by award-winning and emerging writers, then narrated on stage by Australia’s most talented actors at The Vanguard, Newtown.
Your host and Chief Saloonist is Jane Messer.
2025-04-0701 min