2024 EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2024
About the February 2024 Festival
The theme of 2024’s festival was Camp Rage. Drawing on summer camp themes, we imagined ‘Camp Rage’ as a fictional location for our community to feel safe, heard and understood.
This year’s festival was a collaborative effort, put together by a volunteer board that comprises the following talented and passionate people: Simie Simpson, Joanne Drayton, Michael Giacon, Hiraani Himona, Izzy Robinson, Rhi Munro, Nathan Joe and Sam Orchard.
Launch: i’m still growing
7pm, Monday February 12
Auckland Pride Office, Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD
The launch of a collection of poetry by Josiah Morgan, held in collaboration with Auckland Pride and Dead Bird Books. The launch featured readings from Josiah Morgan, Nathan Joe and Liam Jacobson and live music by Laika Loveheart.
Notes on Camp
A staged play reading of Murdoch Keane’s Notes on Camp.
7 – 8pm, Thursday February 15
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Notes on Camp is Murdoch Keane’s unauthorised adaption of Susan Sontag’s essay of the same name. It’s Trisha Paytas writing To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a synchronized swimming routine in the Mariana Trench. It’s Helen Keller’s stage debut in The Sound of Music. Prayers answered, wishes granted, ruby slippers – never worn.
F*ck and Other Words
A discussion on anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigns.
10:30am, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Marianne Elliott of The Workshop was joined by campaigner Shaneel Lal, journalist Felix Desmarais and researcher Alex Ker to discuss how writers are impacted by, and responding to, the recent rise of anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigns taking place in the global west.
We’ve Always Been Here
Historical perspectives on queer visibility.
2:30pm, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
A panel discussion chaired by researcher and activist Jack Byrne. Jack was joined by Leonie Pihama and Mani Mitchell to explore historical and elder perspectives on queer visibility and resistance. In 2024, what has changed and what’s still the same?
PETER WELLS LECTURE
A lecture on queer experience delivered by Etta Bollinger.
5.15pm, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Each year, Samesame But Different ask an LGBTQIA+ author to deliver a lecture which explores queer life and queer writing in Aotearoa. Named in memory of the festival’s late founder, writer and activist Peter Wells, the lecture is a ‘provocation’ – designed to challenge and inspire. The 2024 lecture was delivered by Etta Bollinger.
Launch: Outsider
The launch of a new novel by Jade Du Preez.
7pm, Sunday February 18
Time Out Bookstore
The launch of Outsider – a contemporary novel set in Japan and New Zealand that follows the connections between a light installation artist, a video game-obsessed businessman, a writer who refuses to speak, and the star of a gender-bending host bar. The event opened with a performance from local musicians 紅音 Akane.
Poetry Speakeasy
5 – 7pm, Wednesday February 14
Studio One – Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road, Auckland
2024 was the ninth PRIDE Poetry Speakeasy and Open Mic, again held in collaboration with Auckland Libraries. Hosted by Michael Giacon, the event featured readings from guest poet Zephyr Zhang 张挚.
Campfire Stories
6 – 9pm, Friday February 16
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
The 2024 opening night kicked off with the announcement of the winners of the Peter Wells Short Fiction Contest.
Then, a lineup of LGBTQIA+ authors read new work they’d written, drawing on the prompt of ‘Campfire Stories’. We heard new work from Sascha Stronach, Keagan Carr Fransch, Gina Cole, Samuel Te Kani and Anthony Lapwood.
Rage on the Page
A panel discussion on emotional writing.
12pm, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Playwright Victor Rodger was joined by Saraid de Silva, Samuel Te Kani and Zephyr Zhang 张挚. Together they explored the topic of RAGE: how writers experience it, and how they channel it into refined, creative and impactful writing.
The Editors Session
A kōrero on publishing.
4pm, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
Chaired by Van Mei, editors Damien Levi, Stacey Teague and Sinead Overbye discuss the selection process when considering who and what to publish – or not publish. What is involved in creating spaces for more queer writers?
READING ROBERT LORD’S DIARIES
A staged reading and interview.
7pm, Saturday February 17
Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place
A celebration of Robert Lord’s legacy and the recent publication of The Robert Lord Diaries, edited by Chris Brickell, Vanessa Manhire and Nonnita Rees. Actor Ryan Carter read a selection of the diaries, with support by director Keagan Carr Fransch. This was followed by a discussion between one of the book’s editors, Chris Brickell, and playwright Nathan Joe.