HIGH profile Australian actors Sam Neill and Bryan Brown will appear live on stage at the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival in a conversation style event.
The last-minute addition to the program was coordinated by festival patron Brown, who emerged from his appearance last year committed to securing high profile guest speakers.
The 2025 Festival, running from 6-8 June at Bellingen Memorial Theatre, is on track to smash records with organisers reporting unprecedented demand in the lead-up to the long weekend event.
Tickets to the special on-stage chat, featuring the two screen icons in a relaxed format, have already sold out.
“This is easily our strongest year yet in terms of ticket sales and national attention,” Festival Director Liz Morgan-Jones said.
“We’ve struck a chord – this year we’ve been able to bring together big names, brilliant minds, sharp wit, and colourful storytelling.
“There’s a real hunger for this kind of conversation right now.
“We’ve already had a 23 percent increase in ticket sales to people from outside of Bellingen.”
Other headline guests are literary legend Marcus Zusak, political commentator and author David Marr, journalist Peter Greste, crowd favourite Gina Chick and award-winning authors Richard Flanagan and Hannah Kent – each bringing their unique voice to the weekend of dialogue and ideas.
The festival has long been a much-loved event on the Mid North Coast calendar but Ms Morgan-Jones said this year’s buzz feels different, with some sessions already sold out and others nearing capacity.
“The town will be alive with locals and visitors enjoying the festival vibe,” she said.
Alongside ticketed talks and panels, the program includes free events in Maam Gaduying (Meeting Place) Park, street performances, and a vibrant community atmosphere that has become the hallmark of the Bellingen experience.
By Andrea FERRARI
