THE STARDUST CABARET

AJ Fitzwater

A.J. Fitzwater is a unicorn in a snappy blazer who has published a variety of short speculative fiction. A Sir Julius Vogel Award winner, they are a graduate of the Clarion workshop 2014 and were an artist in residence at Christchurch’s Arts Centre in 2021. 

Kahu Tumai

Ray Shipley

Ray Shipley is an Ōtautahi-based comedian, writer, celebrant, and bookseller. In 2019, they were nominated for the Billy T Award. Ray is a repeat Christchurch Poetry Slam winner, placing third nationally in 2018. Their poetry can be found in the anthologies Solid Air and in Out Here, among others.

Rebecca Hawkes

RikTheMost

Sam Duckor-Jones

Sascha Stronach

THE MUSEUM OF UNRULY DESIRES

Take an after-dark tour of the museum, with poets waiting beside favourite taonga to read work that illuminates these treasures in surprising ways.

OUT HERE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF TAKATĀPUI AND LGBTQIA+ WRITERS FROM AOTEAROA

Chris Tse and Emma Barnes host a range of special guests for a deep dive into the brilliance and diversity of Queer writing today.

RAY SHIPLEY’S LATE NIGHT POETRY HOUR

Ray Shipley hosts Dominic Hoey, Mohamed Hassan, Vana Manasiadis and Emma Barnes in Christchurch's favourite nocturnal salon.