About StorySALOON
StorySALOON Live is your mid-week creative fix. Three short stories by award-winning and emerging writers, narrated by Australia’s most talented actors. We bring you short stories that will make you laugh, keep you hooked, and make you think. If you can’t see it live on stage, listen to the weekly StorySALOON Podcast.
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StorySALOON Podcast
Immerse yourself in the world of Australian short stories with the StorySALOON Podcast, featuring 24 episodes, short stories from 18 Australian authors, and recordings from 6 unforgettable live shows. Tune in to our in-depth monthly conversation series: ‘In the SALOON with…’, our unique, in-depth, and real conversations with actors and authors.
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StorySALOON Live
at The Vanguard, Newtown
$50 + Booking fee
DEC 3, 2026
Three gutsy and resonant short stories— ‘3 bedroom cosy $250/week move in ASAP’, ‘Kátharsis’ and ‘A Major Theft’— by Alison Evans, George Haddad and Emma Rosetta.
‘3 bedroom cosy $250/week move in ASAP’, by Alison Evans. Two friends flounder in their efforts to entice someone/anyone to move into their Melbourne rental. Read by Dakotah Love, a proud First Nations Anēwan woman, multidisciplinary actor, cellist and vocalist, and graduate of the QLD Conservatorium and NIDA. Dakotah returns to StorySALOON after appearing in our 2025 season.
‘Kátharsis’, by George Haddad. A young Australian Greek man’s wild Mykonos holiday with a friend and sometimes lover, becomes a mythic reckoning with his past and what coffee grains had foreseen. Read by the talented Billy Allagiannis, AFTT drama graduate, whose theatre credits include roles with Genesian Theatre and Opera Australia.
‘A Major Theft’, by Emma Rosetta. A soul-exhausted, divorced policeman living in a small town is tasked with locating a stolen Australia Post scooter. Read by Jules Billington, an award-winning actor, director, performance and movement coach whose theatre credits include STC, MTC, Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare and La Boite. Jules returns to StorySALOON after appearing in our 2025 season.
Hosted by Jane Messer, Founder and Chief Saloonist. Presented in partnership with the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and with the support of the Copyright Agency, Cultural Fund.
StorySALOON Podcast
Listen to the individual short stories, episode by episode.
Immerse yourself in the world of Australian short stories with the StorySALOON Podcast, featuring 24 episodes, short stories from 18 Australian authors, and recordings from 6 unforgettable live shows. Our beautifully read short stories make for perfect listening when driving, exercising, or at bedtime.
Tune in to our in-depth conversation series: ‘In the SALOON with…’, our unique, in-depth, and revealing conversations with actors and authors.
Discover our YouTube exclusive interview series, 'Author Spotlight', where we shine the light on the writers behind the short stories. Hear them share the inspiration, creative process, and their experiences of seeing their words come alive at StorySALOON.
Explore StorySALOON Podcast
Dynamic Directors Wanted
StorySaloon Ltd is now a not-for-profit and we’re looking to build a small board to help the organisation grow creatively, govern well, attract funding, and expand its reach. StorySALOON is seeking directors who can contribute (unremunerated/voluntary) one or more of the following:
StorySALOON is seeking directors who can contribute one or more of the following:
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Not-for-profit governance and strategic leadership
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Fundraising, philanthropy and sponsorship development
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Literature, publishing, theatre or arts-sector expertise
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Media, communications, podcasting or audience development
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Financial management and business planning
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Community engagement and partnerships
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First Nations, CALD, LGBTQIA+ or regional cultural leadership
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Networks that can assist StorySALOON's growth and sustainability
FAQs
You can listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and iHeart. StorySALOON episodes drop weekly in the month following each live show.
StorySALOON tickets are available at the door, but it’s a gamble. We suggest you buy tickets in advance through The Vanguard or Moshtix. Online ticket sales close at 4pm on the show date.
$50 + booking fee.Doors open: 6.00pm
Shows starts: 7.00pm
Short interval midway
Show ends: 8.30pm
Want to buy StorySALOON a book or a drink? We welcome donations of $15 $25, or even $50.
We’re building a new cultural event for Australia via our live show and podcasts.
Your donation* supports StorySALOON by providing work and wages for Australian writers, actors, and crew.
* Donations over $2 are tax deductible via the Australian Cultural Fund.
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Vinaya Elijala, Adam Dunn, and Alex Dimitriades
Vinaya Elijala, Adam Dunn, and Alex Dimitriades
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Vinaya Elijala, Adam Dunn, and Alex Dimitriades
StorySALOON champions Australian short stories
Our mission is simple: to grow audiences for short fiction and bring these stories to life in unforgettable ways.
At StorySALOON live shows, talented actors take centre stage, performing hand-picked short stories with passion and flair. Each show is a one-of-a-kind mix of lively conversation, devilishly good short stories, and remarkable performances.
StorySALOON Podcast is building a lasting archive of these brilliant Australian works, capturing every vibrant reading and conversation so the short stories live on for new audiences anytime, anywhere.
Founded by writer Jane Messer, StorySALOON is where Australia’s finest short stories find their audience — and where stories, laughter, and community meet.
StorySALOON Live | Previous Shows
at The Vanguard, Newtown
SUPPORTED BY
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StorySALOON is supported by the
NSW Government through Create NSW
Acknowledgement of Country
StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.