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Societal Disconnect

09 Oct
BOOK

ABOUT THE SHOW

Katherine Johnson, Brooke Davis, Sally Piper & Micahael Mohammad Ahmad in conversation with Ashley Hay

What’s the cost of breaking the rules? And what’s the legacy of abuse? These evocative, tense and captivating narratives expose the intricacies and intimacies of family dynamics and reveal how the choices we make can both rewrite the past and reimagine the future.

PART OF BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL

White logo with a bold geometric shape on the left and the text Brisbane Writers Festival in large, white, sans-serif letters on a black background.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Katherine Johnson is a Tasmanian novelist and science writer. Her fifth novel, Every Wild Soul, won the inaugural Australian Fiction Prize. Paris Savages was shortlisted in the ABIA awards and was The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month. The Better Son was a Tasmanian Literary Award winner.

Book cover for Every Wild Soul by Katherine Johnson, featuring underwater green seaweed, a gold award sticker, and endorsements. The background has a blue and green aquatic theme.

Brooke Davis grew up on Wadawurrung Country in Bellbrae, Victoria. Her debut novel Lost & Found was published in 28 countries and received two ABIAs, as well as a WA Premier’s Award. She now resides in Torquay, Victoria where she works as a bookseller. No One’s Looking is her second novel.

A person in a buttoned-up shirt sits at a table with a pink teacup and saucer in front. The text No Ones Looking is written in large purple letters over the image.

Sally Piper is the author of four novels: Grace’s Table, The Geography of Friendship, shortlisted for an Australian Book Industry Award and Bone Memories, shortlisted in the Queensland Literary Awards and longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. Her latest novel is People Like Us.

Book cover for People Like Us by Sally Piper. Colorful stripes with large title text, two chairs—one modern, one classic—are illustrated, and a quote from Jane Harper is at the top.

Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad is the founding director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and the author of three award-winning novels: The Tribe (Giramondo, 2014), The Lebs (Hachette, 2018) and The Other Half of You (Hachette, 2021). Mohammed’s latest novel is Bugger (Hachette, 2026).

A child stands facing a white brick wall with BUGGER and the authors name above. Text reads: brutal, beautiful, heartbreaking. The child holds a melting rainbow-colored ice cream.

Ashley Hay is a writer and editor based in Brisbane.

BOOK

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES

Fri 9 Oct 2026
8:00PM

VENUE

Underground Theatre

TICKETS

Adult
$29.90*
Concession
$25*
*$7.20 transaction fee applies to all ticket purchases

DURATION

60 minutes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Suitable for all ages

18 months and under free on the knee; all other ages must hold a valid ticket

ACCESSIBILITY

  • wheelchair_accessible

Accessiblity Information at Brisbane Powerhouse

Presented by Brisbane Writers Festival in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Katherine Johnson is a Tasmanian novelist and science writer. Her fifth novel, Every Wild Soul, won the inaugural Australian Fiction Prize. Paris Savages was shortlisted in the ABIA awards and was The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month. The Better Son was a Tasmanian Literary Award winner.

Book cover for Every Wild Soul by Katherine Johnson, featuring underwater green seaweed, a gold award sticker, and endorsements. The background has a blue and green aquatic theme.

Brooke Davis grew up on Wadawurrung Country in Bellbrae, Victoria. Her debut novel Lost & Found was published in 28 countries and received two ABIAs, as well as a WA Premier’s Award. She now resides in Torquay, Victoria where she works as a bookseller. No One’s Looking is her second novel.

A person in a buttoned-up shirt sits at a table with a pink teacup and saucer in front. The text No Ones Looking is written in large purple letters over the image.

Sally Piper is the author of four novels: Grace’s Table, The Geography of Friendship, shortlisted for an Australian Book Industry Award and Bone Memories, shortlisted in the Queensland Literary Awards and longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award. Her latest novel is People Like Us.

Book cover for People Like Us by Sally Piper. Colorful stripes with large title text, two chairs—one modern, one classic—are illustrated, and a quote from Jane Harper is at the top.

Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad is the founding director of Sweatshop Literacy Movement and the author of three award-winning novels: The Tribe (Giramondo, 2014), The Lebs (Hachette, 2018) and The Other Half of You (Hachette, 2021). Mohammed’s latest novel is Bugger (Hachette, 2026).

A child stands facing a white brick wall with BUGGER and the authors name above. Text reads: brutal, beautiful, heartbreaking. The child holds a melting rainbow-colored ice cream.

Ashley Hay is a writer and editor based in Brisbane.

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