The live events for Writers Write : Actors Read are back!Thanks to the generous support of Creative NZ for helping make the second season happen.
In the first monthly event of 2026 the magnificent Michael Hurst will read An Affair of the Heart by Frank Sargeson.And wonderful Michelle Langstone will read Concrete Box from Ingrid Horrocks’ stunning Ockham NZ Book Award’s prize-winning collection All Her Lives.
About the writers and performers:
Frank Sargeson is one of NZ’s foundational short story writers, and his writing helped generate a distinct literary identity, pioneering an authentic working-class vernacular.His fibrolite bach in Takapuna became a focal point for Aotearoa’s mid-century literary community and his story An Affair of the Heart is set on the beach.
Actor and director Michael Hurst has enjoyed a successful career in theatre, film and television for almost 50 years. He is known for his powerful stage performances, his innovative and compelling directing style (especially in Shakespeare and the Greeks) and, internationally, for his much-loved role as Iolaus in the US television series “Hercules – The Legendary Journeys”. Michael is a New Zealand Arts Laureate, and in 2005 he was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (O.N.Z.M.) for his services to theatre and film.
The much-feted Ingrid Horrocks recently won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2026 Ockham NZ Book Awards.Her previous books include the memoir Where We Swim and a literary history Women Wanderers and the Writing of Mobility, as well as two collections of poetry.
Michelle Langstone is an award-winning actor and writer. She has appeared in many film, tv and theatre productions in Aotearoa and Australia, and her writing can be found in most online news and entertainment platforms. She is the author of a collection of essays, and is absolutely in love with books.
Writers Write : Actors Read is curated by Bridget van der Zijpp, supported by Creative NZ, and our friends at The Women’s Bookshop will have books available on the night.
You can listen to 12 episodes of the 2025 season of Writers Write : Actors Read on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, your favourite listening spot or here.
