EAT DRINK AND HEAR GREAT ACTORS READ GREAT STORIES

Jane Clifton, Paul English, Reg Evans, Frank Gallacher, Julie Nihill, Suzanne Shubart and David Tredinnick will present dramatic readings from popular Australian and international literature in an evening of food, wine and culture at the Melbourne Writers Festival. The selections, spanning the globe, offer a mixture of classical and contemporary stories, with both comic and dramatic themes.

This highly respected series, known as "Beyond Cuisine", has played to packed houses at fortyfivedownstairs in Melbourne, Montsalvat in Eltham, the Williamstown Sailing Club in Williamstown, the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, and the Wattle Café in Hurstbridge since its inception early last year.

The Festival event will take place in the upstairs dining room of Bottega (74 Bourke Street, Melbourne) on August 22, 23, 29 and 30, arriving at 5:15pm for a 5:30pm start.

Most of us remember the pleasure of being read a favourite story at bedtime. "Beyond Cuisine" offers grown-ups an opportunity to experience this joy in an adult setting. These readings, however, come across more like a theatrical event rather than a literary one. The actors give performances from the page.

Tickets for "Beyond Cuisine" are $130 per person, which includes a spectacular three-course dinner and wine. Please note that each weekend will feature different actors performing different pieces. We expect these evenings to sell out so, if you would like to come along, we recommend booking promptly on 1300 7222 11 or online at http://www.mwf.com.au