Oma, bubba, nanna, gran – whatever we know them by, our grand and great grandmothers leave an indelible mark. Yet their matriarchal reach and rich histories are often untold or defined by stereotype, undermining the complexity and vibrancy of their lives. In this panel, three writers re-imagine their grandmothers’ lives across genre, from poetry to prose vignette and theatre performance.
Artists
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Ramona Koval
Ramona Koval is a writer and journalist. Her most recent books include A Letter to Layla: Travels to our deep past and near future (Text, 2020), Bloodhound: Searching for my father (Text, 2015). Her essay ‘Goodbye and Good Luck’ appeared in the collection Split: True Stories of Leaving, Loss and New Beginnings, Edited by Lee Kofman. (Ventura, 2019) and ‘For what has been and what will be’ appeared in Grandmothers, Edited by Helen Elliot, (Text Publishing, 2020). She is an honorary fellow in the Department of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University.
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Elise Esther Hearst
Elise Esther Hearst is an award-winning Melbourne-based playwright, author and performer, working and living on Boon Wurrung country. Her debut novel, One Day We’re All Going to Die, was published by Harper Collins in 2023 and was shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year Award 2024. Her theatre work has appeared at various theatres around Australia, most recently including ‘A Very Jewish Christmas Carol’ (Melbourne Theatre Company) and ‘Yentl’, which won the Green Room Award for Outstanding Writing 2023 (Malthouse Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne).