Sydney Ideas X Seymour Centre, Red Line Productions in association with Christine Dunstan Productions present
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH JANE HUTCHEON
Featuring Benjamin Law, Debra Keenahan, Tim Dean and Jeremiah Edagbami
Australia’s pre-eminent thinkers go head-to-head with celebrated journalist Jane Hutcheon to draw out the difficult conversations of our day.
Join us for an evening with two parts:
Part 1: Jane brings her unique approach to get to know each panellist, exploring the art of conversation and difficult topics from each of their perspectives.
Part 2: You, the audience submit your difficult questions to be wrestled with by the panel, like a collective advice columnist, under the guiding hand of Jane as conversation ringmaster.
BYO Difficult Conversations: Everything is on the table.
Jane Hutcheon is a writer/performer and the author of Rebel Talk, the Art of Powerful Conversations. A former foreign correspondent and TV presenter, she created the ABC’s acclaimed TV interview show One Plus One where she interviewed 500 amazing people over a decade. In 2019, Jane toured twenty-one theatres across Australia and New Zealand with actor Sir David Suchet in his retrospective show and discovered that live conversations in theatres produced a magical cocktail of electricity and intimacy. So, join Jane and the panel, live in the theatre - the church of empathy and possibility! No topic is too difficult and no question too stupid to ask.
Schedule of Panellists
Wed 11 Sep Debra Keenahan, Jeremiah Edagbami and Benjamin Law
Thu 12 Sep Debra Keenahan, Jeremiah Edagbami and Tim Dean
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mark Scott is unfortunately no longer available to be part of this event but we are delighted to announce and welcome Tim Dean as one of the panellists on Thursday 12 September. Scroll down to learn more about Tim Dean.
Design and illustration: Meiying Saw
Producer Sydney Ideas X Seymour Centre, Red Line Productions in association with Christine Dunstan Productions
Ringmaster Jane Hutcheon
Featuring Benjamin Law, Dr Debra Keenahan, Jeremiah Edagbami and Tim Dean
Benjamin is a writer, broadcaster, screenwriter and producer. He writes a weekly column for the Good Weekend where he interviews public figures on dicey topics which makes for some very interesting conversations. Benjamin is the inspiration, writer and producer behind three seasons of the award-winning TV series The Family Law and was co-writer and co-executive producer of Wellmania (2023 Netflix). Benjamin is no stranger to difficult conversations. He holds a PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from QUT.
Debra Keenahan is an artist, psychologist, author and disability advocate with two PhD in psychology and visual arts. Her provocative mixed-media installations have been exhibited in group and solo events and her video-work was selected for the Cannes Short Film Festival in 2022. Debra’s theatre production Othering debuted at Sydney Festival 2023. Debra’s work draws on her lived experience with achondroplasia dwarfism.
Jeremiah Edagbami is a leading debater, debating judge and coach as well as being a student studying a Bachelor of Laws and Science in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong. Among his many accolades and roles, Jeremiah has been ranked as a world-leading university debater and works as a volunteer with the NSW Department of Education.
Tim Dean is a public philosopher, author and facilitator. He is the Senior Philosopher at The Ethics Centre, where he holds the Manos Chair in Ethics. Tim has a Doctorate in philosophy on the evolution of morality and specialises in ethics, public philosophy and critical thinking. He is an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney and the author of How We Became Human: And Why We Need to Change, published by Pan Macmillan. He is also a veteran science writer and editor and has worked for outlets such as The Conversation and edited magazines including Cosmos and Australian Life Scientist. He is the recipient of the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Professionals’ Award for his work on philosophy in the public sphere.
Reginald Theatre
| Wed 11 Sep | 7pm |
|---|---|
| Thu 12 Sep | 7pm |
Panellists vary, please refer to the schedule for more information.
Approximately 125 minutes (including 20-minute interval).
| Adult | $39 |
|---|---|
| Concession (Full Time Student) - ID Required | $29 |
$6 transaction fee applies.
*Please be prepared to present corresponding ID at your event if requested by our staff. Read more.
Recommended for ages 16+. Contains adult themes and profanity. Photography and filming prohibited.
Topics that may be discussed: Suicide, Death, Culture and Religion.
The only authorised ticket seller for this event is Seymour Centre. If you purchase from an unauthorised seller, you risk that your tickets may be fake or invalid.
Reginald Theatre
| Wed 11 Sep | 7pm |
|---|---|
| Thu 12 Sep | 7pm |
Panellists vary, please refer to the schedule for more information.
Approximately 125 minutes (including 20-minute interval).
| Adult | $39 |
|---|---|
| Concession (Full Time Student) - ID Required | $29 |
$6 transaction fee applies.
*Please be prepared to present corresponding ID at your event if requested by our staff. Read more.
Recommended for ages 16+. Contains adult themes and profanity. Photography and filming prohibited.
Topics that may be discussed: Suicide, Death, Culture and Religion.
Producer Sydney Ideas X Seymour Centre, Red Line Productions in association with Christine Dunstan Productions
Ringmaster Jane Hutcheon
Featuring Benjamin Law, Dr Debra Keenahan, Jeremiah Edagbami and Tim Dean
Benjamin is a writer, broadcaster, screenwriter and producer. He writes a weekly column for the Good Weekend where he interviews public figures on dicey topics which makes for some very interesting conversations. Benjamin is the inspiration, writer and producer behind three seasons of the award-winning TV series The Family Law and was co-writer and co-executive producer of Wellmania (2023 Netflix). Benjamin is no stranger to difficult conversations. He holds a PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from QUT.
Debra Keenahan is an artist, psychologist, author and disability advocate with two PhD in psychology and visual arts. Her provocative mixed-media installations have been exhibited in group and solo events and her video-work was selected for the Cannes Short Film Festival in 2022. Debra’s theatre production Othering debuted at Sydney Festival 2023. Debra’s work draws on her lived experience with achondroplasia dwarfism.
Jeremiah Edagbami is a leading debater, debating judge and coach as well as being a student studying a Bachelor of Laws and Science in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong. Among his many accolades and roles, Jeremiah has been ranked as a world-leading university debater and works as a volunteer with the NSW Department of Education.
Tim Dean is a public philosopher, author and facilitator. He is the Senior Philosopher at The Ethics Centre, where he holds the Manos Chair in Ethics. Tim has a Doctorate in philosophy on the evolution of morality and specialises in ethics, public philosophy and critical thinking. He is an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney and the author of How We Became Human: And Why We Need to Change, published by Pan Macmillan. He is also a veteran science writer and editor and has worked for outlets such as The Conversation and edited magazines including Cosmos and Australian Life Scientist. He is the recipient of the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Professionals’ Award for his work on philosophy in the public sphere.
The only authorised ticket seller for this event is Seymour Centre. If you purchase from an unauthorised seller, you risk that your tickets may be fake or invalid.