Austen Con is a much-loved celebration of novelist Jane Austen, now in its third year.
Jane was born in 1775 and wrote from a young age. She initially began in order to amuse her family!
Her six major novels including 'Pride And Prejudice' are set among the British landed gentry and are celebrated across the globe for their wit, romance and social commentary.
Ticketholders to this year's Austen Con can partake in workshops, from bonnet-making and painting, to dancing and baking. . With an array of local and international guest presenters and expert enthusiasts.
The programme across the one-day festival includes podcast talks, an introduction to the landscapes of Austen's writing, Austen-twisted cabaret and burlesque, improvisation with Melbourne's Soothplayers, and a panel of Austen-enthused creatives matching Austen's novels with outlandish adaptation pitches!
Image © Jacinta Scadden
"There are a lot of similarities between Austen’s life and some of our lockdown/iso experiences at the moment," Writer and Artistic Director Sharmini Kumar says. "We’re all trying to find ways to entertain ourselves. I love fan conventions and I love the real mix of things that go into them - fan art, merchandise, meeting other fans. I wanted to do something for Austen fans that captured that - the community, the fun, the thoughtfulness."
"This year we also have increased accessibility due to the online format, including participation from vendors and contributors from various continents. It’s exciting. We’re keen to use this year’s event to continue to offer more accessibility into the future."
Also included in the ticket is access to the Mansfield Park Market Hub and the 24 Carrot Productions online Jane Austen-themed escape room.
Check out more about the programme here.
