Gravel is a brilliant new collection of short stories from the best selling author Peter Goldsworthy. The characters in these unsettling stories are drawn outside their comfort zone into situations that are sometimes amusing, sometimes undignifying but never quite what they expect.

Peter Goldsworthy grew up in various Australian country towns, finishing his schooling in Darwin. Since graduating in medicine from the University of Adelaide in 1974, he has divided his working time equally between medicine and writing. He has won major literary awards across a range of genres: poetry, short story, the novel, in opera, and most recently in theatre.

His novels have been translated into many European and Asian languages; his most recent, Three Dog Night, won the faw Christina Stead Award. He wrote the libretti for the Richard Mills operas Summers of the Seventeenth Doll and Batavia, the latter winning Mills and Goldsworthy the 2002 Robert Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work, and a Green Room Award for Special Creative Achievement. Three Dog Night and Honk If You Are Jesus have been adapted for the stage, the latter winning the 2006 Advertiser Oscart Award for Best Play, and the 2006 Ruby Award for Best New Work. Five of his novels are currently in development as movies, and two more for the stage.

Pre-paid bookings essential. Adults $8.80, pensioners and students $6.60 (passes must be shown). Enquiries phone 9978 4091.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Purcell