Literary Death Match, now in 73 cities worldwide, brings together a mix of four brilliant writers to read their most electric writing for five minutes or less before a live audience and a panel of three all-star judges. After each reading, the judges take turns spouting hilarious commentary about each story, and then select their two favorites to advance to the finals. There, the show trades in its literary sensibility for a comical climax as the finalists play a game (think Pin the Akubra on Banjo Paterson) to determine who will take home the Literary Death Match crown.

Hosted by Literary Death Match creator Adrian Todd Zuniga.

JUDGES: 
Literary Merit: Toni Jordan, award-winning, international best-selling author of Prettier if She Smiled More, Addition (the subject of a major 2024 feature film), Nine Days (winner of Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards) and Our Tiny, Useless Hearts (longlisted for the International Dublin and Voss Literary Awards) 

Performance: Nina Oyama, actor (Deadloch; Utopia), comedian (Taskmaster Australia; Nina Oyama is Coming), screenwriter and AWGIE Award-winner for Koala Man

Intangibles: Reuben Kaye, multi-award winning Australian comedian, singer and writer, he's won the prestigious Offie Award for Best Cabaret in London, Green Room Awards for Best Artist & Best Cabaret Production, and Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Cabaret twice (plus he's a TikTok sensation)

READERS: 
Round 1: 
* Thabani Tshuma, multi-award-winning Zimbabwean writer and performance poet, co-curator of Thin Red Lines and and author of the debut collection, The Gospel of Unmade Creation

* Sez, comedian, musician, writer, producer and content creator who regularly goes viral (300+ million views and counting), she was named as one of Herald Sun's Who to Watch in 2024 

Round 2: 

* Alistair Baldwin, screenwriter, director and playwright named one of Inside Film Magazine's 2024 Rising Talents, he's written for Erotic Stories, The Weekly and Get Krack!n, directed an episode of Latecomers (a 2024 AACTA Award winner), and his debut play Telethon Kid was shortlisted for the Griffin Award 

* Candy Bowers, mischief-maker, writer, creator, musician and the co-creator of global phenomenon Hot Brown Honey. She’s worked as a contributor, actor and sketch writer for the Comedy Channel and the ABC (including Tonightly with Tom Ballard and Get Krack!n)

'Welcome to the new world of literary nights where entertainment is king.' Independent (UK)

'The most entertaining reading series ever.' Los Angeles Times

'Events like Literary Death Match are helping to revitalize the coolitude of the printed word.' Interview Magazine

'As engaging as the best concerts, plays and stand-up comedy sets I’ve ever seen, all rolled into one.' Nashville Scene

Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants. 

• Artist website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Youtube