Le Story Soirée
An open mic night for storytellers, inspired by the literary cafés of Paris.
Friday evenings in Brunswick. A room full of writers. Stories shared out loud. The kind of night where something shifts, where voices find courage, where strangers become friends over the brave act of reading their words into the air.
During time spent in Paris, I discovered something magical: literary events happening every night of the week if you wanted them, writers gathering in cafés and bookshops to share their work, audiences who understood that listening is as much an art as speaking. I came home carrying that energy, wanting to create something similar here in Melbourne - a regular gathering where our community of writers could come together, read their work out loud, and be truly heard.
Since early 2024, Le Story Soirée has grown into exactly that. A steady community of writers spanning ages from their twenties to their eighties, from fledgeling writers nervously reading for the first time to established, many-times-published authors. Poets sit beside short story writers, playwrights share space with comedians. Some bring polished pieces they've worked on for months, others read personal stories scribbled on the tram ride in, dreams dug up from archived notebooks, fragments still raw and new.
Each event has a theme - loose, open to interpretation, an invitation rather than a rulebook. Here, we daresay we the most supportive audience you'll find anywhere. Many people have read and spoken their words out loud for the very first time on this stage. You're always welcome to come and simply listen, to let the stories wash over you. Either way, it's always a beautiful evening where you meet wonderful people, and hear stories that just might only be read aloud this once.
What to Expect
When: Third Friday of every second month, 6:30-9pm
Where: The Brunswick Green - Brunswick, VIC
The Evening's Flow:
6:30-7pm: Doors open. Mingle, settle in, grab yourself a drink. If you'd like to read, put your name in the hat (completely optional!)
7-9pm: The readings begin. Each reader has up to 5 minutes to share their work in any format - prose, poetry, spoken word, whatever form your story takes. There's a short break about halfway through for breathing and connection.
After the final reading, we close with a brief message and time to chat with new and old friends.
Interested in co-hosting a Story Soirée?
We're all about celebrating our local community of writers, artists, and thoughtful humans, and we're always open to collaboration.
To express your interest, please apply here.
