The international live lit phenomenon Literary Death Match will be adjudicated by three all-star judges; Ben Russell, Alex Hines and Reuben Kaye. In its third Melbourne installment, an ad-lib smackdown will decide the ultimate literary champion before the night breaks into an all-in dance party.
Part literary event, part stand-up comedy, part game show, and part spontaneous rave, Literary Death Match brings together four of Melbourne’s punchiest writers to rumble in an edge-of-your-seat live read-off.
The brutal battle of lits is hosted by creator and newly Naarm/Melbourne-based “face to watch” (LA Times) Adrian Todd Zuniga. LA Times has called it “the most entertaining reading series ever”. Interview Magazine wrote it “helps revitalize the coolitude of the printed word”.
Award-winning Melbourne-based writers reading their work for 5 minutes or less on the night are Isabelle Oderberg, Guido Melo, Manisha Anjali, and Scott Limbrick. After each pair of readings the judges deliver commentary, focusing on Literary Merit, Performance and Intangibles.
More about the Judges:
Ben Russell is an award-winning comedian (he won Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2024 Director’s Choice Award), improviser and actor for Thank God You’re Here and Aunty Donna, and the series creator/writer of Hug the Sun
Reuben Kaye, multi-award winning Australian comedian, singer and writer, winner of the prestigious Offie Award for Best Cabaret in London, Green Room Award for Best Artist and Best Cabaret Production, and Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Cabaret twice (plus he’s a TikTok sensation).
Alex Hines, a multi-award-winning comedian, she’s won the 2024 Moosehead Award, Best Independent Theatre Performer 2023 Green Room Awards, the Golden Gibbo 2022 from Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Best Cabaret Production 2022 Green Room Awards.
