Show Notes
Welcome to the first of our in-depth conversations, 'In the Saloon With...', where StorySALOON host Jane Messer meets with an author and actor from the live show for a deep-dive into the writing of the short story and the actor's performance of it.
In this episode we talk with Nic Low, author of 'Octopus' and Taofia Pelesasa, who read the story live for StorySALOON's April 2025 show.
Based in Melbourne and New Zealand, Nic Low's Ngāi Tahu Māori and European heritage shape the short story 'Octopus', which is set in Rotorua on New Zealand's South Island. Low is the author of three acclaimed books, his short story collection Arms Race, which includes the story 'Octopus'; Uprising, and Little Doomsdays.
'Octopus' is about a rowdy road gang and an octopus, a story in which myth and reality powerfully collide. It is read by Taofia Pelesasa, a Western Sydney creative of Tokelauan and Samoan heritage. Pelesasa has worked as an actor, writer and filmmaker in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Samoa. His short film, Humans of the Islands, (CoconetTV.com) explores the impacts of rising sea levels on Pasifika island futures, a topic which he discusses in this episode. Jane Messer is the host of StorySALOON Live and StorySALOON Podcast.
More from StorySALOON
We're wrapping up our first year of growing the audience for Australian short stories and writers. Check out the 24 episodes we've produced this year and head to our website to subscribe to our e-news for updates on the new live shows, regional tours and podcast episodes which we're underway planning for in 2026. StorySALOON: Short Stories, Centre Stage was made possible in 2025 with the support of Australian Government through its arts and advisory body Creative Australia; the NSW Government through Create NSW; and Copyright Agency Cultural Fund. Thank you to our partners and collaborators NIDA, Better Read Than Dead, Macquarie University's Faculty of Arts PACE program, The Vanguard, Echidna Audio and All The Best Radio. Team credit: Diana Cordeiro, Snow Tuyet Vong, and Tamsin Navra; and interns Minh Nathan To, Matilda Beven, Miguelle Rodriguez and Ethan Davies. StorySALOON is hosted by Jane Messer. Find out more about StorySALOON's live shows and podcasts at www.storysaloon.com.auSubscribe to StorySALOON Podcast and follow us on socials. StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.
In our latest 'In the SALOON with…', host Jane Messer talks with writers Luke Johnson and Michelle Hamadache. We delve into their short stories 'Ferocious Animals' and 'The Crane Flies', their creative processes, writing craft, and discuss why literary journals have a key role for creative writers and readers. Luke Johnson is the author of the short-story collection Ferocious Animals (Recent Works Press) which takes its title from today’s short story, and an acclaimed poetry collection titled Kangaroo Unbound (Puncher & Wattman). He has won or been listed for numerous national prizes over his writing life, including the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, and is the incoming fiction editor for the journal, Southerly. Michelle Hamadache is a writer of short stories, essays and reviews, with publications in Australian, British and US journals. She’s had short stories long listed for the Elizabeth Jolley and short-listed for the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Michelle is also a lecturer in creative writing at Macquarie University and has been a fiction editor with the journals Southerly and Mascara Literary Review. Here are the links to the two journals mentioned in this episode: Southerly literary magazine <https://southerlylitmag.com.au> and Mascara Literary Review <https://www.mascarareview.com>StorySALOON is hosted by Jane Messer. Find out more about StorySALOON's live shows and podcasts at <www.storysaloon.com.au> Subscribe to StorySALOON podcast, and follow us on socials.StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.
In this episode we’re going to hear the short story ‘The Crane Flies’ by Michelle Hamadache, read by Charlotte Salusinszky at StorySALOON's Nov 4, 2025 show. Michelle Hamadache is a writer of short stories, essays and reviews, with publications in Australian, British and US journals. She’s had short stories long listed for the Elizabeth Jolley and short-listed for the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Michelle is also a lecturer in creative writing at Macquarie University and has been a fiction editor with the journals Southerly and Mascara Literary Review. Reading the story is the talented Charlotte Salusinszky —actor, writer, and theatre-maker —who has worked with Griffin Theatre’s emerging playwright program, with PACT, and Q Theatre. Her recent acting work includes Mercury Poisoning at KXT theatre, where I first saw her perform, and Shakespeare in Love at New Theatre. Her passion for stories about survival made her a perfect choice for this short story. ‘The Crane Flies’ is a story that takes us to Italy ostensibly in 1991 but with the myths of Dante’s inferno licking at the story’s edges. This is a rich, literary tale that’s completely contemporary with its themes of illegal immigration and wage theft, but also wonderfully gothic in style. StorySALOON is hosted by Jane Messer. Find out more about StorySALOON's live shows and podcasts at www.storysaloon.com.auSubscribe to StorySALOON Podcast and follow us on socials. StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.
In this episode we’re going to hear the short story ‘Ferocious Animals’ by Luke Johnson, read by Bayley Prendergast. Johnson is the author of the short-story collection Ferocious Animals (Recent Works Press) which takes its title from today’s short story, and an acclaimed poetry collection titled Kangaroo Unbound (Puncher & Wattman). He has won or been listed for numerous national prizes over his writing life, including the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. His short story ‘Ferocious Animals’ is read for us by Bayley Prendergast. Bayley is a rising talent who has had roles in numerous stage productions and television shows since graduating from the Actors Centre Australia. Roles have included Fearsome Creatures at the Old Fitz, Beautiful Thing at the New Theatre, and The Inheritance, at the Seymour Centre, and the Australian premiere of Champions. His screen credits include the Stan original shows BUMP and Watching You, the Fox Showcase series The Twelve and the short film WORM which was selected for Cinequest’s North American film festival. 'Ferocious Animals' is a gripping, intimate story set in small town suburbia on a Grand Final Day, about a father who should know better on Grand Final Day, a young son who idolises him—until he doesn’t —and a mother who exerts great power in the flinging of a worn slipper. The story was performed at StorySALOON's November 4, 2025 show at The Vanguard, Newtown. 'Ferocious Animals' was first published in Griffith Review journal, Number 53, 2016. StorySALOON is hosted by Jane Messer. Find out more about StorySALOON's live shows and podcasts at www.storysaloon.com.au StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.
In this episode we hear 'Zucchini' written and read by Monikka Eliah. Eliah is a talented emerging writer and playwright from Fairfield, located Sydney's western suburbs. Monikka has published short stories, poetry and essays in Australian literary journals and sites including SBS Voices, Meanjin, Southerly, and Kill Your Darlings, and as an emerging playwright and fiction writer has received new work development awards and residencies from the Wheeler Centre and Creative Australia, National Theatre of Parramatta’s Page to Stage program, CuriousWorks Breakthrough Screen Writing Program, Netflix and Co-curious’ On The Brightside Screenwriting Program and STC’s Rough Draft. Much of her work reflects on her Assyrian heritage and contemporary life in Fairfield. The story needed an Assyrian performer, and so we asked Monikka to read her own story at StorySALOON’s November 7 show.You can read Monikka's short story 'Zucchini', online at Meanjin, Summer 2021: <meanjin.com.au/fiction/zucchini/> StorySALOON is hosted by Jane Messer. Find out more about StorySALOON's live shows and podcasts at www.storysaloon.com.au Subscribe to StorySALOON Podcast and follow us on socials.StorySALOON acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, as we create, perform and listen on unceded Gadigal land.