We meet Paul Capsis, one of the superstars of the Australian stage, then hear about Emma Donoghue's latest novel, The Wonder. We head to Indonesia for a dark and whimsical tale of an elephant, and then journey beyond the Vinyl Frontier with ABC Sound Librarians James Lee and Michael Munson.

We learn about a new performance work by renowned choreographer Gideon Obazanek and performer Brian Lipson; then we discover July's People by Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer, which tells the story of the Smales, a white middle-class family from Johannesburg that finds itself caught up in a black revolution in apartheid South Africa; and finally we hear about Ochre Contemporary Dance Company's latest work, Kaya, which combines traditional Noongar dance with Indian, Maori, contemporary and classical styles.

Acclaimed pianist Roger Woodward plays for you; then we meet Criss Canning, one of Australia's best still life artists, and her husband David Glenn, a nurseryman who grows rare flowers. Then we're off to explore Dark Park, an industrial art wonderland on the Hobart docks, before delving into the ABC Sound Library in search of the very best works inspired by birdsong.

Get ready for the Great Empathy Debate! This is a debate inspired by research into the effects of reading literary versus genre fiction. The sharpest minds in Australian fiction will argue for or against the proposition that reading literary fiction improves empathy.

Tim Winton's latest book, The Boy Behind the Curtain, is a collection of true stories, about his life and the things that matter to him - his family, the ocean, human kindness and books.

Helen Garner opens up about human darkness, ukuleles, and the joys of grandchildren, Helen Simonson's new novel, The Summer Before the War, and US writer Kaitlyn Greenidge responds to Lionel Shriver's Brisbane Writers Festival keynote in which she complained about identity politics dictating what writers can and can't write about.

We meet the fantastic Indian poet Jeet Thayil; then we discuss Joseph Conrad's classic novella Heart of Darkness, which tells the story of Marlow and his journey up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, an enigmatic and rogue ivory trader; and finally Tracy K. Smith on poetry and memoir.

A lively panel discussion about the enduring appeal of Shakespeare's works, four centuries after his death.

International star of the violin, Ray Chen is back in Australia for a series of concerts; we meet Carrillo Gantner, the grandson of famous philanthropist and founder of the Myer department stores, Sidney Myer; and we journey beyond the Vinyl Frontier with ABC Sound Librarians James Lee and Michael Munson to listen to some eclectic records that feature the bagpipe!

A double bill of one-person shows by Maurial Spearim and Ian Michael delve into Australia's Aboriginal history and how traumatic events in the past continue to affect Aboriginal people today; the ins and outs of sending your beloved manuscript to a publisher where it will join the slush pile and may never see the light of day again; and The Phoenix Years, Madeleine O'Dea's book about art, resistance and the making of modern China.