October 31, 2023

Centre for Stories is delighted to announce Madison Godfrey and Mararo Wangai as the recipients of the 2023 Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli Fellowship for Writers.

Madison Godfrey is a writer and educator committed to social justice, and in making transgender and disabled joy visible. Their literary achievements include published work in The Guardian, Cordite Poetry Journal, and two books. 

Madison’s debut book “How to Be Held” was published by Burning Eye Books (Bristol, UK) in 2018 and continues to be a bestseller for the publisher.  Their book “Dress Rehearsals,” published by Allen & Unwin, won the 2023 Niall Lucy Award. Dymocks spotlighted it during National Poetry Month, and it was listed as one of the most anticipated books of 2023 by Russh Magazine and the Sydney Morning Herald. In 2023, Madison completed a PhD at Curtin University, and their thesis was recommended for a Chancellor’s Commendation.

During their fellowship Madison will be working to research, draft and edit their manuscript “Bodies That Bleed In The Wrong Direction.” The project was shortlisted in the 2023 WA Premier’s Book Awards, underscoring its literary potential. This collection of essays delves into Madison’s experiences as a non-binary person with chronic pain, endometriosis, and adenomyosis. They aim to explore the intersection of gender and power, especially in the context of medical institutions, with a focus on the experiences of all bodies, not just those that are gender-diverse or disabled.

Mararo Wangai is a Perth-based playwright and actor with a career spanning over a decade in the Australian theatre scene. Originally hailing from Kenya, his creative works have graced the stages of Belvoir, Blue Room, Yirra Yaakin, Stages WA, Playwriting Australia, Barking Gecko, Australian Theatre For Young People, Black Swan, Melbourne Theatre Company, WA Theatre Company, Strut Dance Company, Midland Arts Center, and Fremantle Arts Center.

Mararo’s play ‘Black Brass’ was presented at the 2020 Perth Festival and received two nominations at the 2022 Performing Arts WA Awards, including Best Mainstage Production. He is currently engaged in discussions about the possibility of an international tour for the production in either 2024 or 2025. Mararo won the 2023 Arts Award at the Western Australian Multicultural Awards.

Mararo plans to use his fellowship to complete the final drafts of two new plays: “Always Accrah,” a poignant exploration of a mother-daughter relationship, and complete a play titled ‘The Day in Colour’ which he was commissioned to write in 2022.