HomeStory SeriesForbidden Love

Forbidden Love

Forbidden Love was an oral storytelling project dedicated to love in all its forms. Four storytellers worked alongside Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa to perform their stories at a series of live events.

These recordings were collected at an event celebrating love on Valentines Day in 2021. We thank Samantha Leung, Dure Khan, Nadia Heisler Walpole, and Kaya Ortiz for sharing their stories.

This project was funded by the Centre for Stories Founders Circle.

A photograph of Kaya standing before an audience. She is speaking with her hands and smiling. She is wearing a blue dress with a palm leaf pattern on it. Her hair is cut very short on the back and sides, the top is longer and tied back.

Kaya Ortiz – Untying the Knot

"Having grown up in church, we had been taught all our lives that we had to suppress our sexuality and that the only place that we would find that kind of fulfillment was in marriage."

A photograph of Dure standing before an audience. She is wearing a red dress is and holding her hands together in a jovial expression. She has long and thick black hair tied up in a low bun.

Dure Khan – Ajeeba Jinaye

"And on this perfect day, in this perfect apartment, in this perfect suburb I felt something coming up in my stomach that felt a little less than perfect."

Nadia Heisler is standing in front of an audience with her hands reaching out in an excited expression. She is wering a blue dress and has short cropped hair.

Nadia Heisler Walpole – I Did It For Love

"I came here with many dreams, but with one goal. And that was to succeed. I promised myself that no matter what, I wouldn't fail."

Upcoming Events

Aug

Poetry Workshop

Poetry Workshop is a safe and dynamic space where you can craft your poetry and offer feedback to other poets. Hosted by Siobhan Hodge. Book Online

Photo of Franchesca Walker and Zarah Burgess

Jul

Residents in Conversation

Bayswater Cafe Residency writers, Franchesca Walker and Zarah Burgess, chat to Robert Wood about their time at Drip Expresso and share some of the work they produced during their residencies. Book Online

An illustration of books, cups of cofee, a clock, a candle, and a lamp floating in a light sage green background

Aug

Write Night

Do you struggle to carve out distraction free writing time? Are you looking for a safe group environment to work on your writing? Would you like to meet other writers in your community? Then this group is for you! Book Online

Aug

Write Night