Author event with a difference

MOUNT Gambier Library is delighted to present acclaimed writer, performer, comedian and funeral celebrant Tracy Crisp, who will unveil her memoir Pearls, on Thursday 30 July at 6:30pm at Metro Bakery and Café.

Pearls is Tracy Crisp’s third book. Originally performed as a collection of coming-of-age memoir monologues, the work has also been reimagined as an award-winning visual arts installation.

Across its pages, Pearls explores themes of grief, creative ambition, marriage and parenthood, and the evolving relationship between mother and daughter, weaving these elements into a rich and complex tapestry of human experience.

“This is a first for us; presenting an author who will, in part, perform her memoir,” City of Mount Gambier Community Development Coordinator Kristi Brooks said.

“Tracy is a compelling and insightful storyteller with a wry sense of humour and refreshing candour. Following recent sell-out performances at Adelaide Fringe 2026, we are excited to bring a ‘Fringe in July’ experience to Mount Gambier.”

In Pearls, Tracy returns to her childhood home in Port Pirie following the death of her father. As she sorts through his belongings, she searches for her late mother’s missing pearls; lost after her mother’s fatal car accident and last worn by Tracy on her wedding day.

As the narrative unfolds, Tracy navigates significant life transitions: relocating her young family overseas and later returning home, watching her sons grow into adulthood, witnessing her beloved grandfather’s decline with dementia, and experiencing shifts in close friendships. Throughout, she is haunted by her mother’s unfulfilled dreams and reflects on the alternate paths her own life might have taken.

“I want to show how dark times shape us in the most profound and meaningful ways, and remind people that moving from poignancy to humour is not only normal, but necessary,” Tracy said.

Bookings are essential for this free event. To book please contact the Mount Gambier Library on 8721 2540 or book online via the Library’s website www.mountgambier.sa.gov.au/Library under ‘Programs and Events’. A full bar and food service will be available at Metro Bakery and Café.