Trent Dalton's Love Stories

“I believe in touch. I believe in song. I believe she remembers him. I believe the perfect girl can always meet the perfect boy. I believe we are not alone in the universe.”  

A father prepares himself for the day he lets go of his daughter’s hand. A young man breaks up with his girlfriend so they can both follow their dreams. A couple play nice in public to hide the fractures at home. A woman rebuilds herself along with a flood-devastated city. A working mum contemplates taking the photographs of her late husband down from the fridge. A grandmother dreams of seeing her grandson’s face. A renowned 100-year-old scientist ponders the one great earthly puzzle he was never able to solve: 'What is love?' 

Inspired by a personal moment of profound love and generosity, bestselling author – and one of Australia's finest journalists – Trent Dalton spent two months in 2021 gathering stories on his sky-blue 1960s Olivetti typewriter, on a prominent street corner in Brisbane’s CBD.

Speaking to Australians from all walks of life, he asked them one simple thing: 'Can you please tell me a love story?' 

What followed was Dalton’s unashamedly joyous collection of Love Stories, and the creative team behind the smash-hit page-to-stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe (Sam Strong and Tim McGarry) reuniting to bring to life Dalton’s latest warm, wise, poignant, funny and moving story about love, in all its guises.  

“Love is a universal access point to the soul. Get any earthling from anywhere on earth talking about what they love and you will get them talking deeply about their life. Because love is life.

To tell a love story is to tell a story of your life.

Maybe the defining story. Pain. Glory. Rage. Regret. Sorrow. Passion. Joy. Wonder. Meaning. Love. Life. All of life can be found in a single stranger’s love story. And all of life can be found in this play.”
- Trent Dalton