The Swallows

Written and Directed
by Sandra Fiona Long

THEATRE

Clues beckon. Constant yearning.  And lately my shoulder blades have been hurting.  Almost like they want to sprout wings…

A genre bending, poetic vocal theatre work, created by Sandra Fiona Long with a team crossing forms and generations.  From an intricate sound universe constructed of voice, strings and objects created live by renowned actor Helen Morse, sublime vocalist/performer Ria Soemardjo and accomplished cellist Helen Mountfort (My Friend the Chocolate Cake, Not Drowning Waving), the story of Aunty emerges.  Empowered by connection with nature through her daily walks, she is ready to fly from the pressures of her built up environment, childhood memories and old patterns. But the landscape, altered and damaged by her ancestors, demands attention. And the calling of forgotten creeks running deep below in pipes is loud. Eventually it will take over.

Designed by contemporary artist and installation maker Joanne Mott and lighting designer Shane Grant, within a transforming environmental world, this work dives deep into the impact of our changing landscapes, colonisation, and loss of our waterways on our humanity, and the potential we all have to fly free, while the landscape gets its own back.

Creative Team

Writer/Director
Sandra Fiona Long

Performer/Co-Creators
Ria Soemardjo, Helen Morse, Helen Mountfort

Designer
Joanne Mott

Lighting designer
Shane Grant

Production manager/creative logistics
Cole McKenna

Assistant stage manager/Operator
Aaron Carey-Long

Producer
Kath Papas Productions
with Kath Papas and Taka Takiguchi

Image by Darren Gill