A Merrigong Theatre Company production
Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly)
By Kirli Saunders
A breathtaking work from one of Australia’s most dynamic, young First Nations voices.
Writer’s Note
I’m writing this from Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country, where salt stains the sun-kissed sand and the sea nourishes us. I’m writing this with love and reverence for the Elders past and present here.
This precious Country is core to Yandha Djanbay – a Dharawal phrase which means to go slowly. For me, the connection to land sea and sky, to family and community and to culture is a balm and a blessing at all times, and especially in hardship.
My work centres around this notion. Yandha Djanbay gathers works of the last five years—poetry from my collections Returning (Magabala, 2023) and Eclipse (Allen & Unwin, 2025), songs woven in from Cooee, with monologues to honour my lived experience.
This work is for women, for Black women, for Black queer women– for the community. It’s a work that holds space for survivors, and for confronting the weight of violence, racism and sexism that our Mob face. There’s grief and rage in spades, but also joy here, as resistance, to honour what our Old People fought for.
It’s a collection of anecdotes, and personal stories, some that I’ve never shared before. Stepping into theatre has been a process of discovery, of learning how to be vulnerable in new ways. With Leland as Dramaturg and Director, and Tad’s incredible visuals, I’ve shaped this work into something that feels deeply personal but expansive.
At its heart, this piece is about offering a space for reflection, for feeling seen, for remembering that even in difficult times, there is always a way through— especially when Country and Community hold us.
This work wouldn’t be possible without Leland Kean, Tad Souden, Lillie Paton, Dom Hinton, Mark Chester Harding, Corey Potter, Annie Clapton, Bonnie Curtis, Danielle Moylan, Aunty Sharralyn Robinson, Aunty Barb Nicholson, Aunty Joyce Saunders, Nadia Neal, Maiquilla Brown, Alex Simpson, Leanne Veitch, Lulu Littler, Emma Arnold, Riley McElhone, Cliodhna Maguire, Bonnie Venables, Daisy Venables, Tracey Turner-Smith, Lewis Davidsohn, Magabala Books and Allen & Unwin.
To those who have walked this path with me, who have held space for these stories— Yadingji.
– Kirli Saunders
An artist living in Naarm (Melbourne)
Kirli is a proud Gunai Woman who rarely stays in her lane.
She’s an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist, writer, singer-songwriter and consultant. She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to the arts (2022). Kirli creates to connect, to make change. Her nine celebrated books, among others, include Eclipse (Allen & Unwin, 2025), Returning (Magabala, 2023) and Bindi (Magabala, 2020). Kirli is currently a writer for ABC’s Playschool and is a renowned Visual Artist working in public art with Fremantle and Sa Biennales, Google, Sydney Opera House and NSW Health. Her solo theatre work, Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly), will tour nationally in 2027. Kirli forms one half of Cooee, who released their debut album Messengers in 2026.
Stay up to date with Kirli’s work at kirlisaunders.com/
Katie Sfetkidis
Leland is the Artistic Development Manager for Merrigong Theatre Company. He has over twenty-five years professional experience as a Director, Producer, Designer, Dramaturg, Curator and Arts Manager. For Merrigong he has directed productions of Lost Boys 2018, The Surfer and the Mermaid 2019, Dear Diary and As Luck Would Have It 2022, A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2023 and A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen 2025. He produced the national tour of Letters to Lindy in 2018 and has driven the development of Merrigong Strangeways Ensemble and Merrigong’s artist development program MERRIGONGX.
Byron J Scullin
Lillie Paton is a proud Ngunnawal woman with strong Irish heritage, honouring a rich lineage of storytelling. She is a multidisciplinary artist based on Dharawal and Gadigal Country, who creates culturally safe, impact-driven work across producing, photography, film, creative direction, and writing. Holding a double Bachelor’s Degree in Media Communications and Creative Arts from UOW, Lillie is dedicated to amplifying Blak, female, and marginalised voices through work grounded in care, & connection. She is a freelance photographer and is the Emerging First Nations Producer at Merrigong Theatre Company, where she has worked on Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly) (2025), and produced Arawarra (2026).
He/They
Tad is a filmmaker based on Dharawal Country. He graduated a Bachelor of Digital Media from UOW in 2014, and has operated professionally throughout this space ever since. Tad is an advocate for mental health awareness, and much of his work centres around caring for people and place. More of Tad’s work can be seen on his website tadsouden.com or his Instagram @tadsouden
Mark is an illustrator and musician based in Gadigal/Sydney. He’s illustrated for The Betoota Advocate, Scholastic, The National and more. As a musician he regularly performs live with Jack River, Jem Cassar Daley and Annie Hamilton. He and Kirli released their debut album together under the moniker Cooee, in 2025.
Denni Francisco
Dominic is a Wollongong-based Sound and Vision Designer. He graduated from SAE Institute with a Bachelor of Audio, where he was able to work on sound design for several short films. Credits include Sound Designer and Vision Realiser for Arawarra 2026, Sound and Vision Realiser for Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly) 2025, and Sound and Vision Designer for A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen (Or How to Make the Perfect One-Pot Chicken Curry) 2025.
Chandler Connell
Corey is the Senior Lighting Technician at Merrigong. He has assisted numerous community and touring groups across Wollongong and Sydney in bringing their shows to life, from adapting them for new venues to collaborating on their development from the ground up. Recently, Corey has had the pleasure of designing for Arawarra (2026), Squatch Watch: LIVE (2025), and Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly) (2025).
| Artistic Director / CEO | Simon Hinton |
| General Manager | Rachel Francis |
| Executive Team Coordinator | Nicole McLennan |
| Artistic Development Manager | Leland Kean |
| Producer – New Works & Touring | Annie Clapton |
| First Nations Emerging Producer | Lillie Paton |
| First Nations Engagement Coordinator | Danielle Moylan |
| Director – Strangeways Ensemble | Anne-Louise Rentell |
| Artistic Associate – Artist Wellbeing | Bonnie Curtis |
| Program Manager | Penny Watts |
| Program Coordinator – Hirer Events | Dayna Huber & Jasmina Naumovski |
| Brand & Audience Strategy Manager | Amandine Durrant |
| Marketing Manager | Samantha Conridge |
| Marketing Coordinator – Artistic | Grace De Liseo |
| Marketing Coordinator – Digital Content | Mina Albert |
| Marketing Coordinator – Strategic & Development | Eileen Stapleton |
| Production & Technical Manager | Pip Rigter |
| Technical Lead | Elly Upsall |
| Senior Lighting Technician | Corey Potter |
| Technical Coordinator | Hayley Metcalf |
| Theatre Technician | Annika Bertinat |
| Facilities Coordinator | James Clarke |
| Box Office Manager | Linda Hanbury |
| Box Office Supervisor | Eliza Swan |
| Food & Beverage Services Manager | Kellie George |
| Food & Beverage Coordinator | Graeme McLuskey |
| Front of House Manager | Flynn Mapplebeck |
| Finance & Business Manager | Eleise Hale |
| Accounts Coordinator | Janki Dave & Jeannine Mulligan |
Key Information
To ensure patrons enjoy the performance, management asks you to note:
- Camera and mobile devices should not be used during the performance
- Switch off alarms and mobile phones prior to the performance
To ensure patrons enjoy the performance, management asks you to note:
• Camera and mobile devices should not be used during the performance
• Switch off alarms and mobile phones prior to the performance
The management reserves the right to refuse admission and ask patrons to leave, also to make any alterations to the cast which may be rendered necessary by illness of other unavoidable causes.
Patrons are advised that the ILLAWARRA PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE has an EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE, a FIRE ALARM system and EXIT passageways.
In case of an alert, patrons should remain calm, look for the closest GREEN EXIT sign, listen to and comply with directions given by the trained in-house attendants and move in an orderly fashion to the open spaces outside the building.
The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre is a company limited by guarantee and supported by Wollongong City Council.
Merrigong is dedicated to delivering experiences that are relevant and impactful to the diverse people of our region. We invest in a range of programs with community groups, schools and artists that deliver tangible outcomes through paid residencies, employment and the development of new theatre work.
There are many ways that you can support this work, from tax-deductible donations, to corporate partnerships, to becoming part of our team of highly-valued volunteers. Your contribution can help us build a brighter future for artists, audiences and our community.
