I am a writer, theatre artist, producer, and maker working with multi-sensory vocal and sound based performance, design and installation. Multilingual, words with music, building bridges,
crossing divides.
crossing divides.
The Swallows
Photo by Darren Gill
A genre bending and immersive performance, with sublime vocals, delicate lighting, scintillating sounds and stunning cello, reflecting on human connection with nature in our modern times.
'An arc that goes from wonder and sensation to quiet despair and then to the return of hope'
Stage Whispers
**** 'Rich sensory theatrical experience'
Theatre Now
From an intricate universe of sound, objects and voice, performed by Helen Morse, one of Australia's most beloved actors, alongside vocalist/musician Ria Soemardjo and cellist Helen Mountfort, the story of Aunty emerges. Empowered by connection with nature, she is ready to fly from the pressures of her built up environment, childhood wounds 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. Performed to sell out audiences and an extended season in June 2024.
'An arc that goes from wonder and sensation to quiet despair and then to the return of hope'
Stage Whispers
**** 'Rich sensory theatrical experience'
Theatre Now
From an intricate universe of sound, objects and voice, performed by Helen Morse, one of Australia's most beloved actors, alongside vocalist/musician Ria Soemardjo and cellist Helen Mountfort, the story of Aunty emerges. Empowered by connection with nature, she is ready to fly from the pressures of her built up environment, childhood wounds 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. Performed to sell out audiences and an extended season in June 2024.
Surat-Suratnya
photo by Darren Gill
A Co-Production between Stage of Wawan Sofwan, Sandra Fiona Long and Ria Soemardjo.
An international collaboration which bears witness to political violence long unacknowledged. Performed by Ellen Marning to sell out audiences at La Mama Theatre in December 2023.
From 1965-67 Ibu Helen lived in Jakarta with her Indonesian husband, a trade unionist, and their two young children while a violent political purge unfolded in Indonesia. Ibu Helen wrote letters home to her family in Gippsland, first full of enthusiasm for the political ideals inspiring many people with hope, then slowly becoming more guarded as friends and family ‘disappeared’ and danger enveloped her family. Surat-Suratnya is inspired by Ibu Helen's story, based on her letters, recent interviews and media archives. See more information here.
An international collaboration which bears witness to political violence long unacknowledged. Performed by Ellen Marning to sell out audiences at La Mama Theatre in December 2023.
From 1965-67 Ibu Helen lived in Jakarta with her Indonesian husband, a trade unionist, and their two young children while a violent political purge unfolded in Indonesia. Ibu Helen wrote letters home to her family in Gippsland, first full of enthusiasm for the political ideals inspiring many people with hope, then slowly becoming more guarded as friends and family ‘disappeared’ and danger enveloped her family. Surat-Suratnya is inspired by Ibu Helen's story, based on her letters, recent interviews and media archives. See more information here.
JTDS Series
A project that keeps evolving. With Deden Bulqini and Mainteater (Indonesia). After 2 years of development online and live across Australia and Indonesia, this multi-media, vocal and robotic work had 3 performances in 3 versions in 2023. This photo is from our performance at ArtJog in Jogjakarta 2023.
OF FROGS
Conjuring forgotten waterways and springs with sublime vocals, soaring soundscapes and the interplay of light and sound with water. Bringing libretto together with percussion and water, this exquisite performance work attunes the audience's ear to the most subtle of sounds, then takes them on a wild ride.
Quotes:
"Creative, immersive, captivating, relentless, true. An aural and visual feast"
"A stunning show - immersive, informed, humorous, intricate, and exceptional "
By Ria Soemardjo and Sandra Fiona Long, with Ron Reeves, Jeremy Dullard and Kath Papas Productions. First presented at Darebin Arts Speakeasy in September 2022.
See more information here
"Creative, immersive, captivating, relentless, true. An aural and visual feast"
"A stunning show - immersive, informed, humorous, intricate, and exceptional "
By Ria Soemardjo and Sandra Fiona Long, with Ron Reeves, Jeremy Dullard and Kath Papas Productions. First presented at Darebin Arts Speakeasy in September 2022.
See more information here
Hades Fading (Hades Memudar)
A sublime vocal-visual performance work set in the post-apocalyptic realm of Hades.
By Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators with Mainteater (Indonesia), Bandung 2019 and Melbourne in AsiaTOPA 2020.
By Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators with Mainteater (Indonesia), Bandung 2019 and Melbourne in AsiaTOPA 2020.
Murmuring Walk
An audio guided walk on Mount Macedon you can do any time. Created with Ria Soemardjo and Charlotte Roberts, commissioned by the Macedon Shire Ranges. See more information here.
See my writing on the arts, neurodiversity and life at https://botanicmystic.com/writing/
I live and create on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, am honoured to be here, and try to tread gently on this land which was never ceded.
Helen Morse in Duets for Lovers and Dreamers Photo by Carla Gottgens