I am a writer, theatre artist, producer, maker across forms and mentor, working with multi-sensory vocal and sound based performance, design and installation. Multilingual, words with music, building bridges, crossing divides.
Also, see my writing on the arts, neurodiversity and life at www.botanicmystic.com
Current works:
The Swallows
![Picture](/uploads/3/6/7/1/3671184/published/the-swallows-lores-square-darren-gill.jpg?1720707581)
****
"Rich sensory theatrical experience"
Theatre Now
"an arc that goes from wonder and sensation to quiet despair and then to the return of hope"
Stage Whispers
n 6 - Jun
From an intricate universe of sound, objects and voice performed by actor Helen Morse, 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.
A poetic, genre bending performance which premiered in June 24 to an acclaimed sell out season!
"truly spectacular. Transforming. Inspirational. Immersive.”
Chris McNulty
"wry, understated text, tuned, & with multifaceted light."
Tony Reck
by Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators, and produced by Kath Papas Productions.
See Kath Papas Productions page for more info:
https://kathpapas.net/the-swallows/
"Rich sensory theatrical experience"
Theatre Now
"an arc that goes from wonder and sensation to quiet despair and then to the return of hope"
Stage Whispers
n 6 - Jun
From an intricate universe of sound, objects and voice performed by actor Helen Morse, 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.
A poetic, genre bending performance which premiered in June 24 to an acclaimed sell out season!
"truly spectacular. Transforming. Inspirational. Immersive.”
Chris McNulty
"wry, understated text, tuned, & with multifaceted light."
Tony Reck
by Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators, and produced by Kath Papas Productions.
See Kath Papas Productions page for more info:
https://kathpapas.net/the-swallows/
Some media and audience responses to The Swallows:
Surat-Suratnya
![Picture](/uploads/3/6/7/1/3671184/published/cropped-age-quote.jpg?1720708003)
A collaboration 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.
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.
OF FROGS
Conjuring forgotten waterways and springs with sublime vocals, soaring soundscapes and the interplay of light and sound with water. 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 here for details on Kath Papas Productions site.
"Creative, immersive, captivating, relentless, true. An aural and visual feast"
"A stunning show - immersive, informed, humorous, intricate, and exceptional "
See here for details on Kath Papas Productions site.
"Creative, immersive, captivating, relentless, true. An aural and visual feast"
"A stunning show - immersive, informed, humorous, intricate, and exceptional "
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), in association with Kath Papas Productions, Bandung 2019 and Melbourne in AsiaTOPA 2020.
See more info on Kath Papas Productions Website
By Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators with Mainteater (Indonesia), in association with Kath Papas Productions, Bandung 2019 and Melbourne in AsiaTOPA 2020.
See more info on Kath Papas Productions Website
![Picture](/uploads/3/6/7/1/3671184/69548256-10215516054314761-5779381587762216960-o_orig.jpg)
***** 5 stars
"Hades Fading (Hades Memudar) is breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly haunting as it speaks to forgetting the past and losing the lessons of old, inevitably heading to a future without human life."
What Did She Think?
**** 4 stars
"Hades Fading uses spellbinding visual theatre, bilingual text and music to explore contemporary themes through ancient mythology. … a triumph.”
Cameron Woodhead, The Age/SMH
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 here for the audio and map.
![Picture](/uploads/3/6/7/1/3671184/published/murmuringwalk-landscape-text.jpg?250)
Please feel free to leave a message if you wish contact me.
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.