The Swallows is a poetic, genre bending and multi-sensory performance, which reflects on human connection with nature in our modern times. Performed by one of Australia's most beloved actors Helen Morse, with sublime vocals and immersive sound by award winning vocalist Ria Soemardjo and celloist Helen Mountfort, it follows the life of Aunty from childhood to her mature years, growing up on land stolen and altered by her settler ancestors, and her search for connection to the waterways and nature whose devastation she witnessed as a child and whose resilience and regrowth she leans on for her own survival .
Nominated for 3 Greenroom awards in outstanding production design, lighting design and sound design, it is a global story which reflects on the impacts of colonisation and migration, changing landscapes, the loss of waterways, and urbanisation on mental health and well being, alongside the importance of acknowledgement of the first people of the land in healing, making it both an innovative multi-sensory experience and a work of truth telling, relevant around the globe.
Creative Team
Writer/Director
Sandra Fiona Long
Performer/Co-Creators
Ria Soemardjo, Helen Morse, Helen Mountfort
Composition/Sound Design
Ria Soemardjo and Helen Mountfort
Designer
Joanne Mott
Lighting designer
Shane Grant
Script Development Collaborator
Helen Morse
Production manager/creative logistics
Cole McKenna
Assistant stage manager/Operator
Aaron Carey-Long
Video documentation & edit
Takeshi Kondo
Originating Producer
Kath Papas Productions
with Kath Papas and Taka Takiguchi
Photos by Darren Gill
Performance History
6 -16 June 2024
Australian Premiere
At La Mama HQ
Melbourne Australia
Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“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
“Nice show this. Wry, understated text, tuned, & with multifaceted light”
– Tony Reck
“Truly spectacular. Transforming. Inspirational. Immersive.”
– Chris McNulty- Musician/performer
“Enthralling lead performance from Helen Morse weaving multiple human and more-than-human characters under, and up into, Melbourne’s suburban skies.”
– John Power- RMIT Lecturer, Multimedia
“Just saw this and was absolutely blown away. A truly incredible show.”
– Audience member- social media comment
Project History Note
The Swallows is borne of many years of shared practice between Sandra Fiona Long and collaborators, creating performance works where poetic text, sound, vocals and visual design create an immersive sensorial world. Sandra and Ria Soemardjo have made many vocal and text based works together in Australia and Indonesia, including “Of Frogs“ at Darebin Speakeasy and “Hades Fading“ in Bandung and Asia TOPA. Sandra and Joanne Mott have created theatre and installation together for decades, regularly conducting art workshops together. Helen Morse first worked with Sandra’s text “Duets for Lovers and Dreamers“ in 2010 and they have had a mentoring relationship since then, through new work development.
