The Swallows

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.

Support & Acknowledgement

Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants

The Swallows was first developed in 2022 with support from Besen Family Foundation

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We create, work and play on the lands of the Wurundjeri People people of the Kulin nations. We acknowledge that this land has never been ceded and always try to tread gently on this land. 
© 2025 Sandra Fiona Long
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