Yandha Djanbay: Weaving Story and Sound into an Immersive Experience

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Yandha Djanbay is a multidisciplinary piece that brings together poetry, songs, soundscapes and music that Kirli has personally composed. Source: Supplied / SIMONE COLEMAN

MERRIGONGX is set to kick off 2025 with an extraordinary and deeply personal work from proud Gunai woman and acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Kirli Saunders. Titled Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly), this intimate storytelling experience will be on stage at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from 20-22 February.


Yandha Djanbay is a multidisciplinary piece that brings together poetry, songs, soundscapes and music that Kirli has personally composed.


Through audiovisual projections and evocative storytelling, audiences will be invited to experience the depth of Kirli’s artistry in a unique and moving way.



Kirli Saunders is no stranger to accolades. An award-winning writer, singer-songwriter, artist and consultant, she was named NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year in 2020 and received an Order of Australia Medal in 2022 for her contributions to the arts. Her works, whether in literature, visual art, or performance, continually center Indigenous perspectives and highlight themes of connection, Country, and identity.


As Merrigong Theatre Company’s annual artists’ program, MERRIGONGX is dedicated to supporting local creatives by providing financial, technical, marketing and artistic resources. From in-house creative developments to fully realized public presentations, the program fosters bold and innovative new work.


NITV Radio chats to Kirli about her career and this powerful new work.

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