MERRIGONGX will present the final 2025 Made From Scratch night, Wed 24 Sep at The Music Lounge. To close out a successful year showcasing independent work from the Illawarra, this event was curated by Merrigong’s First Nations Emerging Producer, Lillie Paton.
Featuring eight local artists, Made From Scratch is a multi-artform performance night offering artists space and support to test new ideas in front of a live audience.
The opportunity is open to independent artist and collectives with a connection to the Illawarra region working across theatre, dance, video/digital art, interdisciplinary performance, stand-up, poetry, music, cabaret and circus.
Lillie Paton said “Our last Made From Scratch for the year brings together local artists pushing their practice. It celebrates the talent, imagination and stories rising from this region, and I'm excited for our audiences to witness bold new work as it takes shape on stage."
Lineup includes:
Bradley Ward – Theatre
Bradley is a writer and performer currently based in Wollongong. In 2025, he is part of the MERRIGONGX program, where he is developing a new theatre work titled Wallgrove Road, which explores storytelling in working-class communities.
Diana McLaren – Stand-Up Comedy
Diana McLaren is an Illawarra stand-up comedian. Her new show Diana McLaren is Defective focuses on mental health and dysfunctional families.
Jarrod Berwick – Stand-Up Comedy
Jarrod is a fulltime tradie and has been preforming comedy for 8 years now all over Australia.
Jess Claire Hill – Singer / Songwriter
Jess Claire Hill is a soloist from Wollongong/ Dharawal Country. Inspired by artists like Julia Jacklin and Lennon Stella, her relaxed folk style brushed with a tinge of country invites you to sit back and bask in the journey.
Mae Da – Theatre
Mae is an emerging artist based in Sydney. Originally from the Middle East, they migrated to Australia as a teenager. In 2024, she wrote and performed her debut solo show My Body, My Choice at the Sydney Fringe Festival.
Melody Rachel – Spoken Word
Melody is a queer Christian artist whose work seeks to untangle the chaos of the mind. Melody will perform an excerpt In Development, a solo piece that embraces failure, doubt, and creative mess as central material.
Fortune’s Fool – Theatre / Music
Fortune’s Fool is a Wollongong-based quintet of Stephen Goldrick., Lisa Lockette, Amanda Lamberger, and Stuart Waters.
Marty Bright – MC
Over the past decade Marty Bright has taken his unique hybrid style of up-beat stand-up comedy to international festivals and more.
At Made From Scratch nights, audiences are encouraged to reserve a spot, show up, then pay what they feel the performance is worth afterwards.
MERRIGONGX is Merrigong Theatre Company’s independent artists program. It places artists and their practice at the centre of their community and provides independent artists with financial, technical, marketing and artistic resources.
Made From Scratch – September
When: Wednesday 24 September
Times: 7.30pm
Where: The Music Lounge – Wollongong Town Hall
Tickets: Pay What You Feel
Bookings: https://merrigong.com.au/
Performance Warnings: Recommended for ages 15+. May contains strong language and adult theme
