Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly) returns to Wollongong

Over a year since her one-woman show captivated local audiences in its developmental stage, Gunai artist Kirli Saunders OAM is bringing Yandha Djanbay (Go Slowly) back to where it all began. This time, it returns as a refined production making its mainstage debut at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) from June 17 to 20.

Kirli’s performance offers a mix of personal monologue, song and poetry, celebrating joy, love and connection as resistance against the violence, sexism and racism faced by Aboriginal women. Visuals by Tad Souden feature 15 First Nations women based on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi lands, paying respect to the strength of Country, Kin and Matriarchy. Over the past 12 months, the core message of the show has only deepened, Kirli says.

"Yandha Djanbay is a Dharawal phrase which means 'to go slowly'. And for me, it's the antidote to the bigness of life. It's the coming back to old ways and kin and country, which has really grounded me, and I think for everyone, the last few years have been really big,” she says.

"It’s really common in the Illawarra to see a lot of people out in the ocean and going for a walk or spending time with the land. The land is such a balm and a blessing for us, and so is culture and community. I feel really lucky to weave all those things together with this work."

Since it debuted to a standing ovation in the MerrigongX 2025 season, Kirli's show has appeared on major national and international stages, including APAX in Darwin, SALON in New South Wales, and PANNZ in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Last time we were still in the development stage, and it was standing ovations every night and sold-out crowds," Kirli says.

"This time around, we’re staging the final work. I think it’s a more refined version of where we were up to last time, and there's something so special in doing that here. The Illawarra is such a core part for this work... staging it here is always going to be so special."

As a work rooted in personal, intimate storytelling from a Blak, queer voice in rapidly shifting political landscapes following the 2024 referendum, Yandha Djanbay has undergone some necessary updates since we last saw it.

"We are living in a particular time of political upheaval. And so much of that, for Aboriginal community, is the result of the referendum and what racism has been enabled because of that,” Kirli says.

“So it's interesting coming back to this work again a year later, because we are having to update things. It's nice to be able to challenge those things in this work."

Holding space for First Nations grief and resilience, the work invites audiences to both laugh and cry alongside its protagonist.

"I've really tried to lean on comedy and humour as being a core grounding part of this. To have that connection with the audience is really special. [Theatre] is so unlike any other art form, being able to actually connect with people in real time and laugh with them and make jokes with them. It's so nice."

Leland Kean, Merrigong Theatre Company's artistic development manager, directs Yandha Djanbay, which features updated cinematic visuals by cinematographer Tad Souden, alongside contributions from First Nations emerging producer Lillie Paton. Kirli is looking forward to returning the show to the community that helped make it.

"Personally, I've also had my own journeys with systematic racism and personal things like fertility and being a survivor. And I think, so often when we're out in the world, we can feel really alone in those things.

"So, a beautiful thing about being an artist behind this work is that I meet other people who are also so resilient, and who are also living in the bigness of life, and who find that connection.

"There's 15 of the community members who are involved in the making of that work, and they're there in the weaving, and they're there in the dance. There’s hopefully something for everyone in staging this work, but particularly our matriarchy. I hope are really honoured by this, by Yandha Djanbay, and it's nice to share the space with them while I'm up there on my own."

Book tickets via Merrigong's website.