Moogahlin Performing Arts

08/10/2025

DARUNGA, IDEA’25 opens THIS WEEKEND!
2-day workshop hosted by Dharug artist Peta Strachan and Jannawi Dance Clan
Presented by Form Dance Projects

Sat 11 & Sun 12 OCT

Gathering some of Australia’s foremost First Nations artists, dancers, and cultural leaders, DARUNGA is a platform for cultural exchange, professional development, and creative collaboration for local artists. Throughout the weekend, participants will engage in skill-building workshops including Dharug dance and music, Torres Strait Islander dance, contemporary First Nations dance, cultural adornment making, and deep cultural discussions.
Facilitators include Peta Strachan, Beau Dean Riley Smith, Marilyn Miller, Matthew Doyle, Bindi Bosses Shyamla and Shimran, and Buia David. DARUNGA aims to foster cross-cultural exchange, ensure cultural continuity, and provide a space for growth and creativity within the local Indigenous and broader arts communities.

Open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.

Spaces are limited, so get in quick!

Newington Armory Theatre, Sydney Olympic Park.
11-12 OCT, 9.30am - 6pm

$10 registration for Mob
$200 for non-Indigenous participants - Special 50% discount ($100) for Blacktown Arts friends with the code: FRIEND50

Book Here: https://www.form.org.au/darunga/

07/10/2025

On behalf of our cuzzie companies, Yirra Yaakin, Illbijerri Theatre and Mooghalin we would like to pay our deepest respect, gratitude and dedication to you, Rachael Maza. Tidda, your contributions as a creative and advocate for the sector over the past 18 years as the Co-CEO & Artistic Director of Illbijerri. Your leadership has strengthened our First Peoples sector, and you have created culturally safe spaces for nurturing our Elders, senior, mid-career, & emerging arts practitioners and communities, especially the TO groups of Narm. You were instrumental in ensuring APAM was inclusive of us, our whanau from Aotearoa and cuzzies from Turtle Island (Canada). As you continue your journey as an independent director, and advocate, our companies wish you all the success and happiness. We will see you around the traps.

Further to this we congratulate you, Andrea James, as the incoming Co-CEO & Artistic Director of Illbijeri Theatre. You have diligently worked your way to this moment in time. Moogahlin thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for the work you have done with us in co=producing the first Yellamundie Festivals (2013, 2015) for your directorship on our significant national platform (2015 - 2019) and of course for your own work Winanboga Yirringa (2016) and a member of the Moogahlin Artistic Directorate around the same years. We can’t wait to continue our relationship with you in your new role as AD of Illbijeri, continuing our collective work to strengthen our sector through the Tri-Company and the national consortium of the First Nations Performing Arts Companies. Big congratulations.

07/10/2025

Thanks to Tamara Winikoff at the Inner West Creative Network West Creative Network for having a yaan with our Artistic Director and Yellamundie Festival 2025 Director Lily Shearer.

Check out the Yaan in the link below

https://iwcn.org.au/creative-profile-moogahlin-performing-arts/

06/10/2025

Some moments from the beautiful new play Steps of The Mighty By H Lawrence Sumner, performed by Phoebe Grainer, Maliyan Blair, James Slee and Aunty Pamela Young. With stage directions read by Angeline Penrith.

Yellamundie Festival 2025 has been supported by Moogahlin Performing Arts, Carriageworks, The Creative Australia, Create NSW, City of Sydney, Annamila First Nations Foundation, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Australian Plays Transform and University of Sydney.

03/10/2025

A must see story from our partners Bangarra Dance Theatre ❤️

The Studio Theatre at Bangarra

03/10/2025

Friday Night of Yellamundie Festival 2025 was closed by Warriwal by Jo Clancy & Stuart Mcginn. Warriwal is having another showing at the Kandos Community on Saturday October 11 at 7pm with both halves of its work on showcase. RSVP to [email protected]. If you live near Kandos it's worth the travel to witness this truly incredible experience.
Yellamundie Festival has been supported by Moogahlin Performing Arts, Carriageworks, The Creative Australia, Create NSW, City of Sydney, Annamila First Nations Foundation, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Australian Plays Transform and University of Sydney.

Images by Jarrah Bill and Jamie James

02/10/2025

Friday Night of Yellamundie Festival 2025 at Carriageworks featured two dance works. Currents Beneath Skin by Harlisha Newie-Joe & Maddison Fraser opened the night. These new stories have been supported by Moogahlin Performing Arts, Carriageworks, The Creative Australia, Create NSW, City of Sydney, Annamila First Nations Foundation, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Australian Plays Transform and University of Sydney.

Images by and

19/09/2025

Our longtime photography partner Jamie James and emerging Murrawarri photographer Jarrah Bill in a mentorship program captured some beautiful moments from Week 1 of Yellamundie Festival 2025 — The works are already shaping up to make you laugh, make you cry, and move you to your core. 💫

Showcases of these genre-defying new First Peoples works are 25–27 September 2025 at Carriageworks on Gadigal country. https://carriageworks.com.au/events/yellamundie-festival/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

We have Pay What You Can options for the showings at Carriageworks — making art and First Peoples’ storytelling accessible for all, and allowing those who can, to contribute more.

18/09/2025

We are excited to announce the full program of the 2025 Yellamundie Festival. Showcases of these genre-defying new First People's works are 25 - 27 September at on Gadigal.

We have Pay What You Can options — making art and First Peoples’ storytelling accessible for all and allowing those who can, to contribute more.

Thurs 25th Sept

7.00pm - IMIGO by Jacob Boehme
8.00pm - The Steps of The Mighty by H Lawrence Sumner

Fri 26th Sept
5pm - Meet the Yellamundie (Non-ticketed) Join us for Meet the Yellamundie, a special free public yaan hosted by Yellamundie Festival Artistic Director Lily Shearer.

7.30pm - Currents Beneath Skin by Maddison Fraser & Harlisha Newie-Joe

8.30pm - Warriwal by Jo Clancy & Stuart McMinn

Saturday 27th Sept
5pm - Your Stories, With Our People: International Play Reading (Non-ticketed) Te Pou Theatre (Aotearoa NZ) and Moogahlin Performing Arts (Australia) come together for a powerful international collaboration — a special cross-cultural play reading of Haere, written by celebrated Ngāti Maniapoto playwright Tawhi Thomas.

7.30pm - The Lottery by Waverley Stanley Jnr

8.30pm - Diary of a City Blak by Luke Currie-Richardson

Secure your tickets via the Carriageworks tickets page here: https://my.carriageworks.com.au/2061/2065

10/09/2025

Meet 2025 Yellamundie (Storyteller) Maddison Fraser & Harlisha Newie-joe

Harlisha (Goemu and Wagadagam) spent most of her life growing up in Weipa, Cape York on Algnith Country. Having just finished At NAISDA Harlisha has had the opportunity to be trained by various professional artists such as Vicki Van Hout, Jasmin Sheppard and Lee Serle.

A passionate and dedicated performer, enriched by the privilege of dancing with renowned First Nations dance groups including Jannawi Dance Clan, Wagana Dancers and Magun Zenadth Kes Dance Group.

Maddison (Palyku & Yindjibarndi) grew up on Wajuk Land in Perth and is a graduate of NAISDA Dance College, She has performed in works by Jasmin Sheppard, Rosalee Pearson and recently for West Australian Ballet in Tara Gower’s stunning piece Ripples.

With a vibrant spirit and deep cultural roots, Maddison brings warmth, strength, and joy to the stage. She’s passionate about sharing her stories, culture, and movement with audiences near and far—and she can’t wait to keep dancing her way forward.

CURRENTS BENEATH THE SKIN

Explores the deep connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through the journey of seashells. Born from the earth and shaped by the sea, shells carry stories across coastlines, symbolising cycles of birth, change, and continuity.

However, the journey of these shells is increasingly disrupted by the shifting tides of the world today.

Rising seas and changing ecosystems threaten the balance of our land, water, and culture. The work reflects how the ocean’s surface, ever-changing yet constant, mirrors the resilience of our communities who continue to uphold their traditions and the ongoing effort to protect both the environment and the stories carried within it.

Witness this new work in-development at Yellamundie Festival 2025 alongside six new First People's works from 25 - 27 September.

Project Supporters Creative Australia, Create NSW, City of Sydney, Carriageworks, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Annamilla First Nations Foundation, Australian Plays Transform and University of Sydney.