Get ready to step inside a living, breathing celebration of culture, story and unstoppable energy as Garabari!

A powerful new cultural celebration is heading to the Illawarra as Merrigong Theatre Company, in association with BlakDance, prepares to unveil Garabari, an immersive and multi sensory experience created by acclaimed Wiradjuri choreographer and storyteller Joel Bray. Audiences can encounter this groundbreaking work at Wollongong Town Hall on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 February, before it moves onto Country at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on Saturday 14 February.

Developed on Wiradjuri Country with Elders and local artists, Garabari brings to life the Giilang, the story and song, of Marramalngidyal Marrambidyagu, the creation of the Murrumbidgee River, generously shared by the late Uncle James Ingram. Following its critically praised debut at Melbourne’s Arts House in 2022 and a recent season at Sydney Festival, this contemporary corroboree now arrives in the Illawarra.

Guided by a vibrant ensemble, the performance blends movement, sound and light into a living gathering. Performers and audience members share the same space, dissolving the usual boundaries as Indigenous and non Indigenous participants are drawn into a joyful and powerful celebration of culture, community and connection.

Bray describes the work as a long nurtured offering shaped with the Wagga Wagga community, combining cultural storytelling, sumptuous contemporary dance and the irresistible energy of a great party. The production features nine exceptional performers, striking costumes by Wiradjuri designer Denni Francisco, sound by Byron Scullin and evocative projections by Katie Sfetkidis.

This is an invitation to step inside a new kind of civic ritual, bold, heartfelt and unforgettable.

Garabari – Performance Details

When: 6 to 14 February

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes (no interval)

Where: Wollongong Town Hall, Crown and Kembla Street Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, 93 to 109 Princes Highway

Tickets: Adult $55 | Concession $45 | Student $45 | Under 30s $40 | Groups 8+ $40

Bookings: merrigong.com.au/shows/garabari

Recommended ages: 12+