Merrigong Theatre Company Announces Innovative New Performance Series

Merrigong Theatre Company announces MERRIGONGX. Launching in February 2018, this is a brand-new series of eclectic events from artists from our neighbourhood, and from around the nation.

"Championing a future for Australian performance that is innovative, inclusive and diverse, MERRIGONGX is a platform for a new generation of artists taking creative risks. With a focus on local and emerging artists and experimentation, this series features new works from some of our boldest new voices," says Simon Hinton, Artistic Director / CEO of Merrigong Theatre Company.

A new Australian play that explores the limits of unconditional love between sisters, The Carousel by Pippa Ellams was shortlisted for the Rodney Seaborne Playwrights Award in 2015. Directed by UOW Creative Arts Alumni Hannah Goodwin, The Carousel makes its much-anticipated debut Wollongong season from 1 - 3 March.

Heart-Shaped Shadow is part fable, part family history, part rock'n'roll musical by award-winning musical Mikelangelo (Black Sea Gentlemen, Tin Star). Currently being developed by Merrigong, a showing will be held at IPAC on 10 March.

Also in development with Merrigong, The Siren Project by The Society of Histrionic Happenings is a new work by respected local artist, director and theatre-maker Anne-Louise Rentell. This theatrical and musical reimagining of women's stories from Wentworth Street, Port Kembla, that draws inspiration from interviews undertaken as part of the Where Lies Beauty oral history project, and features new music composed by Daryl Wallis.

MERRIGONGX will also present four multi-artform performance nights offering artists space and support to test new ideas in front of a live audience. Each Made From Scratch event will showcase new works from local artists acrorss theatre, dance, video/digital art, interdisciplinary performance, stand-up, poetry, music, cabaret and circus.