Service by Lachlan Grogan will be the final show in this year’s MerrigongX program. Photo: Children of the Revolution.
Uniquely Illawarra stories with universal appeal and developed by local talent through Merrigong’s artist development program could soon be bound for international audiences, with the next round of works about to hit the stage in 2026.
Four new works, years in the making, are set to feature as part of an impressive line-up of shows in the Illawarra, with the annual independent artists program MerrigongX supporting homegrown artists to make it to the main stage.
“It’s a long-term engagement with artists; it’s not something where you’re just there to do a show for a couple of months,” Merrigong Theatre Company Artistic Development Manager Leland Kean said.
“Generally the works that go into the program have a kind of three-year life cycle before they get to the audience and that’s something that in this climate there’s not a lot of programs nationally that are doing that.”
In its ninth year, MerrigongX is proving to be a launchpad to success for local artists, with former works A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen and Yandha Djanbay now being pitched to international markets with upcoming performances also planned for a festival in Auckland.
“It’s a really exciting place to be and it’s incredibly satisfying to see those works get picked up and then moved not just nationally but internationally,” Leland said.
The reach of these works is helping share Illawarra stories with broader audiences while also finding key points of connection between communities.
“Regional stories are universal,” Leland said. “There’s lots of towns like Wollongong or Nowra around the world that have the same challenges and the same stories, be that First Nations stories, stories of diversity, minority groups, challenges with environment, shifting economics, all those things really resonate on a global level.”
The first show of the 2026 MerrigongX program will run from 26 to 28 March, with Arawarra showcasing the story of a First Nations leader and freedom fighter.
“It relates very strongly to the town of Berry and Berry the man and his relationship with First Nations people, conflict that happened during that time and brings forth a not really well known story of this incredible First Nations man,” Leland said.
“We’re really proud to be platforming that and platforming First Nations stories on our stages.”
Following productions include Two Weeks and Cicada which were both developed through an emerging playwrights program with South Coast Writer’s Centre, with the final show of the program a collision of dance and theatre in Service.
“I love the diversity that we’ve got within the program in terms of the art form and artists that we’re working with but also just the surprises that come out that the independent artists bring,” Leland said.
While these shows come into fruition, the development of the next works continues to take place to ensure the longevity and strength of the region’s artists and productions.
“These works that we’re seeing come to the stage as part of the presentation program have been with us some of them for four or five years,” Leland said.
“But there’s other works that are bubbling along and we’re looking forward to bringing them to the stage.”
And by creating a platform to share more stories like these, Merrigong is fostering ongoing connection within the Illawarra community.
“For me I feel that there’s real strength in live performance; I feel in a lot of ways that what we do is becoming more and more unique,” Leland said.
“The sense of what is true is a question now that everybody asks themselves with deepfakes and the way that people are manipulating the truth these days. If you come and you sit in a space and you see somebody talk to you on a stage, that’s real – that’s a real experience and it’s a real collective experience that a community can have.
“Being able to come together and being able to reflect who we are or see others’ experiences who may live in your community that you may not be exposed to is a really important place in terms of understanding and tolerance which is something that is really important in the current climate.”
For more information about the program or to buy tickets visit the Merrigong website.
