The Longest Night (2021)

Occurring on the 20th of June 2021, The Longest Night, a winter solstice soundwalk and storytelling celebration, was presented to the community residing within Banyule Council. Individual and group soundwalkers set off into ‘Wilson Reserve’ at dusk along separate designated paths. Each audience member was given a red-tinted torch (minimising direct light disturbance to nocturnal animals), an explanation of the rules of engagement with the work, and then waited to be greeted by a mysterious, amorphous figure (performed by Jenni Townsend and Kirsten Law) whom they would follow into the Reserve. After a short journey together, they were told a story before continuing, unguided, along one of two paths. The paths, lit sparsely with warmly glowing lanterns, led through the dimming gloom to the more brightly lantern lit ‘celebration site’ at the ‘Chelsworth Park’ end of the Reserve overlooking ‘Bailey Billabong’.

The soundwalk itself was a rollercoaster of spatial anxiety. At times hard to tell how far you were from your destination, from the next lantern. Every now and then a sense of surety might return, positioning you in time and space, only for that to be ripped away by the darkness around the paths next bend. Group soundwalkers discovered a sense of mutual responsibility, caring for the wellbeing of their fellow group members. Individual soundwalkers were confronted by their vulnerability and surprised by their emotional responses. At the celebration site, audience members stayed to enjoy warm food made by local catering company, Somali Sisters, and listen to stories about winter told by local storytellers, Ryoko Williams, Lakshmi Ganapathy, and Zaynab Farah, with everything beginning with a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, and storytelling from Uncle Ringo Terrick.

Co-produced with Allen Dorsey. All photography by Madeleine Cheale.