Kuramanunya

Arts Market

Information

Kuramanunya is a 60-minute solo contemporary dance-theatre work by Karul Projects, performed by Thomas E.S. Kelly (Minjungbal, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu). Blending physically rigorous movement, spoken text, voice and immersive sound design, it is a ceremony of remembrance honouring First Nations ancestors whose stories were cut short. Grounded in cultural practice and emotionally direct, the work invites audiences into an intimate yet expansive act of witnessing, truth-telling and resilience. Premiering at Brisbane Festival 2023, it has toured nationally and internationally, won the Adelaide Fringe 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, and received strong critical acclaim. Kuramanunya is ideal for presenters seeking powerful First Nations contemporary performance with broad audience resonance and a lasting impact.

Company

Karul Projects

Company / Artist Bio

Karul Projects Dance Theatre is a First Nations performing arts company founded in 2017 and based on Minjungbal Country on the Southern Gold Coast. Led by Artistic Director Thomas E.S. Kelly (Minjungbal, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu) and Associate Artistic Director Taree Sansbury (Kaurna, Narungga and Ngarrindjeri), Karul creates bold, high-intensity contemporary dance-theatre grounded in cultural practice and lived experience. Fusing physical performance, voice and sound, the company's work is powerful and emotionally charged, centring First Nations voices, stories and ways of knowing for audiences locally, nationally and internationally.

Location

QLD

Artform

Contemporary dance

Audience

Adults - General

Venue suitability

Black box

Reviews

"This show is powerful. It is thought-provoking, challenging, and vital. It deserves to be shown again and again." - theatrereview (NZ)

Website

https://karul.com.au

Trailer

https://vimeo.com/1170632363?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci

Duration

1 hour

Touring Party

Previous Seasons

2023 World Premiere, Brisbane Festival / Metro Arts, Brisbane; 2023 IMPACT Festival, Kitchener, Turtle Island / Canada; 2025 Pacific Dance Festival, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand; 2026 Adelaide Fringe Festival, Holden Street Theatres, Adelaide, March (Winner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award); 2026 Byron Theatre, Byron Bay (May); 2026 Horizon Festival, Sunshine Coast (May); 2026 BLEACH* Festival, Gold Coast (October).

Estimated Remount Cost

$5 - 10k

Weekly Sell-Off Fee

$5 - 10k

Royalty %

Availability

202720282029 or later

Partners

This project was created with support from Arts Queensland, Metro Arts and Adelaide Fringe Festival. Karul is supported by City of Gold Coast and Arts Queensland multi-year organisational support.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/karulprojects/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/karulprojects/

Contact Name

Thomas E.S. Kelly

Contact Phone

0431 791 572

Contact Email

karulprojects@karulprojects.com

Additional Documentation

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kvzqckxo8p6tonbhzsng2/KarulProjectsKuramanunya_c5207e1fd84c441ca62eb735c7b960e4__kuramanunya_karul_projects_marketing_pack.pdf?rlkey=h1fpm3lpj8xyndew6o8ur5cam&dl=0

Program information

Presentation date

Tuesday 8 SeptemberWednesday 9 September

APAX presentation type

Full-length ShowcaseEvening Showcase

Kuramanunya

Information

Program information

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