This special showing of 'This is How We Survive' will be in collaboration with Saltwater Poetry Slam — a monthly spoken word night at The GNL in Wyong. The night will begin with an open mic space for local poets who want to share their pieces, followed by a full performance of 'This is How We Survive'. RSVPs appreciated for catering purposes.

This is How We Survive invites the audience into an immersive exploration of human resilience, integrating short cinematic pieces, immersive sound design and poetic storytelling.

Will Small weaves his powerful performance poetry and thoughtful storytelling around three portraits of human survival:

Helen, who grew up without a mother, and became a midwife, supporting mothers and babies in the earliest moments of survival and strength represented by the space of birth.

Rob, a Gomeroi man who survived a fatal car accident at 15 years old, and knows what it means to ‘be survival’ as part of the oldest surviving culture on earth.

Roje, who lived in a refugee camp between the ages of 4 and 12 before arriving in Newcastle and eventually becoming a registered nurse.

As a whole, This is How We Survive explores human resilience across time, cultures and geographies, providing a powerful reminder of the strength and persistence humans are capable of, even when faced with significant adversity.

This special showing ofThis is How We Survive will also feature live poetry from Gomeroi poet Rob Waters, the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam National Champion.

This project has received funding from the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (The PHN).