Support our new play UNSEEN, Yet Here
Unseen, Yet Here is a powerful new musical theatre work that brings to light the lived experiences of Lani McLachlan, a Wailwan and Wiradjuri woman with disability who has rebuilt her life after more than 30 years of homelessness caused by social discrimination and systemic barriers.
This project aims to humanise homelessness, foster empathy, and raise awareness of contributing social issues such as mental health, economic instability, and societal stigmas. By interweaving storytelling with original music, this project seeks to spark conversations, challenge perceptions, and advocate for change. UNSEEN, Yet Here, deeply respects and integrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, ensuring that their voices drive the narrative. The play will launch in Sydney and will be proposed to be presented at the 2027 International Arts & Homelessness Festival in London.
“Unseen, Yet Here means so much to me because it tells the truth about what people like me go through. I want people to see us, to understand, and to care. I support this project because it shows that we are here, we matter, and we are not invisible. It’s not just my story—it’s the story of so many women who have been ignored, judged, or left behind.’ Lani
“Unseen, Yet Here means so much to me because it tells the truth about what people like me go through. I want people to see us, to understand, and to care. I support this project because it shows that we are here, we matter, and we are not invisible. It’s not just my story—it’s the story of so many women who have been ignored, judged, or left behind.’ Lani
Project Overview
Purpose & Objectives:
This initiative is not just about theatre; it is a platform for advocacy, education, and empowerment. Through extensive research, interviews, and artistic development, Unseen, Yet Here will:
Our People:
Unseen, Yet Here, will be co-designed with its protagonist, Lani and First Nations writer with disability, Gayle Kennedy, transforming Lani’s lived experiences into a compelling script. CALD Director, Gbenga Yusuf and Producer, Belinda Mason OAM will co-design the stage production, blending storytelling with original music to highlight issues of homelessness, mental health, and social exclusion.
Project Significance
Cultural Context and Significance:
This project explores the intersection of disability and homelessness within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 8.8 times more likely to experience homelessness than non-Indigenous Australians and are 1.5 times more likely to have a disability than non-Indigenous Australians. UNSEEN, Yet Here, deeply respects and integrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, ensuring that their voices drive the narrative.
Community Involvement and Leadership:
Led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives and supported by local community organisations, this project delivers economic empowerment by providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to fully participate in the economy while addressing historical injustices. The production also strengthens cultural identity and community cohesion, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions remain central to the Australian arts sector.
Specific Cultural Benefits:
By sharing Lani’s story, the production creates a safe space to raise awareness about homelessness, disability, and systemic barriers and promotes local organisations that provide domestic homelessness services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities. This project also has a profound impact on Lani’s personal well-being. By sharing her story, she gains agency, recognition, and validation, transforming trauma into a source of empowerment. The act of being heard fosters healing, self-worth, and social connection, reinforcing the importance of lived experience in shaping change.
Long-Term Cultural Impacts:
By challenging Social Stigmas UNSEEN, Yet Here helps shift perceptions about homelessness and disability and improves long-term social cohesion. Our project earns Cultural respect through our approach of being guided by Elders, led by knowledge holders and inclusive of First Nations artists. This ensures integrity and cultural responsibility is prioritised.
Social Impact
Service providers:
Essential to the integrity of the project is support from key organisations in the disability, homelessness, domestic violence and First Nations sectors. MUTTI is collaborating with Wayside Chapel, Accessible Arts, Breaking Silent Codes, DVNSW and Birribee Housing.
If this project does not proceed, an essential opportunity to humanise homelessness and spark meaningful change will be lost. Lani’s voice evidences the need to support the advocacy of service providers and the need for greater public awareness and systemic reform.
Artists:
We will invite Arts organisations such as the Women of Woolloomooloo Choir, the Sydney Street Choir, and Koori Radio to bring their voices to the project, alongside actors, musicians, and technical experts from various cultural backgrounds. We will also partner with UTS Shopfront, Ripple, a disability and culturally diverse internship program, to provide opportunities for emerging talent and ensure broad community engagement. The creative and economic contributions of this production support diverse talent and cultural enrichment. Supporting this project is an investment in advocacy, inclusion, and cultural storytelling. Artists, musicians, and creatives are from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity within the performing arts. The production crew members are also diverse, identifying as being First Nations, CALD, LGBTQIA+, Older, Gender diverse and/or having disability.
Audiences:
By centring an authentic, lived experience, the production amplifies marginalised voices, ensuring Aboriginal and disabled communities are heard. It engages diverse artists and community members, encouraging inclusivity in Sydney’s arts sector. Through impactful storytelling and original music, Unseen, Yet Here serves influences public discourse on accessibility, economic instability, and mental health. Each performance will include post-show discussions with audiences, cast, and community leaders to explore solutions, challenge stigmas, and drive meaningful change. By engaging diverse voices both on and off stage, this production will not only entertain but also serve as a catalyst for awareness, advocacy, and community action.
"Unseen, Yet Here means so much to me because it tells the truth about what people like me go through. It’s not just my story—it’s the story of so many women who have been ignored, judged, or left behind. I want people to see us, to understand, and to care. I support this project because it shows that we are here, we matter, and we are not invisible."
– Lani McLachlan
Member of the UNSEEN Women Artist Group
If our mission resonates with you, there are ways to support our work and help us continue making a difference. Every gesture of generosity—big or small—helps us preserve stories, amplify voices, and promote inclusion for future generations.
Together, we can build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
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