History
The inaugural Sit Down, Shutup and Watch Festival was held on Friday 31 October 2014 in Angaston in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. In 2026, the Committee will present their seventh festival! To learn more about the history and aspirations of Sit Down Shutup and Watch, have a look at the video below.
The Sit Down Shutup and Watch Committee is made up of learning disabled and neurodivergent digital storytellers and new media artists.
Our vision and mission.
Vision.
To live in a world where learning disabled and neurodivergent people achieve their creative dreams and screen their work in Times Square, on iPhones and on every screen in-between.
Mission
Form a community of like-minded learning disabled and neurodivergent digital storytellers and new media artists who can teach others
To have our voices heard and to be taken seriously
Get other learning disabled and neurodivergent people to express themselves creatively through digital arts and technology
Encourage other learning disabled and neurodivergent people in the wider Australian and global community to connect, making physical location far less significant for our social relationships
To become a force for social change
Meet the committee.
Matthew Wauchope (Clare)
My name is Matthew Wauchope and I am a founding member of Sit Down, Shut Up & Watch (SDSW), as well as a Steering Committee Member, workshop facilitator and screen practitioner, based in Clare. I have been interested in storytelling and screen content since I was very young. I am a strong public speaker, creative writer, storyteller and gamer, and I am well known for always wearing a hat. I bring ideas, ambition and leadership to SDSW, contributing to the development and delivery of festivals, workshops and screen‑based storytelling activities. While living two hours from Adelaide and at a distance from many collaborators presents challenges, I manage this effectively through online collaboration, digital tools and gaming platforms, allowing me to stay creatively connected. I believe new and accessible technologies make it possible for anyone to be involved creatively, and I am passionate about encouraging others to participate and share their stories.
James Kurtze (Seacliff)
My name is James Kurtze and I am an internationally recognised multidisciplinary artist and a founding committee member of Sit Down, Shut Up & Watch (SDSW). I live in Seacliff and am proudly learning disabled and neurodivergent, with my lived experience shaping my creative practice. I have been immersed in supported artistic practice at Tutti Arts since 2007, working across Film and New Media, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Radio Tutti. My work has been exhibited, performed and screened nationally and internationally, and I have received film awards in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. I have toured with SDSW across regional South Australia, delivering digital storytelling workshops that support access, skills development and creative participation. My current practice focuses on 3D animation, gaming technologies and interactive machine‑making, often using recycled electronics. Through this work, I challenge expectations and contribute to contemporary disability‑led arts practice.
Sara Egarr (Tanunda)
My name is Sara Egarr and I am the Chairperson of the Sit Down, Shut Up & Watch (SDSW) committee. I believe we need more women in the screen industry—my voice is important - so is everyone else’s - but there are still more male voices than female, so we women need to ‘scream’. Since joining SDSW, I have completed a Certificate III in Disability and have supported people of all ages to tell their stories using accessible digital technology. I love digital storytelling because it brings out my creativity, especially writing and directing. I’ve made many short films and enjoy being behind the camera, but directing is where I feel strongest. I used to be afraid of speaking in public, but now I confidently speak to groups large and small, have presented at creative industry conferences, delivered storytelling workshops to council workers, and serve as a judge with the Adelaide Film Festival. My journey shows that anything is possible.
Tyson Pienaar (Clare)
My name is Tyson Pienaar, but most people call me Ty. I am 35 years old, born in Murray Bridge, and now live in Clare. I have been involved with Sit Down, Shut Up & Watch (SDSW) since 2018 as a member of the SDSW committee, contributing to the production of SDSW festivals and workshops. Through SDSW I have learned skills like green screen and camera work, and I’ve made great friends along the way. My dream is to be an actor, and I love action and thriller screen stories, especially the Fast & Furious movies and anything involving cars. Being part of SDSW has been a great experience and a positive way to see how others create and share screen stories. I believe people with learning disabilities have the right to contribute their ideas creatively. SDSW proves you don’t need fancy equipment to be creative—my motto is, “If you live in a tent, use a flashlight.”
Kate Wauchope (Clare)
My name is Kate Wauchope, but I go by Katie Rose, and I am a Steering Committee Member and cinematographer with Sit Down, Shut Up & Watch (SDSW). I live in Clare, and am the newest and currently youngest member of the committee. I am dyslexic, very articulate, open‑minded and highly curious, often asking thoughtful questions that deepen creative conversations and processes. My creative interests span screen content, painting, visual design, music (including K‑Pop), art and fictional storytelling, and I have a strong eye for design and composition. I am especially drawn to epic screen storytelling, including fantasy, action and adventure, with inspirations such as Merlin, Lord of the Rings, NCIS: LA and the Marvel Avengers. I have toured with SDSW, delivering workshops exploring identity with young people in the Riverland and Barossa, supporting creative expression through accessible screen‑based storytelling. I am enthusiastic about learning, sharing ideas, and supporting others to build confidence and skills in telling their own screen stories.
Sit Down Shutup and Watch is supported by Tutti Arts and Arts South Australia.
