Kurruru began in 1984 as the Port Youth Theatre Workshop, providing arts programs for young people that developed issue-based theatre and performance skills in a youth friendly environment.

With the appointment of respected Elder Josie Agius, as the company’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Networker, the organisation focused its work exclusively on working with and for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the western suburbs of Adelaide. In 2003 Port Youth Theatre Workshop changed its name to Kurruru (a Kaurna word meaning ‘circle’), to better reflect its community and focus, becoming the first and only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth performing arts company in Australia.

These changes were supported by amendments to the Constitution in 2000 to become an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, and a name change in 2003 from Port Youth Theatre Workshop to Kurruru Indigenous Youth Performing Arts Inc. In 2008, reflecting the aspirations of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, Kurruru again changed its name, shortening it to Kurruru Youth Performing Arts Inc. In 2008 Kurruru’s Board became 100% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and in 2009, employing its first Aboriginal Company Manager, people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage represented 80% of all Kurruru Staff.

Kurruru has enjoyed national exposure performing at high profile national events, both in South Australia; including events like WOMAD and the Adelaide Festival of the Arts; and interstate including numerous performance opportunities at the Dreaming Festival as well as one-off events like World Youth Day. In 2009, Kurruru took four of its young performers to the Vanuatu Theatre Festival.The company maintains a strong link to culture while demonstrating a high level of artistic integrity while working closely with Elders, knowledge bearers and young people. With this srong cultural an community underpinning Kurruru produces high-quality work including; the Fringe Award winning Crossing Paths (2006), the Ruby Award nominated Second to None (2007) and the Fringe Award nominated of the future (2008).

Kurruru creates a safe and supported environment for its programs to take place within, encouraging young people to experiment and take risks as they explore new forms of creative practice and cultural expression. The workshop program offers participants opportunities to explore and build artistic and cultural skills, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners and support workers enhancing their opportunities for engagement. As members of our performance troupes, young people are enabled to employ these skills in creative development of work which forms the basis of Kurruru's performance compositions.

The success of Kurruru’s work is reflected in its partnerships with government in areas of health, juvenile justice and social inclusion who have seen the value of the company’s work in supporting outcomes in these areas.

Locally, the Kurruru performance troupes are regularly invited to perform throughout the year at launches, festivals and events, presenting both new and existing work publicly to diverse audiences. The work performed by the performance troupes is derived from creative development undertaken during the workshop program.

Working with over 200 young people living in regional communities throughout South Australia including; Point Pearce, Copley/Leigh Creek, Marree, Raukkan, Ceduna, Meningie, Port Lincoln, Coober Pedy, Murray Bridge, Broken Hill (Maara Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation), Berri, Mt Gambier, Port Augusta, Kurruru’s regional program provides participants with opportunities to present their work both locally at regional festivals (supported by Kurruru and local support workers) and at major centres, representing their community on a state or national level.

Kurruru performers are invited to take part in nationally significant cultural events/festivals; Dreaming Festival, World Youth Day Opening Ceremony, Adelaide Festival of the Arts, World of Music and Dance Adelaide(WOMADelaide) and Regional Arts Australia. Our performers obtain opportunities to work with nationally recognized choreographers and artists in the presentation of these works on local, national and international platforms.

Kurruru consults and seeks constant feedback from community employing a range of mechanisms to engender community involvement in organisational planning and development of the company’s programs; through a broad community representation on the Kurruru Board of Management, the development and engagement of youth input into the company through SAIYWAT (Kurruru's youth council), and input from staff, participants and their families all inform the development of program priorities.