Midsumma: Melbourne’s take on Mardi Gras
The Sparrow Men
Heralded throughout the world as the crown of Australia’s queer culture and party scene, Sydney’s Mardi Gras has long lorded it over near neighbour Melbourne’s Midsumma festival, but resting on your laurels can be dangerous.
Kicking off on January 18, Midsumma has a month-long head start on Mardi Gras, starting with Carnival on January 18, immediately followed by T Dance, held in Alexandra Gardens, right in the heart of the city. It’s completely free too, unlike most of Mardi Gras’ much-loved shindigs like the Harbour Party, which come with hefty, hefty ticket prices.
• Melbourne vs Sydney: who wins the showdown?
Midsumma’s Pride March, February 1, turns 20 this year and might be a little bit smaller than Sydney’s equivalent, but the crowds that line St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street get right into it, with the subsequent party at Catani Gardens kicking on through sundown.
But where Melbourne’s really beginning to lift its game, nipping at the heels of Sydney, is in its bulging cultural package, catering for all sorts of queer. We’ve rounded up some of the best on offer this year:
Music maestros
The T Dance, a free evening dance party. Photo: Midsumma
Vinyl Viagra starring Rhonda Burchmore
Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road, Feb 6-7
Fresh from starring in La Cage Aux Folles, Burchmore’s ready to storm the Arts Centre as she channels divas like Marlene Dietrich, Cher and Shirley Bassey alongside numbers from upstarts like Kylie, Beyoncé and Lady GaGa.
St Kilda Town Hall, Feb 7-8
The Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus, celebrating their 25th anniversary, will stage the Australian premiere of this musical celebration of the life and enduring legacy of San Francisco politician and gay rights activist Milk.
Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, Feb 3-7
What does Cervantes’ groundbreaking epic have to do with internet dating sites and porn? Your guess is as good as ours, but we’re intrigued to see what femme showgirl Kerith Manderson-Galvin has to offer in this mash-up of performance art, theatre and cabaret.
Matthew Mitcham’s Twists and Turns
Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road, Jan 30-31
Sydneysider and Olympic gold medal-winning diver Mitcham comes packing his ukulele in this one-man show exploring his struggles with mental health and drug abuse, never losing sight of his cheeky spirit.
Jokers
Musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore will take the stage. Photo: Getty
Preston City Hall, Jan 31
Hannah Gadsby leads the charge in this lady-loving night of big laughs from a smashing line-up of good-time girls. She’ll be joined by the likes of Denis Scott, Rachel Berger, Geraldine Quinn and 2014 Deadly Award-winner Denise McGuinness.
The Butterfly Club, Melbourne Jan 21-Feb 1
Want more spontaneity in your life? Marcus and Andy, The Sparrow Boys, will take anything you throw at them in this whacky, 100% improvised show. They trained at Chicago’s iO Theatre, the joint that spawned Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, so expect mad good stuff.
Arty types
Newport, Jan 15-Mar 15
Four queer cartoonists – Katie Parrish, Merv Heers, Lee Lai and Sam Wallman – use their illustrative super-powers in this fascinating exhibition turning a satirical eye on gender, sexuality, politics, mental health and race.
A Little Joy – by Ballsy Creative, Two Lost Boys
Windsor, Jan 17-31
Paul Smith, founder of Ballsy Creative, gets his super-cute on with this exhibition of a colourful cornucopia of his illustrated critters, held in one of Windsor’s coolest cafes.
Big thinkers
Improv duo The Sparrow Men
Loving Repeating – A Musical of Gertrude Stein
Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Jan 21-Feb 8
Literary icon Gertrude Stein and the love of her life Alice B Toklas are immortalised in this decade-hopping musical that’s sure to provoke deep thought.
Williamstown Library, Jan 7
Dashing author Benjamin Law, the brains behind The Family Law and his sister Michelle, co-author of Sh*t Asian Mothers Say, brings his scintillating wit to Williamstown Library as he talks about his hilarious and poignant travelogue, Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East. It’s a freebie too!
Daniel Whitthaus: Man on a Mission
Footscray Library, Feb 5
On a one-man mission to stamp out homophobia in our schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods, the charming Whitthaus will host an evening of chat about his fight gay rights, and his popular book Beyond Priscilla: One Gay Man, One Gay Truck, One Big Idea.
To book tickets, go to www.midsumma.org.au
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