Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2015
Image: Chris Peken - Courtney Act and the Freddie Mercury’s
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is always known to be extravagant. It’s a chance to celebrate and highlight the creativity, passion and pride of Sydney’s LGBTQI community and contributes to the cultural and creative powerhouse of Sydney. Aside from the world-famous Mardi Gras Parade on March 7th, this year’s festivities include performances, exhibitions, and activities. Since its genesis in 1978, the Mardi Gras event has continued to grow in size, scale and celebration and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
There have been some memorable Mardi Gras events for Marc Kuzma, aka Claire de Lune, restaurateur and drag renowned Sydney-based drag performer. “I think it was 1996,” Marc reminisces, “It rained all through the parade and I got pneumonia!” Claire de Lune will host a larger version of the popular Cooking with Claire event, taking place at Slide on February 26th, where a live cooking show meets cabaret. “The MC will be Verushka Darling, who will be on the GoPro, and filming all the nitty-gritty going on onstage,” said Marc. “We had a working dinner last week and starting talking about the event and decided we’re not going to script at all! We’re just going to get onstage and go with it.” With dancers accompanying the onstage gastronomy, you’ll have plenty of entertainment.
Feb 26, Slide, 41 Oxford Street, Sydney, 7pm Doors open, ticket information:info@slide.com.au
The Royal Botanic Gardens will host a Harbour Party to party the day and night away with a million dollar view. The lineup includes Canadian kitsch-pop sensation Kiesza, Bimbo Jones fronted by Lee Dagger, all the way from the UK, and Aussie popstars Samantha Jade and Danii Minogue, among a stellar collection of DJs to provide a pumping good-time.
28 February, Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, 3.00pm to 11.00pm, tickets@mardigras.org.au
Till March 5th, The Mardi Gras Film Festival will be held at Event Cinemas on George Street and has a sensational line up of films. The 2015 festival will feature seventy diverse short films, films and documentaries from a range of genres. From its humble beginnings in 1993, the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney is one of the top five queer festivals in the world. Paul Struthers Festival Director said, “The films challenge the stereotypes of queer cinema and I believe that this is an important element in the film industry today.”
In particular, the Australian film All About E directed by Louise Wadley, is the City Hub’s movie to watch. All About E is a soul searching film about a Sydney DJ named E with the help of her gay best friend Matt. Whilst balancing the nightclub life, lesbian lovers and family, E is on the pursuit find out who she is and what she is made out of.
“E is that heroine. She’s complex. She carries the burden of expectations of her Lebanese migrant family as she struggles to work out who she is. Everyone has dreams but not everyone has the courage to pursue them, or even know what their dreams are. E is on a journey to find that out, to be her authentic self. It’s a universal story; it’s what we all struggle with,” Director Louise Wadely explains.
Mar 5th, Event Cinemas, George Street, prices may vary see: http://queerscreen.org.au/mgff/ticketing/
If you enjoy watching theatre performances, Cock has been playing to audiences worldwide for the last six years including its Royal Court premiere in London and its Off-Broadway transfer in 2010. This year Red Line Productions and Mardi Gras Festival will be launching the Sydney premiere at the Old Fitz Theatre.
“This play is split into three acts in which John [protagonist] is indecisive if he wants M or W,” Nicholas Eadie explains. “Unfortunately, there is no nudity in this performance. However, it is an interesting modern piece about sexuality and labeling. The words of bisexual, homosexual, heterosexual, should belong in the past. We’re trying to get to a point in civilisation where gender difference is a choice and should not define us.”
Until Mar 6, Old Fitzroy Theatre, Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo, $22-$38, oldfitztheatre.com/booktickets
From February 24th to March 5th, Drag and Drop will feature some of Sydney’s best drag-performers in pop-up shows sprinkled all across Darling Harbour. Alternatively, if you’re ready to unleash the performer inside, you can participate in the “Are You Ready 4 Freddie?” tribute video. All ages and abilities welcome on top of the Pyrmont Bridge.
And to end the festival with a sha-bag, make sure you catch the Mardi Gras Party post-parade on March 7th. With an all-star line-up featuring Jessica Mauboy, Nick Jonas, Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, Betty Who and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian global ambassador and world-famous drag-performer Courtney Act. The event is selling tickets fast, so if you wanna chant and liberate yourself to ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor,
Mar 7, Playbill Venues and Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park Sydney, 6th release: $149.36 ($139 + Ticketek fees), http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MARDIGRA15
