Kanolu drag king Ur Dad Daryl has won the inaugural Mr First Nation Pageant in Brisbane, held as part of Melt Festival. Seven performers from across the country competed over five days of rehearsals, photoshoots and live heats. Craven Moorehead was first runner-up and Benny Hangslow second runner-up. Ur Dad Daryl said he felt affirmed by the win and hoped the pageant would bring more visibility to Blak drag kings. He began drag less than a year before entering and described his character as a daggy, earnest dad figure inspired by 1970s and 1980s pop culture.
The Meeniyan Marty Gras drew crowds to South Gippsland for its drag and rainbow-themed events under the theme Rainbow Country. The main night at the Meeniyan Town Hall was briefly disrupted by a hailstorm and a power cut, but a live band kept the party going. The festival raises funds for Opportunities of Development thru Art in Cambodia and the Gippsland Pride Initiative. Organisers say the event has grown since it began in 2018 and that close to 180 guests attended this year's main event.
A large mosaic portrait of drag performer Courtney Act, created by artist Paul Yore, is now on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Built from thousands of found objects, including old nails, glitter, high heels and a Nokia phone, the work looks like a glossy likeness from a distance. Up close, its small details reveal the story of Act's life. Yore spent a year creating the piece and said it was one of the most challenging things he has made. Act said the portrait feels validating and celebrates drag and queerness.
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A glittering mosaic portrait of drag performer Courtney Act has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Artist Paul Yore built the work from thousands of found objects, including discarded fingernails, sequins, high heels, a beer can and a dismembered Barbie doll. Act sent Yore her old fingernails, eyelashes and broken jewellery for the piece. Yore said the project took about a year and was one of the most challenging works he had made. The gallery's director described the portrait as a monument to queer culture.
A glittering mosaic portrait of drag performer Courtney Act has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Artist Paul Yore built the work from thousands of found objects, including discarded fingernails, sequins, high heels, a beer can and a dismembered Barbie doll. Act sent Yore her old fingernails, eyelashes and broken jewellery for the piece. Yore said the project took about a year and was one of the most challenging works he had made. The gallery's director described the portrait as a monument to queer culture.
Brisbane Pride has postponed its Rally, March and Fair Day because of severe weather, with a new date set for Saturday, November 7. Instead, it will host a free event from 3 pm this Saturday at the Wickham Hotel, featuring drag performers Vybe and Coco Jumbo. The party includes a Best Dressed Pageant and music acts. Melt Festival's River Pride Parade will still go ahead on the Brisbane River at 4 pm on Saturday.
The City of Sydney's Art & About festival will take over Oxford Street from Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October, with free events across the precinct. A street party on Bourke Street at Taylor Square opens the festival on Friday evening, featuring DJs, drag performances and dancing. Exhibitions, performances, workshops and installations follow over the weekend, along with a farmers market on Saturday. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event supports plans to revitalise Oxford Street as a cultural and creative precinct.
Hello Gorgeous bar in Newstead, Brisbane, is launching its first Filthy Gorgeous Pride After Party this Saturday, following Brisbane Pride Fair Day. The event celebrates local queer performers, with DJs, drag acts, burlesque artists and live entertainment across the venue and its car park. Proceeds will support Diverse Voices Queensland, a queer-led not-for-profit focused on wellbeing, mental health and inclusion for LGBTIQASB+ communities. The event uses a pay-what-you-can ticket model, and free shuttle buses will run between New Farm Park, Hello Gorgeous and The Brunswick Hotel during the day.
PIP Theatre's queer dark comedy Trophy Boys is coming to Melt Festival, with a cast of female and non-binary actors performing in masculine drag. Director Anne Pensalfini says her own time as drag king Biron Bothways shaped the production. The play follows an all-boys debate team from an elite private school, which is asked to argue that feminism has failed women. Pensalfini says the comedy acts as a Trojan horse, drawing audiences in before the themes become provocative. The show runs from October 21 to 31 as part of the festival.
Comedian Mark Trevorrow, performing as his character Bob Downe, shared the stage with drag queen Stan Munro at the Kyogle Bowlo on Saturday, October 17. The pair played to a packed crowd. Munro, who said Trevorrow makes him laugh easily, first met him 30 years ago at Daylesford, Victoria. Munro, 86, calls himself the oldest living Les Girl and has written a book, Secrets of a Showbiz Dame. He will be interviewed for Antiques Down Under and speak about the book in Sydney on November 7.
Drag performer Joey Jay, a former star of RuPaul's Drag Race, begins her Australian tour in Brisbane this week as part of Melt Festival. Her live show will mix glamour with personal stories and direct interaction with audiences. Joey Jay says she wants to get to know the people in each room and share her experiences, including living with ADHD. She is also looking forward to trying local food, including barramundi. The show at The Beaumont is set for Wednesday, October 21.
Seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drag kings from across Australia will compete for the inaugural Mr First Nation title as part of Melt Festival in Brisbane. The pageant runs across three nights, with a best national costume contest on October 21, a talent round on October 22 and a grand final on October 23. Co-founder Ben Graetz says the event builds on Miss First Nation, which began in 2017 to support Black drag artists. Graetz says the Brisbane Powerhouse has backed the event, which he hopes will bring more visibility to Black drag kings.
Dollymine, a Dolly Parton festival in the rural New South Wales town of Narromine, drew a record 1,600 ticket sales this year. It was the first festival since the country music singer died in August. Locals, drag performers and visitors dressed as Parton for a best-dressed competition, with a tribute line dance and pink-decorated main street. Organisers said the event was started to revive the community after a drought from 2017 to 2019. Many attendees said Parton's songs and message of kindness remained important to them.
