Glitz, glamour and a whole lot of glitter is just some of what you can expect at this year’s MELT Festival, which is taking over Brisbane Powerhouse from May 20–30. Full of fresh faces and festival favourites, the 2021 program features more than 15 magical events over 11 days – there’s everything from cabaret and music to theatre and visual arts. It all kicks off on Thursday May 2 with the thought-provoking Truth to Power Café, a theatrical reflection on loss, hope and resistance that asks the audience to get involved. From there you can expect to laugh until your belly hurts thanks to Reuben Kaye’s hilarious new show The Butch is Back on Thursday May 27 or discover some of Australia’s finest queer writers at Queer Lit on Sunday May 23.
The fun and frivolity continues, folks, so don’t take off your heels quite yet! Slap on your face and don your best ball gown for the MELT Beauty Pageant (Friday May 21), sing along to your favourite Queen hits with help from five show-stopping females at Killer Queens (Saturday May 29), or watch roles reverse in Showguys (Friday May 28), a boylesque and drag tribute to the 1995 cult classic film Showgirls. Art will take centre stage at the annual MELT Portrait Prize (May 20 to June 13), which will run alongside Silenced in the Shadows, a series of photographs portraying the emotional battles faced by LGBTIQ+ Pacific Islander and Indigenous people. There will also be a bunch of free events too – gossip will be whispered at chat show Spill the Tea, listen to live tunes at a special MELT Livespark or round up the rugrats for a Rainbow Craft and Storytime morning that’s perfect for creative little ones.
MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture returns to Brisbane Powerhouse from May 20–30. To view the full program and purchase tickets, head here.
