The Ten Best Things to See at MELT Festival 2016

Labels. What are they good for? Well, we all know the answer to that: absolutely nothing. That’s Jessica McKerlie’s attitude, and she feels strongly about it. In fact, she feels so strongly about it that she has written several songs, poems and burlesque performances about the topic. And she’s bring it all together in her show, Gender Spanner.

Her ditties and musings endeavour to dissect gender stereotypes, as based on McKerlie’s own explorations. Sure, you’ve probably been on this kind of journey before, but we’re sure you haven’t experienced it through McKerlie’s words and music — or with spinning plates, dance moves and a tiny ukulele.

2015 documentary Gayby Baby tried to teach audiences that love, not gender, is the most important thing about family — and became one of the most talked about films of the year as a result. Needless controversy aside, the movie’s statement remains crucial. Gaybies clearly agrees, spreading the same message from the stage.

Once again, real-life accounts of children from same-sex parents, surrogate mums, donor dads, co-parents and guardians are the drawcard, with their tales not only political and personal, but honest and heartwarming. They’re brought to life by a cast of local performers and community members, and overseen by Brisbane Powerhouse’s Kris Stewart, who not only continues to guide the venue’s artistic direction, but directs this production.

There’s something very fitting about a circus performance that ponders identity. Both the art form and the subject are often described as fluid, and Vulcana Women’s Circus have called their MELT show that for a good reason.

In their hands, Fluid is a cabaret of queer artists and friends, as well as a combination of costumes, contemplation and comedy. It’s also a journey between extremes — be they she and he, diva and dancer, or any others in the LGBTI realm — and back again. Yes, this production is fluid by name and fluid by nature.

MELT may be overflowing with fantastic shows, but the festival isn’t just about the performance side of things. Simply take a look at the walls of the Brisbane Powerhouse, and you’ll see what we mean. For the month of February, their foyers will play host to not one, not two, but three MELT art exhibitions.

In Lz Dunn’s Reintroducing Joanna Jones, the life of the famous Melbourne drag queen becomes a fascinating film project. Ray Cook’s If You Can’t Say Something Nice About Anyone, Come Sit Next to Me looks at the ever-changing face of queer culture. And then there’s Tyza Stewart’s Field of Untitle, which explores identity and gender through a series of self-portraits. Yes, this creative showcase lives up to its aims, highlighting not only artistry, but diversity too.

Prepare to forget everything that’s traditionally creepy and awkward about beauty pageants, and embrace the sequin-studded, sashaying side of things instead. That’s the aim at the MELT Beauty Pageant — which is about as close as Brisbane is ever going to get to having its own version of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

In a show of diversity and a celebration of drag queens, kings and trans beauties, ten competitors will battle it out to be crowned the city’s most fashionable figure. Expect wigs, glitter and many a jaw-dropping outfit, courtesy of categories such as Graceful Glamourzons, Tremendous Talent and Condom Costume.

In Footloose, Kevin Bacon danced to overcome his anger. In Hot Rod, Andy Samberg did as well. In First Things First, performer and choreographer Joseph Simons dances for a different reason. He’s remembering the first time he did certain things, such as going to school, riding a bike and kissing somebody.

Actually, he’s also exploring the idea of getting used to all of those things — the moment in time when something new and exciting becomes something that you’ve done before. And, while he’s unleashing his blend of virtuosic dance and physical theatre, he’s giving audiences their own initial encounter. That’d be the first time they see his astounding performance.

No summer festival is complete without a day spent in the glorious outdoors. And no Brisbane shindig is complete without the corralling of the city’s favourite providers of meals on wheels. MELT Picnic offers both.

It also offers a fun and free part of the broader program, complete with a pop-up bar, all your favourite food trucks and antics galore. Sure, plenty of events boast about the latter, but this one looks certain to deliver. A dog and owner costume parade, Dykes on Bikes row and Hot Boi contest are all part of the afternoon’s activities, after all.

Life is full of the kind of realisations that can only inspire laughter. You know the type: something has gone wrong (yet again), or just hasn’t turned out as planned — and the best way of coping is to giggle and guffaw until you feel better.

Christopher Welldon has turned that sort of scenario into something he’s chuckling at — and he hopes you will do the same. Having moved house 60 times in 34 years, he’s sharing his stories of hopping from one home to another, with the end result a combination of catharsis and comedy

Dangerous Liaisons, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s 1782 novel, has been brought to life many times over the years. In the 1980s it made its way to the stage as a play starring Alan Rickman, and to the screen as a film featuring John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. And then there’s Cruel Intentions, the teen-focused, Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring effort you mightn’t have realised was an adaptation.

Now it’s a decadent theatre production — one that’s been inspired by Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater Company, director Derek Jarman’s work, Rococo fashions and the period pieces of Peter Greenaway. Basically, Little Ones Theatre’s production is exactly what a morally ambiguous tale of sex, betrayal and bad behaviour should be when given the high camp treatment.

If The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust wasn’t already MELT’s number one must-see event, it certainly is now. What was first conceived as a celebration has become a tribute to the dearly departed icon, attempting to honour the man known as David Robert Jones, David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke and, of course, Ziggy Stardust.

It’s the latter that’s in the spotlight here, with a who’s who of Brisbane musicians performing in full the album that brought Bowie’s glam-rock persona to the world. Yes, there’ll be tears — but there’ll also be the joy of timeless tracks such as ‘Starman’, ‘Moonage Daydream’, ‘Suffragette City’, ‘Five Years’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’. Plus, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.