MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture 2019

Overview

It's festival time at Brisbane Powerhouse once again, all thanks to the return of the venue's MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture. Every year since 2015, the riverside New Farm spot has celebrated the city's LGBTIQ+ community, as well as queer creativity in general — and in 2019, that means nearly 35 productions over ten days between Friday, June 28 and Sunday, July 7.

Guest directed by producer and director Emily Gilmore (Spring Awakening, The Last Five Years), this year's MELT is jam-packed with music, cabaret, comedy, theatre, talks, panels and art — as headlined by cabaret star Reuben Kaye. Other highlights include the first ever MELT queer comedy gala; immersive performance La Silhouette, which turns a cabaret club into a maze; five powerful ladies channelling Freddie Mercury in Killer Queens; and a huge free costume party.

The list keeps going, complete with Aussie cabaret queen Dolly Diamond taking on TV game show Bl*nkety Bl*nks; the hilarious Baby Bi Bi Bi, about being a bisexual woman; and musical love story Yank!, which takes inspiration from the real-life experiences of gay soldiers in World War II.

MELT will also include its queer and inclusive 'gayming' experience for another year, showcasing to tabletop and digital games from queer creators; welcome artist William Yang to look back on his life and the gay movement in Sydney from the 70s to now; and fill the Powerhouse walls with a heap of queer art. Or, you can sit down to watch inspiring documentary The Coming Back Out Ball Movie, get some free laughs at queer-centric Friday night sessions and listen to trailblazing community elders chat about their experiences.

Image: Dylan Evans.