MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture 2021

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. Since 2015, the riverside New Farm spot has celebrated the city's LGBTIQ+ community, as well as queer creativity in general — and in 2021, that means hosting 15 events over the 11 days between Thursday, May 20–Sunday, May 30.

On the bill this year: cabaret God is in the House, which ponders and probes society's notions of morality; Lesbian Love Stories, which shares romantic tales through song (and with a rock band); People of Colours, a conversation-driven show about diversity and what it means to be home; and Jeremy Goldstein's Truth to Power Cafe, a participatory performance event that's all about the titular concept. Or, you can enjoy the crazy little thing called Killer Queens, a tribute to glam rock icon Freddie Mercury (with a bit of Prince and David Bowie thrown in), and see Showguys, an ode to 1995's Showgirls with a male and drag queen cast.

And, it wouldn't be a MELT without two of the festival's long-term favourites. So, you'll be seeing who emerges victorious at the MELT Beauty Pageant once more, and checking out visual celebrations of LGBTIQ+ during the MELT Portrait Prize exhibition.

Dylan Evans