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Overview
Get ready for a night of raucous entertainment, as one of the biggest names in Sydney's underground cabaret scene returns to the Beresford in Surry Hills. Presented by Artbank and MC'd by the legendary Renny Kodgers, this one-off event will see an epic lineup of performance artists take the stage, for a variety show unlike anything you've ever seen before.
"Events like Renny Kodgers and Friends provide us with the opportunity to engage all of our audiences — showing art isn't always a serious, sombre affair," says Artbank director Tony Stephens. "It's a common misconception that Artbank is just an art rental service. In reality, we are a leading government program charged with supporting and promoting the incredible work of Australian artists."
The event is set to take place on the evening of April 21, with Stephens promising "a unique celebration of Australian art and artists in an unconventional setting."
"Guests who attended the last sell-out Artbank event hosted by Renny Kodgers at the Beresford in 2013 still talk about it as one of their art world highlights for the year and have been after us ever since to present it again," said Stephens. "This time there'll be even more performance artists, Australian art infused trivia and the launch of an Artbank sculpture commission. We're also embedding two Australian artists on every table so guests can expect an intimate evening of non-stop thrills and laugh out loud fun."
Alright, so you're not entirely caught off-guard, here are five unexpected, flashy, glamorous, far-out things to expect at Renny Kodgers and Friends this April.
BETTY GRUMBLE WILL CONJOUR THE SUPERNATURAL WITH HER WITCH DANCE
A former child pageant star turned self-described "feminist contagion," Betty Grumble's act is fierce, provocative and titillating all at once. Expect ample nudity and plenty of fake blood.
YOU'LL LEARN TO TWERK WITH CAROLINE GARCIA
Perfect the art of the twerk with Caroline Garcia, a Sydney-based performance artist who specialises in cross-cultural dance and its intersection with popular culture.
YOU'LL SEE RENNY MEET HIS MATCH AGAINST ADONIS
Adonis is a mainstay of the local art scene, having collaborated on numerous projects including Force Majeure's audacious dance work Nothing to Lose. Here's hoping Renny is up to the challenge.
GANG OF SHE WILL BELT OUT THE MUSIC OF TINA TURNER
What could possibly suit a surrealist drag act better than the music of Tina Turner? This disco-obsessed art collective will be belting out the hits, and we can't image they'll object if you decide to sing along.
LIAM BENSON WILL THROW DOWN AND CHANNEL HIS INNER-DIVA
Liam Benson has been performing in Sydney for over a decade. Unashamedly political, his act interrogates contemporary Australian attitudes towards race, sexuality and gender.
Artbank presents Renny Kodgers and Friends on Thursday, April 21 from 7-10pm at Upstairs Beresford. Limited tickets on sale from artbank.eventbrite.com.
Header image: Rowan Conroy.