EVERYTHING YOU A publication NEED TO KNOW A publication PREMIER EVENTS 15 – 18 MArCh 2012 The ArTs CenTre, sTATe TheATre FIVe shOWs OnLY ! National Ballet of China with the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra ★★★★ TICKeTs ‘China's equivalent of Romeo and Juliet... $89 – $159 stands out as a captivating original ’ Group and concession The GuArdIAn tickets also available ‘A ravishing spectacle few will forget’ WALL sTreeT JOurnAL theartscentre.com.au*, 1300 182 183* or the Arts Centre Box Office *Transaction fee applies The Ministry of Culture, People’s Republic of China MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 15 JANUARY - 5 FEBRUARY 2012 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT : WWW.MIDSUMMA.ORG.AU | starobserver.COM.AU PREMIER EVENTS PUBLISHER SSO Media Scott Abrahams PO BOX 537 Prahran, VIC SALES & MARKETING AUSTRALIA 3181 Mike Evans E: [email protected] FEATURE The views expressed are Welcome one and all CO-ORDINATOR not necessarily those of the Andie Noonan It’s Midsumma! Time to come together to celebrate queer culture in Melbourne. publisher. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for Wherever you are on the LGBTI spectrum the team at Midsumma wants you to feel this is PRODUCTION DESIGN the accuracy of information your festival. Troy Murphy contained in any part of the Tomas Nemecek There’s a rich and diverse program this year and we are proud to deliver it to you. text or advertisements in this publication. Advertisers are To the excellent staff, board, volunteers, sponsors and government support – a huge thanks. WEBSITE www.starobserver.com.au responsible for advertising Book tickets, see shows, enjoy the parties and celebrate the diversity of our community. by virtue of the Trades FACEBOOK Practices Act. Star Observer TWITTER MIDSUMMA CHAIR @star_observer © SSO Media, 2011 Advertisement the ViCtoriaN CoalitioN Government proudly supports MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 2012 t) Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge, ContaCt Clem NewtoN-browN mp 94 Chapel Street, Prahran, 3181 | phone. 9981 9501 Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and Clem Newton-Brown MP, Member for Prahran, pictured centre with (from lef Minister for Education Martin Dixon, Parliamentary Secretary for Families & Community Services Andrea Coote, Georgie Crozier, Member for Southern email. [email protected] | twitter. @clemnewtonbrown | facebook. clem.newtonbrown s. Authorised by Clem Newton-Brown MP, 94 Chapel Street, Prahran. Metropolitan Region, Minister for Tourism & Major Events Louise Asher and Minister for Health David Davi MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 15 JANUARY - 5 FEBRUARY 2012 ChillOutFestival2012 Spontaneous Golden Babetime DAY LESFORD LABOUR DAY Broadway Golden Babetime is a new addition to the Midsumma Spontaneous Broadway is one of program, an LONG WEEKEND 9-12 MARCH 2012 the world’s premier comic musical alternate Carnival improvisation shows. The audience invent song after-party, curated titles that inspire the cast to present a song as a collaboration and pitch for a new musical. The audience between Grouse Party then chooses its favourite, the musical director and Danceteria, and improvises an astounding overture, and the catering more to the cast create a world premiere ladies and the queer musical on the spot. underground. Golden Babetime takes you from Complete with costume and Birrarung Marr to Beer-among Babes, after the character changes and dance sun sets, kicking off at 6pm at indoor/outdoor sequences, much musical CBD oasis The Deck. theatre mayhem and hilarity assured. DATE: January 15, 2012 OPEN: 6pm VENUE: The Deck ADDRESS: cnr Flinders & DATE: Jan 19-21 2012 OPEN: 7.30pm King Sts (enter via Mercantile Place) PHONE: VENUE: Gasworks Art Park 03 9534 4879 WEB: www.midsumma.org.au ADDRESS: 21 Graham St, Albert Park COST: $16 PHONE: 03 8606 4200 PRESENTED BY: www.grouseparty.com and WEB: www.gasworks.org.au COST: $35/$32 www.facebook.com/danceteriaparty Cycles&Sequences Ross Watson Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the artist’s career, Cycle&Sequences defines an exciting new development in Ross Watson’s art. Cycles&Sequences explores cycles of life, notions of time and enduringness, change and transition in today’s disposable society. Recent paintings and edition photography feature new models including Bel Ami stars Dolph Lambert, Kris Evans, Lukas Ridgeston and Lance Corporal James Wharton, who with Sir Ian McKellen toured the UK on an anti-homophobia and anti-bullying tour. Consummate skill and expansive imagination are evident in this gently surrealist series, which invites us to contemplate our own DATES: January 20-February 5 2012 existence, place in time, and mortality. OPEN: Fri-Sun, 11am-5pm VENUE: Ross Watson Gallery ADDRESS: 465 Nicholson St, Carlton WWW.CHILLOUTFESTIVAL.COM.AU North PHONE: 03 9348 2821 WEB: www.rosswatson.com COST: Free PREMIER EVENTS MIDSUMMA.ORG.AU | starobserver.COM.AU Carnival 2012 Carnival is the opening dog combo’ so head to event of Midsumma’s the Eagle Pack stand to annual queer arts and check in or register on cultural festival that attracted the day. a whopping crowd of nearly offer JOY 94.9 will broadcast Liz isn’t the only 100,000 in it’s first year at for the next three weeks of the excitement of the Birrarung Marr in 2011. It is festival, all over Melbourne. Be Midsumma Carnival live to air, the biggest single event in sure to take the tram or train in so don’t forget you can listen at Midsumma’s program. preparation for a fun-filled day. www.joy.org.au Make sure you Thanks to the support of our A feast of diversity will be laid get the JOY iPhone app and while principal partner, the City of out for your pleasure on the lower you’re there you might as well get Melbourne, Carnival 2012 will terrace, where a cacophony of Midsumma12 — Midsumma’s again be a free celebration for stallholders will bare their wares, iPhone app. the entire community to enjoy providing the perfect strolling Keep your eye out for Southern — queer, straight and everything destination for new friends and Star Observer to get all the latest in between — everyone is eye candy! information. welcome! Eagle Pack presents the Free entertainment will also inimitable Dulcie’s Dog feature from noon-5pm. Teaser Show, everyone’s favourite DATE: January 15 2012 performances from some of the pack of bitches. The 2012 OPEN: Noon-5pm VENUE: Birrarung Marr PREMIER EVENTS best events in the program will categories include ‘cutest WEB: www.midsumma.org.au COST: Free whet your appetite for what’s on bitch’ and ‘best owner and who rides trams. Stories by Starlight The Pineapple Sorrows Candy Royalle and Sloppy Joe (plus a An absurd tragic-comic new work from number of secret guests and collaborators) Melbourne theatre company, crossditch. come together to offer up Stories by In the wake of a wake, one platter Starlight, an all-consuming fusion of music, poetry, remains. Three hors d’eouvres remember — the performance and soundscapes. Pineapple Sorrows. Performed by Jake Preval, Sherilee Kahui and .... Music by Dylan Lardelli. Known for her arresting and confronting work, Costumes by Chloe Greaves. Directed by Felix performance artist and wordsmith Candy Royalle Preval. found a natural fit with Sloppy Joe, a trio who bend the genres of funk, jazz and soul. “And then, This Midsumma he was just Their unique sounds are now the gone. Toothpick backdrop to her latest body of work. Look. Listen. Be alert around trams. and all!” — Born of desire, politics and self- Asparagus Roll. discovery, Stories by Starlight is an intense, rhythmic journey through the self and into the stars. DATE: January 18-21 2012 OPEN: Wed-Sat 8pm DATE: From January 17, 2012 OPEN: Wed & VENUE: Thousand Pound Bend Gallery PROUD TO PRESENT ADDRESS: 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne Sun 6.30pm; Thu-Sat 7.30pm VENUE: La Mama yarratrams.com.au MIDSUMMA PREMIER EVENTS WEB: www.thousandpoundbend.com.au Courthouse ADDRESS: 205 Faraday St, Carlton COST: $25/$18 conc PHONE: 03 9347 6948 WEB: www.lamama. com.au COST: $25/$15 conc MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 15 JANUARY - 5 FEBRUARY 2012 Midsumma Mooning The Year of T Dance This men-only fundraiser has guys baring Magical Wanking T Dance, it up for your enjoyment? all to win prizes, and maybe a few fans Neil Watkins has wanked presented by Never fear, at T Dance all in the crowd. more than is healthy, allegedly. Midsumma, is your party desires will be With the talent and wet- One of Ireland’s most exciting artists the ultimate party in the park: an satisfied. And to top it off, jock segments, the crowd and incendiary performers, Neil is a out and proud celebration for the Midsumma has decided to are guaranteed an all-round maverick, a 33-year old homosexual queer community and our not-so- get back to our roots and view of the contestants as with a Jesus complex. On orders queer friends. showcase the brilliant local they compete for a tropical from heaven, this is Neil’s journey In 2011 T Dance sold out — talent on offer. Queensland getaway. through the wilderness of queerness the biggest crowd in Midsumma Don’t miss the Throw in a half time comedy — from Catholic Ireland to the history! Get your tickets early to glistening sun over the fine toilet act with rapid-auction and it’s a great night’s cruising bars of the world. enjoy a sweaty summer evening Melbourne cityscape. Immerse access. Book your VIP tickets now entertainment for bugger-all money. This is a brave and heartbreaking of dancing, laughing and, if you’re yourself in the pumped crowd, — before the restricted release lucky, maybe even some lovin’. skin to skin in the middle terrace runs out. A fundraiser for the David Williams Fund, exploration of porn addiction, destructive sexual of Birrarung Marr, a stone’s throw there’s no better way to show your support for behaviour, Catholic guilt and family heartbreak.