Drag King History Australia: Behind the Zip is a legacy project that acknowledges and celebrates the history and practice of Drag King performance in Australia. The project is an exhibition of Drag King History to be presented at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown, from February 16th to March 5th 2023 as part of WorldPride Arts, the Sydney WorldPride curated art program. It will consist of: a curated free exhibition of photographs and posters from archival materials and photographic collections, video art, object installations and a visual timeline. A visual timeline will also be serrated and will be activated by QR Codes that will link to a website where a collection of interviews of national Drag Kings from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, NT, and Perth will be accessible.
Opening night will include Drag King performances by Sexy Galexy, Guy Alias and First Nations Rock Hard. There will be a DJ set by Drag King Jayvante Swing.
A Drag King panel hosted by broadcaster Kerrie Stanley (ABC Mardi Gras special 2020-21), featuring past and current performers in an intergenerational conversation about their craft in envisioning, creating and presenting cross-gendered performance, as well as a discussion on creating spaces for Drag Kings. Panellists include Sexy Galexy (NSW/WA), Bumpy Favell (VIC), Tricky Boombang and Rock Hard (QLD).
A Drag King workshop, hosted by Sexy Galexy and Kerrie Stanley, will include guidance on stagecraft, costume and make-up for emerging Drag Kings. Participants will be selected upon application. For more information email glamourboiproductions@gmail.com
Opening Night: 16 February 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Gallery Hours: 11:00am to 4:00pm
Support the Behind the Zip project with their fundraising project at chuffed.org
You can check out the World Pride program here