On 24 January 2019, joined by a cavalcade of transgender legends, cabaret icons Mama Alto and Maude Davey embark upon a new variety adventure – nothing less than the pursuance and promulgation of Gender Euphoria, the state of being deliriously happy with one’s own and everyone else’s gender identities, choices and expressions. Goodbye gender dysphoria, hello Gender Euphoria.
In postmodern vaudeville style, Gender Euphoria explores and celebrates gender diversity, gender identity and LGBTQIA+, especially the trans, gender diverse and non-binary experience.
“We are interested in amplifying the power, the beauty, the magic and the joy of the trans experience. We won’t ignore the bad – but we won’t surrender to it either!” said Mama Alto.
Song, dance, poetry, burlesque and variety meld for one night of utter fabulousness under the direction of Maude Davey, with Mama Alto belting her heart out in true gender transcendent diva panache, the stellar grand piano stylings of Ned Dixon, Bailee-Rose Farnham’s exquisite dance movement and Mahla Bird’s sublime aerials soaring above the audience.
Quinn Eades and Fury inject some beautiful, thought-provoking poetic reckonings to the evening whilst Mx Munro croons melodies of gender diversity, and Amao Leota Lu delights with her Samoan tradition and contemporary pop dance infusions. Also taking to the stage are Harvey Zielinski, who delivers powerful storytelling of truth and myth, whilst non-binary Australian writer and transgender rights activist Nevo Zisin channels quiet determination, humble wisdom and unstoppable gentleness.
The performance begs the question – what happens when the expectation of misery is rejected? What happens when gender non-conforming people – trans, genderqueer, non-binary, and anyone who steps outside the rigidly policed expectations of sex and gender roles – fully embrace their diversity, live their truths and don’t just scrape by to survive but flourish and thrive?
What happens when the system crumbles in the face of our fabulous divinity? Goodbye gender dysphoria. Hello GENDER EUPHORIA.