Crowds flocking to the Bendigo CBD for White Night can expect “non-stop drag”, with Miss Art Simone and Pashion Couture performing a show inspired by Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“You’re going to see every aspect of drag that you can imagine, and even more that you never knew you could imagine,” Pashion said.
The pair have been working on the show for some time and expect each performance to go for about 40 minutes on one of Bendigo’s heritage trams.
The performances are expected to be a highlight of Bendigo’s first ever White Night, which takes place from 7pm until 2am next month.
The festival’s program was released on Wednesday.
“Expect all your favourite pop, disco and party tracks, with lots of colour, lots of fun and lots of comedy,” Art said of the heritage tram performances.
Art is one of Melbourne’s premier drag queens and is known for spectacular performances, fabulous persona and extravagant costumes.
Pashion too is a leading drag queen as well as being known nationally for iconic costume designs.
And yes, festival goers can expect “more costumes and sequins than you can poke a stick at”, or at least as many as can fit on a tram.
“They are quite big trams, but we have some very big costumes,” Pashion said.
Art had now done White Night performances in Melbourne and Ballarat and said the best part was getting out into the community, having fun and connecting with audiences – especially with those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come and see shows.
“Over the first few hours the families come out and they love it,” Art said.
“It’s so great because a lot of the time we are performing in over-18 venues and we don’t get to strut our stuff for everybody.”
Pashion said kids were especially enthusiastic.
“They see color and movement and they are into it,” she said.
White Night performances and installation will also pay homage to the city’s rich history, from the Dreamtime stories of its Indigenous owners to its transformation during the gold rush.
Ballarat’s White Night earlier this year generated more than $5 million for the local economy and similar results are expected in Bendigo, according to the state government.
Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
