#qtopia

New podcast episode: Interview with George Savoulis from Qtopia

Today we're bringing you a little bonus episode to tide you over until March! We're chatting with George Savoulis, the curatorial director of Qtopia, Sydney's centre for queer history and culture. Join us to hear about queer shoes, the complexities of sharing queer history in an old police station, and why you should visit Sydney!

Listen here

Check out our website, where you can find our sources, as well as everything there is to know about Queer as Fact.

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/qtopia-sydney-unveils-new-tribute-to-mardi-gras-78ers-47-years-on/

Qtopia Sydney unveils new tribute to Mardi Gras 78ers 47 years on

Qtopia Sydney will unveil a new tribute to the 78ers at a special evening of remembrance and resilience on the 47th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras. host an evening of remembrance and resilience on Tuesday 24 June to mark the 47th anniversary of the first Sydney Mardi Gras.

On June 24, 1978, the 78ers’ peaceful protest march on Sydney’s streets became a pivotal moment in Australian history that sparked our modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

On Tuesday this week, 47 years later, Qtopia will unveil a permanent new tribute to those original marchers.

The city’s LGBTQIA+ museum will host the 78ers (pictured above) at Qtopia’s main building in the former Darlinghurst Police Station. It’s the site where many of the 78ers arrested by police were subsequently detained in 1978.

Qtopia Sydney will unveil a newly commissioned commemorative photograph and screen a documentary short film on its creation and the 78ers’ enduring legacy, making up a new permanent exhibition at the centre. Emerging Sydney artist Ben Brewer, who created the documentary, is the youngest artist featured in Qtopia Sydney’s exhibitions.

“This is a strong punctuation mark in the journey of the brave 78ers. The photograph to be unveiled is one of defiance; it shows the 78ers standing on the rainbow flag surrounding the building where they were once imprisoned and humiliated,” Qtopia Sydney CEO Greg Fisher said.

“That same site now houses the world’s largest centre for queer history and culture, amplifying queer stories for all.

78ers’ voices and stories nearly 50 years on

Qtopia’s new exhibition comes at a time of a worrying global rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and erosion of rights.

The museum says the new permanent exhibition is a tribute to those who marched in 1978, their service to the community since and a pledge to defend what they fought for.

“The documentary captures the 78ers’ voices and stories nearly 50 years on,” Greg Fisher said.

“This exhibition is a living record of their fight and tells the world that the hard-won freedoms and progress in queer equality are never to be unwound.”

The event is on Tuesday, June 24 at Qtopia Sydney at part of Pride Fest 2025, a month-long celebration of Queer creativity, culture and community. Book tickets now.

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/brisbanes-jacqui-randa-heads-to-sydney-for-pridefest/

Brisbane's Jacqui Randa heads to Sydney for PrideFest

Brisbane’s cabaret drag star, Jacqui Randa, is taking her soaring vocals and impressive piano skills to Sydney, ready to bloom at QTopia Sydney’s PrideFest.

Originally from Tambo in regional Queensland, Jacqui Randa now she’s living in Brisbane, except when she’s touring Australia, tickling the ivories that is.

“I’m a country girl who’s now making it in the big city, and that big city is all of Australia.” Jacqui laughed, speaking to QNews.

You might recognise this quick-witted musical queen from the ABC series The Piano, where she performed ‘Simply the Best’ in Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station.

And now she’s heading to Sydney with two shows as part of QTopia Sydney’s month-long celebration of queer creativity and culture, PrideFest.

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There’s always room for more with Jacqui Bloom.

When Jacqui was approached about ABC’s The Piano, she was told she was coming to Melbourne to be a part of a documentary.

“I’m on my way to stardom, so I figured this would be great practice to be in a documentary.” Jacqui laughed.

The series invites pianists from all over Australia to play the piano at busy locations around the country, and they are then given the opportunity of a lifetime.

“All I knew was that I was playing the piano in a public place,” Jacqui said

“I love performing, so I just figured I would figure out the details later.”

“So off I go very early in the morning in day drag, and I’m the first performer playing off the rank at 10 am.

“It was a big day, but then a huge surprise to meet Andrea Lamb and Harry Connick Jr.

“That was cool, but when Harry came out at the end of the day, I think my face just melted off my face.

“I had no idea what was happening.”

Jacqui is no stranger to performing in crowds as part of piano bars around the country, but says there was something “magical” about performing on The Piano.

” It was in the middle of the morning, with people on their way to work.”

“People were stopping and pulling over, going, what the hell is this?”

“So we were all part of this magical dream together.”

Check out Jacqui’s full performance here.

Image: ABC

Nothing’s off the table!

Calling herself the lovechild of Tim Minchin & Dame Edna, Jacqui proclaimed herself as Australia’s Next Diva!

And even though she’s enduringly delusional when it comes to finding love, she hopes she may find it in Sydney with her solo show, Jacqui Randa: full Bloom.

Bringing the show to PrideFest next week after touring it in Queensland and Melbourne for Midsumma Festival at the start of the year.

“Full bloom is my origin from Tambo to the big city,” Jacqui tells us.

“And my obsession with Tina Arena, struggling to look for love and my delusional Daddy issues.”

“Drag is all about being larger than life, so there’s always room for more.”

Having a background as a jazz pianist, Jacqui loves rocking out a number on her piano.

But she isn’t just bringing her solo cabaret to QTopia Sydney’s PrideFest, but a Piano Bar as well.

“You never know what you are going to get at my piano bar,” Jacqui said.

“But some of my favourite tracks are, of course, ‘Simply the Best’ by Tina Turner.”

“Audiences love that one, but they also love some Britney and Spice Girls as well as classics like ‘Love is in the Air’.

Since what gets played at the Piano Bar is determined by the audience, anything could happen.

“Who knows, we could go from Kylie to Cold Chisel.” Jacqui laughed.

“Nothing is off the table, and you may even get some surprise special guests.”

Catch Jacqui Randa at her Piano Bar on Thursday 19th June, and in Full Bloom on Saturday 21st June.

For tickets and details, head to the QTopia Sydney PrideFest website.

Images: Supplied