Queering the Collection

“As a young kid growing up in conservative Queensland, it was only in the theatre that I got a glimpse of queerness. As the lights dimmed, these rare moments became a lifeline. Queer Artists have always existed, but our stories are often hidden in plain sight. This short form series uses objects and images to rekindle histories, memories and queer experiences. It questions what is collected and why? Whose lens is prioritised? And reinforces the fact that Queers make the best art, theatre, performance and parties.” Tristan Meecham, Creator, Queering the CollectionQueering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for curatorial work.Portrait of Uncle Noel Tovey AM, taken by Mia Mala McDonald.For more information about Queering the Collection, visit artscentremelbourne.com.au/together-with-you

A prelude to Queering the Collection, by creator Tristan Meecham.Portrait by Mia Mala McDonald.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne in collaboration with Tristan Meecham.Queering the Collection is a powerful series of interviews inspired by culturally significant items from the Australian Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne and The Australian Queer Archives.Featuring Janet Anderson, Robyn Archer AO, Colin Batrouney, Caroline Bowditch, Maude Davey OAM, Ben Graetz, Stephen Nicolazzo, Uncle Noel Tovey AM and Christos Tsiolkas.Created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection.Special thanks to The Australian Queer Archives, Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.

From high kicks at Her Majesty’s to impersonating Shirley Bassey in the UK, Uncle Noel Tovey’s theatrical career has spanned over 60 years. He overcame racism, adversity and homophobia, to become a leading First Nation voice within the LGBTIQ+ community. This episode honours his life story, concluding with a moment he never thought would happen - witnessing the Victorian Government expunge and apologise, for historical convictions against gay men in 2016.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for curatorial work.Portrait of Uncle Noel Tovey AM, taken by Mia Mala McDonald.

Contributing to the rise of women’s theatre in the late 80’s and building Australia’s Burlesque scene in the 00’s, Maude Davey always ensured the voices of Women, Trans, Gender-Diverse and Queer Artists were prioritised in the theatre. This episode spans Melbourne’s Docklands parties, Miss Wicked Competition, the emergence of Burlesque, sexual fantasies and mentoring young artists. It showcases Davey’s impact and status as a Queer theatrical Shero.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.Portrait of Maude Davey by Mia Mala McDonald. 

The cultural significance of Tony Kushner’s Angel’s in America for the LGBTIQ+ community cannot be overstated; a play that spoke to the horror of the times as it was unfolding. Colin Batrouney starred in the Australian (MTC) premiere production when the AIDS epidemic was at its deadly height. This episode reminds us how HIV / AIDS decimated a generation of queer creatives, bringing with it profound grief and loss. As an actor, Angels in America was unlike anything Batrouney had experienced and led him to become a health advocate in the aftermath of the epidemic.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.Image of Colin Batrouney in Angels in America, 1994 by Jeff Busby. Courtesy of Melbourne Theatre Company.

Ben Graetz came out as drag queen Miss Ellaneous on his 25th birthday. Since then, he has expanded as a beloved First Nation artiste and ‘Drag Mother’ to many. In this episode, we journey through Sydney in the 90’s as Ben established his drag persona, thriving in Darwin in the 00’s as he nurtured his First Nation drag community, and nowadays, building creative pathways nationally for Queer and First Nation artists to tell their story, on their own terms.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.Portrait of Ben Graetz as Miss Ellaneous, 2024, by Mia Mala McDonald.

Janet Anderson recently starred in Overflow, a play written by non-binary artist Travis Alabanza. Her solo performance was a tour de force and aligned her personal with her political. The play was presented when trans people dominated headlines, during a time of debate about bathroom usage. Overflow was a creative haven; the entire Trans and Gender Diverse creative team allowed Anderson to bring her whole self to the rehearsal room, something rarely afforded to Trans creatives.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.Photo of Janet Anderson by Andrew Fraser, provided by artist.

Christos Tsiolkas and Stephen Nicolazzo have collaborated on two productions that have shifted their creative practices. Together working on Merciless Gods and Loaded, these artists have formed an intergenerational partnership buoyed by their shared experience of being outsiders and migrants while negotiating class, anger, shame and politics.Queering the Collection is created by Tristan Meecham.Editing and audio production by Jess Fairfax.Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne, in association with the Australian Performing Arts Collection and The Australian Queer Archives.Special thanks to Ian Jackson, Ange Bailey and Nick Henderson for their curatorial work.Portraits of Stephen Nicolazzo and Christos Tsiolkas 2024, by Mia Mala McDonald.