New writing, local music and an exploration of ideas for Western Sydney’s LGBTIQ community

While the Mardi Gras festival burns brightly in the inner city, The Joan will play host to a tiny but vivid spark of creative energy designed to engage Western Sydney’s LGBTI community and its allies. Mini Gras will present new writing and local music alongside community leaders discussing, debating and debunking some mythologies around what it means to be ‘out’ and out west.

Following last year’s success of A Boy and A Bean, which explored issues around marriage equality, Mini Gras will be a night to gather, listen, speak and be heard.

The evening will consist of three events, opening with a panel discussion delving into ideas about creativity, sexuality and locality, with speakers from the AIDS Council of NSW, Headspace, NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and The Joan.

Following the panel is a play reading of a new work by established local playwright Dale Turner. Uncle Harold is a presently poignant story of past sexualities, history and family.

To wrap up the perfect Mini Gras experience are the sounds of up-and-coming musician and musical theatre maker John Milligan, playing some of his favourite anthems.

Mini Gras
Date: Saturday, 28 February
Schedule: The Wild Wild West (Panel Discussion) 6-7 pm;
Uncle Harold (Play Reading) 7.30-8.30 pm;
Queer Sounds (Music) 8.30-9.15pm
Location: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High St, Penrith
Cost: All events are free to attend. On the night, there will be an opportunity to make a suggested $15 donation per event, or $40 for all three events, to help the ghost of Mini Gras future keep on kicking.
Book at http://thejoan.com.au/whats-on/mini-gras-2/ or contact The Joan’s Box Office at 4723-7600.