The rainbow theatre weekend: A proud splash of colour
Christchurch Pride 2024 kicked off last week, and the Court Theatre has decided to shimmy onto the scene with its own weekend of rainbow-hued theatrical events.
Tim Bain, associate artistic director at the Court, has pulled together the rainbow theatre weekend, an exciting and diverse three days of performance and participation that starts on Friday.
“We’re taking an approach to get as many different types of audience through, not just the ones that are going to come to a drag show,” says Bain. “They don't even necessarily have to align with any of the LGBTQIA part of it.”
And diverse the line-up is too: There’s Tea With The Topp Twins, where you can enjoy a hot beverage and a scone with the iconic Kiwi musical duo. There’s also Tango Makes Three, a children’s event based on the award-winning kid’s book. And there’s Nude Dudes Do Dramatic Readings, an R18 body-positive event that will be exactly as described.
Bain says the emphasis with the bookings has been “putting a lens on queer artists, creatives and stories”, and a major coup has been securing RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Kita Mean. She will be taking part in Scared Scriptless: Dragged, an improvisational show, and also appearing with Tess Tickle and Rita Menu in Queens of Drag.
“Queens Of Drag is just nonstop comedy, glamour and costumes – everything you would imagine a drag queen is – on steroids for over an hour,” Mean says. “We make it look so effortless on stage. But backstage is a frantic mess of costumes being thrown on and corsets tightened, and then being kicked on stage to twirl for two minutes.”
Bain is keen for anyone and everyone to join in with the rainbow theatre weekend.
“Take a risk on the thing you think you might not like, come along and just be entertained,” he says.
The events run until Sunday. More details on the Court Theatre website.