Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette took the world by storm this year when her stand-up special became available to global audiences via Netflix. Tasmanian born Gadsby recalls painful memories of growing up queer during the debate to decriminalise homosexuality during the ’90s. It’s a powerful and confronting moment – and one that inspired artistic director and parent Jenn Blake to create a brand-new festival especially for queer families.
Blake says, “Her painful memory reminds us of the care that is so often lacking in informing and including children in debate and offering a full and dimensional reality. There is so much to enjoy and celebrate about the LGBTQIA experience and very little opportunity for children and families to connect and participate together, which ultimately validates our identity and strengthens our sense of belonging.”
Taking place on the first day of the spring school holidays, Fambo will bring together queer contemporary artists at Redfern’s 107 Projects for vogueing, a drag cooking demonstration, creative workshops and storytelling. With every activity creating a safe space where gender is not binary or imposed, difference is not othered and creative expression is celebrated.
And the program makes us wish we were still aged 4-12, because performance artist Shahmen Suku will be there as his alter-ego Radha La Bia to show kids and families how to cook… and how to rethink ideas of racial and cultural identity, gender roles and the kitchen. Kamilaroi artist Dennis Golding, who spent his childhood in the 2016 postcode, is running a design workshop exploring childhood memory through popular and traditional culture symbols. And artist Kieran Butler is inviting everyone to destroy his huge photographic installation, so we can all go home wearing the art instead.
Alongside Gadsby’s emotive stand-up, Blake says the government’s inability to support a Safe Schools curriculum and the ongoing, damaging effects of the postal plebiscite on marriage equality all played their part in wanting to bring the community together. Blake says “it is their hope that Fambo creates a space in which all children and families feel welcome to be their authentic selves and feel inspired and uplifted.”
Blake has previously worked for Underbelly Arts Festival, Performance Space, Sydney Festival and Sydney Children’s Festival, as well as working as the program manager at Campbelltown Arts Centre. So they’re calling on festival favourites Heaps Gay to run a two-hour dance party of queer hits, past and present, and Sydney-based vogue mother Bhenji Ra, who recently curated Sissy Ball at Carriageworks, to show off her expertise in the dance art.
And for hands-on little ones, queer femme artist Nicole Barakat will facilitate an open space to play and experiment with colour, texture, and everyday materials and artists EO Gill and Anastasia Zaravinos will work with families to create a series of photo portraits for participants to keep. Plus, kids can settle down to stories from Miss First Nations 2017 winner Josie Baker or watch the premier of stop-motion animation Pada Suatu Ketika (Once Upon A Time) by artists Deborah Kelly with Wayang Cyber.
It’ll be one incredible, inclusive party – and most of the program is free.
