Update: Big Thick Energy has been postponed to March 11-13. The festival was scheduled for March 3-6, but the theatre sustained significant damage from heavy rains.
After making an earth-quaking sell-out debut between lockdowns in 2021, Big Thick Energy is back as a four-day extravaganza curated by performance artist and “booty manipulator” Demon Derriere. Expect a life-affirming helping of body positivity and liberation through movement, creativity and community in the beautiful surrounds of Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst.
This variety festival features 11 skills-sharing workshops, local artisan markets and three ferocious evenings of high-energy entertainment featuring burlesque, drag, vogue, slam poetry, freak show acts and live music. Big Thick Energy puts thick, curvy performance artists in the spotlight, breaking stereotypes and celebrating all bodies. Some of Sydney’s baddest babes are on deck, including Western Sydney’s ‘It’ girl Carla from Bankstown, bearded and beautiful drag queen Peach Fuzz, draglesque queen Mama Medusa, singing sensation Seann Miley Moore, burlesque veteran Rainbow, and many more.
Part of the Sydney Mardi Gras festivities taking over the city, Big Thick Energy is a safe and inclusive space for IBPOC and LGBTQIA+ bodies, and a judgement-free space for anyone who wants to learn to liberate their inner bad-ass and celebrate the skin you’re in. All events are Auslan interpreted.
For the record, it is not a prerequisite to be “big” and/or “thick” in body type to attend any of the events. You only need to be willing to get amongst that “energy”.
Grab yourself a one-day or two-day festival pass, or choose-your-own-adventure from three nights of performance showcases and two days of workshop activities including various dance lessons, queer sex-ed, Auslan lessons, life drawing, and even a crafternoon with local artist Jeff McCann. Tickets start at $45 for shows and $35 for workshops.
Find out more about the program and grab your tickets here.
