The Star Sydney will play host to an eleganza extravaganza as it transforms into Rainbow Central for WorldPride, featuring a vibrant spectacle of free performances from some of Australia’s fiercest drag queens, a brand new exhibition from iconic queer photographic artist Gerwyn Davies, and a colourful collaboration between Cherry Bar and Belvedere from Friday 17 February to Saturday 4 March.
Each Friday and Saturday night during WorldPride (Friday 17 February – Saturday 4 March), the stage in The Star’s Grand Foyer will be given a rainbow makeover when some of the biggest names in drag from across Australia and New Zealand take the floor for a night of unbridled fun and self-expression.
From social media sensation Carla From Bankstown and Drag Race Down Under’s crowned jewel Kita Mean to local starlets Coco Jumbo and Beverly Kills, visitors to The Star Sydney will bear witness to mesmerizing, high-energy camp performances showcasing the queens’ artistry and boundless creativity, paired with colourful animations and aqua art. Rainbow Central acts will be performed at 7:00pm and 8:00pm are free for all visitors to view.
Following their grand performances, select queens including the ever popular Anita Wigl’it will be sashaying their way up to Cherry Bar to keep the party going with Kita Mean even taking over the turntables in her first ever DJ gig on Sydney’s shores on Friday 3 March. Guests can sip on the venue’s range of carefully-curated colourful cocktails courtesy of Belvedere, including an iconic rainbow-layered vodka spritz, while dancing the night away to the best disco beats every Friday and Saturday from 8:00pm til late.
Excited to be back in Sydney for one of the city’s biggest moments of the year, Kita Mean said, “WorldPride is finally here and I’m so excited to perform for everyone at The Star Sydney before bringing some fierce beats to Cherry Bar in my first ever Australian DJ set! Sydney is getting ready to turn it on this month, and I can’t wait to get out on the dance floor with everyone and celebrate this huge moment.”
In a feast for the cultural senses, acclaimed photographic artist and costume maker Gerwyn Davies’ latest exhibition, Mustang, will be unveiled for the first time at the Michael Reid Art Bar. In a series of never-before-seen photography and video footage, Gerwyn explores the unruly narrative of an imaginary queer blockbuster, in which he, buried beneath camp costumes, portrays a faceless hero-cum-heartthrob as he appears in a series of filmic tropes and cliches.
Finally, extending its popular performance dates, Aqualume – The Star’s famed acrobatic aerial dance performance – will also be lighting up the Grand Foyer every Thursday to Sunday at 8:30pm, 10:15pm and 11:15pm with a stunning WorldPride-themed performance. Specially curated to feature multi-coloured silks and vibrant costumes in honour of the festival, the world-class digital art show and aerialist performance complete with lasers and cascading curtains of water is free for all visitors to view.
Fiercely passionate supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community, The Star champions entertainment in all its forms, for all people – no matter their gender, race or sexual orientation, whether they like sequins or prefer a suit – feel welcome once they walk through those glistening doors. The Star was named a silver employer in the 2021 Australian Workplace Equality Index and is a proud member of Booking.com’s Travel Proud initiative, a testament to the strides the group has taken towards making the entertainment destination a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for all.
