When so much attention focused on Sydney, Australia earlier this year during World Prde 2023 and Mardi Gras, the cameras were also rolling in Melbourne too.  Joseph Gardner and Andrew Cox were there making their delightful documentary  Victorian Queens which then premiered at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.   

Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria (hence the title) but in the documentary, it is referred to by its traditional Aboriginal name of Naarm which is in the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation.  Even more relevant in  this case as  Zodiac one of the four drag queens interviewed is  indigenous which is a major part of her story  

The 45-minute documentary follows four drag queens in total and is split into chapters that focus on each Queen.  Each of them is keen to share their particular unique journeys and we learn about their roles/lives in the local community

They start with a beaded queen called Lady Diamond who makes her own very creative costumes to fit what he calls his matronly figure  In fact he describes Lady Diamond “She is basically like a housewife sort of persona, like a motherly figure, she goes to Bimbos. She performs and takes care of other queer community members and creates a safe space for them.”

Totally different is  Aysha Buffet, a trans queen with Filipino lineage, who mixes both of these elements into her drag persona.  She too is very happy in her skin and is proud of her contribution to her community. So too is the third queen Art Simone, but she is the only one  who may have ambitions beyond Melbourne as she talks longingly about trying to get close to Ru Paul and his ubiquitous Drag Race 

The film, made for ABC TV in Australia, is quite a surprise in both the sheer diversity and quantity of queens in the area.  Plus without exception, as well as being very talented they all had an abundance of natural charisma which made for such refreshing viewing. 

Victorian Queens can be streamed free https://iview.abc.net.au/show/victorian-queens 

BUT you will need to connect via a VPN

 

 

 

Review : Roger Walker-Dack

Editor in Chief : Queerguru 
Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) and NLGJA The Association of LGBT 
Journalists. and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributung Editor The Gay Uk &Contributor Edge Media 
Former CEO and Menswear Designer of  Roger Dack Ltd in the UK    
one of the hardest-working journalists in the business' Michael Goff of Towleroad