DARWIN PRIDE TAKEOVER
EMBRACE DIFFERENCE SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT
The Darwin Pride Festival is presenting 6 events around Brown's Mart from 22 June - 25 June. From paid parties to free forums, experiences are as varied as our community.
Head to their website to see the full program.
DARWIN PRIDE FESTIVAL LAUNCH
Thursday, 22 June 2023, 18.00 - 20.00
Brown’s Mart Courtyard
FREE
Featuring Auslan interpretation
The Festival Launch will include performances by Edwin Fejo, the Tiwi Island Sistagirls and Australian soul sensation Greg Gould, who recently released his powerful new track “Marching On”. Dedicated to the queer activists who relentlessly fought for LGBTQIA+ rights, the song has graciously been offered by Greg as the official dance anthem of Darwin Pride 2023.
SIDESHOW FEMMES AND FRIENDS CABARET
Thursday, 22 June 2023, 20.00 - 21.30
Brown’s Mart Theatre
Tickets start at $40 - discounts available
Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to play with fire? Lucky for you, these feisty femmes didn't listen. Rebelling against good sense and common decency, the Sideshow Femmes are banding together to bring a unique cabaret experience steeped in tantalising tease and daring deeds. Expect stunts, thrills and maybe a singed eyebrow or two.
ALICE COTTON - Live on Fridays
Friday, 23 June 2023, 17.00 - 19.00
Brown's Mart Courtyard
Free, family and dog friendly, bar open from 4.30pm
Live On Friday in 2023 brings you the best soloists and laid back duos from April – June in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard. Darwin queer indie artist Alice Cotton’s infectious songs ‘hit you with the depth and breadth of her storytelling’ (triple j). Fresh off a top 10 placement in ABC NT’s Territory Sounds Countdown and a finalist placement for the inaugural Australian Folk Music Awards, Cotton is carving up the country’s regional music scene with her narrative songwriting and off-kilter blend of folk, alt-country and indie-rock.
COMEDY BOOM
Friday, 23 June 2023, 19.30 - 22.00
Brown’s Mart Theatre
Tickets start at $40, with discounts available
Featuring Auslan interpretation
Looking for a laugh as part of your Pride weekend? We’ve got you covered with a non-stop queer variety extravaganza, hosted by the magical Mystic Moira with sassy side-kick Chris Southcote. An interactive explosion for the senses – COMEDY BOOM will serve up laughs galore with a twist of fabulousness and a dash of sparkle. From the brilliant mind of award-winning comedian Anna Piper-Scott, the show is guaranteed to be a non-stop smorgasbord of side-splitting screams.
QUEER DANCE PARTY
Friday, 23 June 2023, 21.30 - 01.00
Brown’s Mart Courtyard
Tickets $10
Kick off your Pride Festival weekend with a bang! Featuring performers and DJs from both near and far, this will be the perfect opportunity to get sweaty and celebrate unapologetic queerness. Feat. Poof in Boots, DJ Benny S (Melbourne), DJ C. Crater, DJ Ultramarine. 18+ event only.
NTPHN HEALTH & WELLNESS MORNING
Saturday, 24 June 2023, 10.00 - 14:00
Brown’s Mart Courtyard
FREE
Parties not your scene, or need to recharge in-between? Our Health and Wellness Morning will provide a chance to relax, rejuvenate and connect back to yourself. We’ll be offering a free yoga class run by Darwin Yoga Space founder Carole Baillargeon from 10.00-11.00; a First Nations weaving demonstration by the Starwin Women in Enterprise Collective from 11.00-13.00; a hula-hoop lesson with spinning extraordinaire Julsy Spirals from 12.00-13.00; and a queer writing tutorial by local writer Claire Bizley from 13.00-14.00 – just bring a pen and paper!
PRIDE FORUMS
Sunday, 25 June 2023, 14.00 - 17.00
Brown’s Mart Theatre
FREE - bookings required
In collaboration with NT Writers, NTHAC and a range of other exciting speakers, we’ll be putting on a series of forums where noted queer voices will share their unique experiences. This will be an opportunity for members from the whole LGBTQIA+ spectrum to discuss key topics impacting our community. Come along and listen, reflect, learn, speak and get inspired.
SAFE SPACE
Finally, in the spirit of inclusion Darwin Pride is offering safe spaces for our First Nations and neurodiverse community members throughout the weekend at Brown’s Mart. Acknowledging the traditional custodians of the unceded lands upon which Darwin Pride is being held in addition to recognising the ongoing impacts of colonisation within queer culture, our First Nations Space is provided for First Nations-identifying Darwin Pride patrons as a culturally safe area to rest and restore if required. As well as this, a secluded and low-stimulus space will be available for neurodivergent-identifying individuals who need to take a break from events and recharge as needed.
Head over to www.topendpride.com.au to learn more about events and book your tickets.