RIOT Brings the Atmosphere of a Queer Club to the Stage

This article is supported by The Arts Centre Melbourne, who are showing the award-winning Irish theatre show RIOT, hosted by LGBTQI+ activist and infamous drag queen Panti Bliss.

Feeling politically burnt out and in need of a good time that doesn’t just pretend the world isn’t totally screwed right now? Contemporary Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY are bringing their new show to Melbourne which could be a sequinned salve for these dark days.

More like a queer club than a traditional theatre experience, RIOT blends drag, circus, and performance. Acting as a manifesto for how we can take control of our future in this monumentally messy era, the production is informed by ten years of THISISPOPBABY’s work which gives centre stage to artists, weirdos, and revolutionaries.

The cast is made up of Irish artists known for pushing boundaries – including fringe favourites Lords of Strut – all corralled by drag superstar and queer activist Panti Bliss who acts as MC and ringleader. The face of Ireland’s marriage equality campaign, Panti follows up on her call to action about queer rights that went viral a few years ago. No better time, given the relief-filled outcome of our own recent plebiscite.

The show is an evolution of WERK, a live art club night that THISISPOPBABY has been throwing around the world since 2010. “It was in response to the sociopolitical feeling of something that was going on in the world today” says THISISPOPBABY and RIOT co-director Jennifer Jennings.

“We invited performers, artists, and designers to respond to that. But it was still in the context of a club setting. It wasn't seated, it was a big party night out for people. You could see a wild dance act or an amazing number from a satirical band but because we're theatre-makers, it was always rooted in theatre. You would always see an amazing monologue from a really esteemed performer, all this kind of juxtaposition.”

The show will be different each night with a special guest making an appearance, keeping the spontaneity of a club night, but on stage. It’s important to Jennings and THISISPOPBABY that the show can adapt to different locations too – as well as Melbourne, it’ll also take on Sydney and New York – each time shaking up the venue, sometimes with audience on stage so that everyone can experience what Jennings describes as “an incredible strip tease that you really want to be right up close to.”

Keeping a party vibe while exploring queer politics is essential to Jennings, particularly when it comes to RIOT. “We've always framed our politics within a party. We kind of knew that there was real power in this juxtaposition that if people trusted you enough, they knew that ultimately there was some sort of cathartic good time or dance that led them through the evening, then you could really go anywhere. It could be as serious or as dark or as sad as long as you brought them into that and brought them out of that.”

“All of our work is really super warm, ultimately, and quite hopeful and optimistic. I don't know how that came about but it just is. It just can bring an audience to a place of possibility and it's an invitation to everybody in the room to go out and be an active citizen, to be a better member of your community.”

RIOT is a call to arms but it’s also shorthand for a good time. “It's a good word that has a bit of a double meaning and that feels really important. It’s full of anger and frustration and criticism, but also there's a lot of power in having fun, there's a lot of power in dressing up, there's a lot of power in going out with your friends, you know? It's about all of that, as well.”

This article is supported by The Arts Centre Melbourne. You can find out more about RIOT and buy tickets here.