Minus18 are excited to announce our first season of Drag School Workshops. If the world is a stage, then how do we, as queer performers, create, act and enjoy ourselves on it?   WHAT IS IT? A 5 week drama workshops for GLBTIQ youth, incorporating skill sharing, performance, media and discussion. Basically, we’re getting together as a group to discuss, pick up th dress up and perform. You’ll pick up a ton of new skills: from walking in high heels and creating the perfect beard to applying crazy theatre makeup. WE'LL ASK what is gender? What is sexuality? What is identity? How are these roles performed and what expectations influence our performances? And how do they influence our every day lives?

Sunday 16th August   –   11am-5pm An introduction to what Drag School is all about with discussions, creative exercises and sharing of ideas and media. Sunday 23rd August   –   11am-2pm Makeup, dress, voice and body work oriented towards ‘passing’, impersonation and genderplay. Sunday 30th August   –   11am-2pm Makeup, dress, voice and body work for performance. Interspersed with media and discussion. Sunday 6th September  – 11am-2pm This session will have a film screening, creative exercises and discussion.  Sunday 13th September – 11am-2pm Wrap up, free play, feedback and planning for final photoshoot.

At the end of the 5 weeks, you’ll put everything you’ve learnt into practice with a photoshoot. We’ll then host a Gala Exhibition, where you can show off your work to other queer groups! It's only $10 for the whole 5 weeks. So what are you waiting for?   Sign up today. Contact Rei: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WEEK1:
Thanks to everyone who came along and made the opening session of drag school such an enjoyable, educative and exciting experience! After introductions were out of the way, the group collaborated on a safer space agreement to be visible in the workshop space. The agreement was as follows:
DRAG SCHOOL IS: A SAFE SPACE – everyone has the right to feel safe within drag school
AN OPEN SPACE – everyone is welcome and deserves to be listened to with respect
A DISCRIMINATION FREE ZONE – free from sexism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, ableism etc.

I am so thrilled that drag school is off to such an amazing start. For me the highlight was witnessing the small group work, watching the workshop participants share ideas and resources, collaborate and support each other with such openness and enthusiasm. The discussions on gender and identity were stimulating and all of the participants shared their personal experiences and ideas freely. All in all the day was a huge success, and I look forward to more of the same.

WEEK 2:
Thanks to everyone who attended the second session of Drag School! This session was more focused on skill sharing and practical exercises. We covered bearding, packing, binding, did some group voice exercises and played with makeup. Taylor Kendall (aka Mummy Complex, drag queen extraordinaire) demonstrated the ins and out of facial contouring, using Millaa and Kayla as stunt bodies. The latter half of the day was spent finalising performance groups, the running order of the gala, and planning for the city excursion to happen at the end of the next session.  
Several dragstars have visited the All So Fabulous Op Shop to meet Claude and begin planning their costumes for the photoshoot.