What if Juliet’s story didn’t end in tragedy? In a Canberra first, Free-Rain Theatre Company brings the international hit musical & Juliet to The Q in 2026, reimagining Shakespeare’s most famous love story with a bold new twist.
What does it mean to raise your voice when the world refuses to listen? Daniela Koulikov from FUSE spoke with Mitchell Butel about reviving Larry Kramer’s landmark play, honouring queer history, and why theatre is still a powerful space for empathy and change.
Free-Rain Theatre’s production of '& Juliet' explores the question: what if Juliet didn’t die for Romeo and instead chose herself? This remix of Shakespeare is energised by hit pop songs from Max Martin and features a talented cast. In this reimagining, Juliet gets a second chance, while her best friend May, portrayed by Josh Kirk, steps into the spotlight as a non-binary character who navigates issues of identity, community and self-acceptance on their own terms.
Maxi Shield was the kind of queen it was hard to imagine Sydney without — a fixture on Oxford Street. A drag legend who lit up stages from the Darg Race to the Olympics closing ceremony to late‑night karaoke at Palms. News of her death at 51, following treatment for cancer, has left the queer community grieving a performer many saw as both a drag icon and a friend.
We had a chat with Honor Wolff from Hot Department about sketch comedy, creative sparks, and what it means to push boundaries in humor. From their award-winning webseries to their unique writing process, these comedic superstars know how to make people laugh while keeping it smart!
He’s an Australian national gay treasure with a grin that could light up a city and bangs that any ’80S girl would kill for. We interview Bob Downe. Australia’s Clown Prince of Polyester
Nigel Featherstone has never been one to follow the rules. The celebrated gay Australian novelist, playwright, librettist, and music maker is known for pushing boundaries, blending genres, and telling stories that are as intimate as they are political. From his award-winning wartime novel Bodies of Men to his new play The Story of the Oars, Featherstone’s work is fuelled by questions of truth, silence, and what it means to live freely as a queer person in Australia.
As one of Shakespeare’s least performed plays, Coriolanus is startlingly relevant under Trump 2.0. Coriolanus by Bell Shakespeare is playing in Sydney and Melbourne 20 June until 10 August.
