Sydney is officially the home of Mardi Gras and WorldPride this year so you best believe we wanted to get in on all the effervescent action. But we don’t just want to talk the talk, as a passionate supporter of diversity and inclusion, we’re walking the walk with an incredible line up of activities encouraging love, support and a fabulously good time.
Fiercely passionate supporters of the LGBTQI+ community, The Star champions entertainment in all its forms, for all people – no matter their gender, race or sexual orientation, whether they like sequins or prefer a suit – everyone feels welcome once they walk through those glistening doors.
So much so that The Star received a ‘Gold Status” employer status in the 2022 Australian Workplace Equality Index and is a proud member of Booking.com’s Travel Proud initiative, a testament to the strides the group has taken towards making the entertainment destination a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for all.
So with our harbour city playing home to the world’s biggest Pride celebrations this year, it’s no wonder we wanted to play a role.
And with a glamorous transformation into Rainbow Central, we’ve done just that. We’re throwing open our doors to anyone looking for accessible queer entertainment thi with a vibrant spectacle of free performances.
A big fan of drag? Look no further than our Grand Foyer, where each Friday and Saturday night from Friday 17 February – Saturday 4 March, the stage will be given a rainbow makeover when some of the biggest names in drag from across Australia and New Zealand take the floor for a night of unbridled fun and self-expression.
From social media sensation Carla From Bankstown and Drag Race Down Under’s crowned jewel Kita Mean to local starlets Coco Jumbo and Beverly Kills, visitors to The Star Sydney will bear witness to mesmerizing, high-energy camp performances showcasing the queens’ artistry and boundless creativity, paired with colourful animations and aqua art. Rainbow Central acts will be performed at 7:00pm and 8:00pm and are free for all visitors to view.
For those looking to get their party pants on, after a singalong on the Grand Foyer stage, select queens including the ever popular Anita Wigl’it will be sashaying their way up to Cherry Bar to keep the party going with Kita Mean even taking over the turntables in her first ever DJ gig on Sydney’s shores on Friday 3 March.
Guests can sip on the venue’s range of carefully-curated colourful cocktails courtesy of Belvedere, including an iconic rainbow-layered vodka spritz, while dancing the night away to the best disco beats every Friday and Saturday from 8:00pm til late.
Art and culture more your thing? Acclaimed photographic artist and costume maker Gerwyn Davies’ latest exhibition, Mustang, will be unveiled for the first time at the Michael Reid Art Bar. In a series of incredible photography and video footage, Gerwyn explores the unruly narrative of an imaginary queer blockbuster, in which he, buried beneath camp costumes, portrays a faceless hero-cum-heartthrob as he appears in a series of filmic tropes and cliches.
And, for an extra bit of wow-factor, extending its popular performance dates, Aqualume – The Star’s famed acrobatic aerial dance performance – will also be lighting up the Grand Foyer every Thursday to Sunday at 8:30pm, 10:15pm and 11:15pm with a stunning performance. Specially curated to feature multi-coloured silks and vibrant costumes in honour of the festival, the world-class digital art show and aerialist performance complete with lasers and cascading curtains of water is free for all visitors to view.
So what are you waiting for? Enter a world of song, dance and everything sparkly at Rainbow Central (aka The Star Sydney) this WorldPride.
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