It’s not just any Mardi Gras this year – it’s Sydney World Pride 2023.
The not-for-profit festival, which will be incorporating Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will be held between February 7 to March 5 and include theatre, concerts, sports, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.
WHO sat down with Art Simone to chat about her plans for the festival, what it was like working with Kath and Kim (iconic!) and what’s in store for 2023.
What can audiences expect from the World Pride edition of Drag Haus?
They are going to see every facet of stunning drag that they love, plus even more drag that they know they will love. It’s going to be a massive showcase filled with international and local talent. What else could you want? It’s going to be so good!
Last year, you were part of the Kath & Kim 20-year reunion special. Can you tell us a bit more about that experience?
I could tell you about it but I think I died when I finished filming it. So I’m still yet to come back to life! It was an incredible jaw-dropping bucket list moment. I remember I finished filming and had just been with Gina and Jane and they were so, so, kind and they were so thankful. They specifically thanked me for doing Kath on Drag Race. And they said that they were just so appreciative and so proud that I was able to bring Kath to a whole new range of audiences across the world. So after hearing that from your idols I basically died and I cried the whole car ride home.
And you’ve been performing professionally for a decade now, how has the drag scene evolved?
Oh my goodness it has gone from zero to 5000. Drag is continuously evolving faster and faster and faster, which is so exciting. I look at drag back when I started over 10 years ago and you can’t even compare! Being able to connect with audiences and all the drag artists across the world these days with social media and television shows like Drag Race and all the other ones that showcase opportunities – it’s so fabulous. And that’s just like getting the aesthetics of it. But on top of all of that, the audience of drag has just quadrupled. And there are so many people who love, appreciate and celebrate what we do, it’s just phenomenal.
As you continue to grow as a public figure, you’ve obviously had to deal with more public commentary on all aspects of your life. How do you cope with that and do you think you handled any negativity or critiques differently now compared to when you first entered the public spotlight?
It’s a tricky one. You know, everyone says don’t read the comments. I’m literally sitting at my desk and the sign that I’ve stuck on my wall says ‘don’t read the comments.’ But it is definitely tough, and some days are better than others. It’s obviously intensified over the last few years. Of course, everyone seems to have an opinion and they forget that. Underneath all the makeup is a real person with real feelings and emotions. You’ve got to take the good with the bad and one thing that I continuously told myself is for every one nasty thing that can be sent your way there are 1000 other people that absolutely love and appreciate what you do. And it’s just learning to filter out those negative voices and those negative people because unfortunately, sometimes they are the loudest in the room. If you don’t like what I do, I’m not here for you. I’m here for the people that celebrate me, so I think that’s what I’ve had to learn over the years.
And back to Sydney World Pride – are there any other WorldPride events that you’re excited about?
Oh my god, the bloody programme! It’s like over 300 events across Sydney for a small period of time. I don’t know which way up or down I’m gonna be. The biggest thing I’m excited about is that we’re going to have all our fabulous international guests, lots of people flying from all over the world to come in and celebrate Pride in Sydney, Australia. So I’m so excited to be mingling and meeting all of these stunning people from all across the world because the last few Mardi Gras haven’t felt the same because of border closures and all of that jazz. It’s going to be the first one in a long time where we get that wonderful international flavour.
World Pride aside, have you got anything else exciting in the works for 2023?
Season two of my podcast, Concealed with Art Simone, I’m going back and recording as we speak, so it’ll be coming out later this year. I am also starring in the drama series, In Our Blood, which is launching for WorldPride on February 19 on ABC. That will be airing weekly every Sunday, which I’m very excited to see.
For further information on Drag Haus: World Pride Edition and to purchase tickets, Click here.
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