Queerstralia
Queerstralia is an Australian TV series by Guesswork Television Production for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series hosted by award-winning comedian and self-proclaimed “professional lesbian” Zoe Coombs Marr[1] and directed by Stamatia Maroupas[2] combines comedic and documentary techniques to explore queer history of Australia.[3]
Over three one-hour episodes themed around belonging, identity and law, Zoe covers everything from lesbian convict gangs to the gay bushranger Captain Moonlite; the 78ers and gay bashing at the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978, and the AIDS response in Australia.[4]
The series features interviews with comedian Hannah Gadsby, actor Magda Szubanski, historian Dr Yves Rees, activist Peter de Waal, former footballer Ian Roberts, feminist and filmmaker Barbara Creed and showrunner Tony Ayers.[5][6]
All 3 episodes of Queerstralia were released in 2023. Episode one: The Law featured on Gogglebox Australia.[7]
Episodes[edit]
- Episode 1: The Law
- Episode 2: Gender and Identity
- Episode 3: Community and Belonging
Cast[edit]
- Zoë Coombs Marr
- Magda Szubanski
- Ian Roberts
- Nayuka Gorrie
- Rhys Nicholson
- Hannah Gadsby
- Georgie Stone
- Tony Ayres
- Narelda Jacobs
- Aunty Dawn Daylight[8]
- Dr. Yves Rees[8]
- Peter De Waal[8]
- Dr. Todd Fernando[9]
- Dino Hodge[9]
- Den Altman[9]
- Julie Peters[9]
- Tony Briffa[9]
- Anthony Brandon Wong – narrator[10]
Production[edit]
Interviews between Coombs Marr and interviewees featured various locations, such as The Peel (Collingwood), The Fox Hotel, Altona, Cascades Female Factory.[9]
Critical reception[edit]
Micheal Idato, of The Sydney Morning Herald, gave Queerstralia 4 out of 5 stars. Idato commended the series on "deliver[ing] a robust, and nicely irreverent, telling of Australia's queer history".[10]
Queerstralia was a MIPCOM Cannes Diversify TV Award Finalist for Representation of LGBTQIA+ Non-Scripted.[11][12]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Untold History of Queer Australia". VicScreen. 13 March 2023.
- ^ Bizzaca, Caris (23 February 2023). "Zoë Coombs Marr: The Balancing Act of History and Comedy in Queerstralia". Screen Australia. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Queer Australian History featuring 'In Our Blood' and 'Queerstralia'". JoyFM. 18 March 2023.
- ^ Cain, Sian (28 February 2023). "Zoë Coombs Marr: 'Making a queer history of Australia? What a terrifying, impossible task'".
- ^ Russell, Stephen A (3 April 2023). "Queerstralia, ABC TV".
- ^ "Queerstralia IMDB". 18 March 2024.
- ^ Hirst, Jordan (15 March 2023). "Gogglebox's families watched ABC's Queerstralia and were shocked". QNews.
- ^ a b c Cain, Sian (2023-02-28). "Zoë Coombs Marr: 'Making a queer history of Australia? What a terrifying, impossible task'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ a b c d e f "The untold history of queer Australia". VicScreen. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ a b Idato, Michael (22 February 2023). "This compelling ABC series shows how little you really know about Queerstralia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Coombs Marr, Zoë (23 September 2023). "Ooh la la lookie here! Queerstralia has been nominated for an AWARD at MIPCOM CANNES. This news is very nice and I like it, and our show, and all the people who worked on it". X. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "MIPCOM CANNES Diversify TV Awards". www.mipcom.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
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