Queerstralia
Queerstralia is an Australian documentary TV series about LGBT history in Australia that aired on ABC Television in 2023. The three episodes were hosted by comedian Zoe Coombs Marr.
Synopsis
[edit]Over three episodes, the series combines comedic and documentary techniques to explore queer history of Australia.[1] Over three one-hour episodes themed around belonging, identity and law, Coombs Marr 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.[2]
The series features interviews with comedian Hannah Gadsby, actor Magda Szubanski, historian Dr Yves Rees, activist Peter de Waal, former rugby league player Ian Roberts, feminist and filmmaker Barbara Creed, director Tony Ayres, and others.[3][4]
The episodes were as follows:
- 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[5]
- Yves Rees[5]
- Peter De Waal[5]
- Todd Fernando[6]
- Dino Hodge[6]
- Den Altman[6]
- Julie Peters[6]
- Tony Briffa[6]
- Anthony Brandon Wong – narrator[7]
Production
[edit]Queerstralia was produced by Guesswork Television Production for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series was hosted by comedian and self-proclaimed "professional lesbian" Zoe Coombs Marr[8] and directed by Stamatia Maroupas[9]
Interviews by Coombs Marr and interviewees featured various locations, such as The Peel in Collingwood; The Fox Hotel in Altona; and the Cascades Female Factory.[6]
Release
[edit]All three episodes of Queerstralia were released in 2023. Episode one, "The Law" featured on Gogglebox Australia.[10]
Critical reception
[edit]Michael 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".[7]
Queerstralia was a finalist in the Representation of LGBTQIA+ Non-Scripted category in the MIPCOM CANNES Diversify TV Awards.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c Cain, Sian (28 February 2023). "Zoë Coombs Marr: 'Making a queer history of Australia? What a terrifying, impossible task'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "The untold history of queer Australia". VicScreen. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Hirst, Jordan (15 March 2023). "Gogglebox's families watched ABC's Queerstralia and were shocked". QNews.
- ^ 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 25 January 2024.
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