Melt Festival’s Creative Associate Shares His Top Picks From the 2025 Program

Last year, Melt Festival glitter-bombed its way onto the Brisbane scene with a line-up of talent and experiences that seemed hard to top. There was a river pride parade captained by Courtney Act, thousands of people posing naked on the Story Bridge, a performance by pop icon Sophie Ellis Bextor, and more. But for 2025, the festival’s program promises to be even bigger and bolder.

Produced by Brisbane Powerhouse, the festival is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, spotlighting diversity, inclusivity and creativity. This year, audiences will not only enjoy an exclusive performance by Broadway star Bernadette Peters, but also the returning river parade, a fierce drag pageant, live comedy, music, theatre and more.

“To have a festival in Brisbane that takes over the whole city is very exciting. And to have that visibility, I think, shows all of our queer community that we’re loved and that we’re celebrated,” says Ben Graetz, creative associate for Melt and the creative director for the Miss First Nation pageant.

“I’m a huge advocate for queer events because I feel like we’re able to come together as a community … We’re able to celebrate our incredible artists and stories, but also it’s an opportunity for the wider community to be able to come and be a part of it, to enjoy, learn and exchange.”

With hundreds of performances and events at more than 60 venues, the tougher question is what to catch? Luckily, Graetz shares his top picks from the Melt program.

Miss First Nation

Showcasing the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drag, this dazzling pageant arrives in Brisbane for the first time. After an all-stars edition at Sydney World Pride 2023 and brief hiatus, it’s back and better than ever. This time, there’ll be eight exceptional queens – including two hometown talents from Brisbane – competing for the crown.

Miss First Nation takes place over three heats, each one scored by a new set of judges. “There’s a Best National Costume, which is about them showcasing an outfit that represents their community, their culture or their identity – that’s the first heat,” explains Graetz.

“Then the second heat is Miss Talent, and they have to do performance, which is a non-conventional drag, so no lip-syncing. And then there’s the grand final … and someone will walk away with the crown.”

Briefs: Jealousss

Briefs Factory is a creative collective known for evocative and unexpected performances. Its high-octane show Jealousss not only pushes the boundaries of a traditional cabaret, but seemingly defies the laws of gravity too. This exhilarating collision of drag and circus invites audiences to confront – and perhaps celebrate – their feelings of insecurity and envy.

“It’s a variety show made up of incredible artists, from burlesque performers to circus acts to drag artists, dancers and aerialists,” says Graetz. “If people haven’t seen Briefs, this is definitely a show to see because it’s highly entertaining. It’s something that’s a bit cheeky, a bit of fun, that will make you laugh. But also, there are some really heartfelt moments in what they do as well.”

Whitefella Yella Tree

Following celebrated seasons at Griffin Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company, this elegant and moving First Nations drama is set to move audiences at Melt as well. A poignant story of first love, it follows two young Aboriginal men from neighbouring mobs who fall for each other during the early years of colonisation. Written by Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg, one of the country’s most significant young playwrights, this epic romance is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.

“Dylan is an extraordinary Blak queer playwright,” says Graetz. “And this play is a love story about two young men and the complexities of being Blak and queer, and in love.”

Queer Powerpoint

This gloriously weird and funny show promises a deep dive into niche interests, conspiracy theories and burning passions, all told through the mundane medium of Microsoft Powerpoint. Described as a queer reclaiming of the corporate world, Queer Powerpoint features an exciting line-up of performers, each given 10 minutes to present a slideshow on a topic of their choice.

“It’s a cute little event that engages queer people from the community,” says Graetz. “They have to share their stories around something that people might not know about them, and they can only do it in six slides.”

You also have no idea what they might be presenting. “People might talk about being beekeepers, or an event that changed their lives. So, it’s a beautiful way of getting to know community and hearing all about our diverse stories.”

River Pride Parade

Closing out the festival in fittingly colourful fashion is again a flotilla of pride boats cruising along the Brisbane River. The free event promises to be a visual delight, with last year’s parade accompanied by rainbow smoke billowing across the river and city as Courtney Act sailed on a party boat setting off sparks.

“I’m excited that I’m helping to curate the First Nations ferry,” says Graetz. “There’ll be lots of different colours, movements and floats. People come down to watch it to end the huge festival.”

Melt Festival of Queer Arts and Culture runs from October 22 to November 9, 2025. Tickets and full program available now on melt.org.au.

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