The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival will be held from 14 February to 7 March 2009, and Riverside Theatres is again the hub of activities for Sydney's west. With the 2009 Mardi Gras theme of Nations United, Riverside is hosting a diverse range of Mardi Gras Festival events that will promote diversity, tolerance and a greater awareness of gay culture.




Mardi Gras has grown to become a major cultural event and its appeal stretches well beyond Sydney's gay community. The 2009 Mardi Gras Festival promises to be high quality, high camp and high diversity with three weeks packed full of culture, entertainment and social events.

From dancing the afternoon away with all girl band THE FROCKS, to make-up, frivolity and fancy dress at the COURT OUT! DRAG WORKSHOP, this unique and engaging festival, with various plays, dance works, films and other individual events is a must see addition to Riverside Theatres busy calendar of events.

With 12 events for Riverside Theatres we are hoping to see a large number of people come along who will be participating in Mardi Gras events for the first time; Mardi Gras is now so much a part of the Sydney landscape that involving the greater part of Sydney was a logical next step.


David Imrie Chair of Mardi Gras

16th Feb - 7 March
Big Butch Billboard - a public artwork created especially for Mardi Gras

11th Feb - 21 Feb
Angels in America - acclaimed as the most ambitious play of our time by Tony Kushner

18th Feb
Court Out! Drag Workshop - a drag workshop hosted by Courtney Act and Trevor Ashley

19th - 21st Feb
Gentlemen Prefer Blokes - Courtney Act and Trevor Ashley take on some of history's greatest duos

20th Feb
Parra|Normal - a ghostly tour of the historic queer sites in Parramatta

22nd Feb
Family T Dance - a dance party for families and young people

25th – 26th Feb
Gods In War - a dance production based on an epic Indian theatrical legend

26th - 28th Feb
Four Faces - an athletic, contemporary dance work exploring what it means to be gay

27th Feb – 1 March
Mardi Gras Film Festival - nine fantastic sessions of films from around the world

2nd March
Talking Turkey and Beyond - a free forum on the changes to the law affecting same sex couples

6th March

A Night Out With(?) - the best of Sydney's queer singer/songwriters, Jeremy Brennan, Sarah Aubrey and Brett Every 6th March

Six Quick Chicks - six hilarious women comedians




Mardi Gras is a celebration of pride and diversity that never forgets to deliver its messages with humor and pizazz.



Riverside Theatres, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta

DATE & TIME: 14 February – 7 March 2009

TICKET PRICES & BOOKINGS: Riverside Box Office 02 8839 3399 or THE WEB