an historic moment in Australian performance

Headlining the festival is international writer, performer, activist and icon Travis Alabanza. They show their acclaimed hit BURGERZ. This is the first time Alabanza has performed the work in Australia. BURGERZ, which won the Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, has been a sell-out sensation worldwide.

The show has captivated audiences since 2018

After someone threw a burger at them and shouted a transphobic slur, performance artist Travis Alabanza became obsessed with burgers. How they are made, how they feel, and smell. How they travel through the air. How the mayonnaise feels on your skin. This show is hilarious and heartbreaking. It explores how trans people survive. It reclaims an act of violence with a side of serious bite. 2026 marks 10 years since that burger slid off Travis’s face on London’s Waterloo Bridge.

Alongside BURGERZ, the program includes performances of Daley Rangi’s Takatāpui. It also features staged readings of new works. One is Hermaphroditus by Zoe Terakes (Talk to Me), and another is Gull by Glace Chase (Triple X).

Beyond the main stage, the festival expands into an ambitious wrap-around program

• Four masterclasses in each state, connecting emerging and established artists through skill-sharing and mentorship.
• Two new major play developments in each state, investing directly in the next generation of trans-led works.
• Four Symposium days, featuring Industry and community panels, as well as showcases of new works in development. These events tackle representation, authorship and the future of live storytelling.
• Late-night events and gatherings
• Accessible pricing and community ticketing
• Together, these programs build a vibrant ecosystem for trans performance in Australia.

Festival Dates:

Sydney: 7–18 January 2026 – Carriageworks

Melbourne: 21–31 January 2026 – Malthouse Theatre

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brett

Born in Cairns (Far North Queensland – Australia) I am the youngest and the only boy of a family of five. My first serious job was as a Salesperson, the announcer, then Production Manager for 4AM. I spent in excess of ten years running my own successful entertainment agency before moving to Melbourne (Victoria – Australia) where I currently live, work and play. A week after arriving I joined the sales team at JOY 94.9fm – what was to be Australia’s first and only dedicated gay and lesbian radio station. I was clearly destined to be self-employed as fate would have it. Q Magazine was born in March 2004 and as they so rightly say ‘the rest is history’.

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