Hobart's Drag Kings Bring Bogan Masculinity and Queer Community to Tasmania's Stages
A small but growing community of drag kings in Hobart, Tasmania, is finding creative expression and personal identity through performances that satirise and celebrate working-class Australian masculinity. The scene has expanded beyond dedicated LGBTQIA+ venues since the closure of Hobart's only gay bar in 2020, with drag shows now appearing across mainstream venues. Performers say the art form has helped them build confidence, community, and a more authentic sense of self.
In Hobart, Tasmania, a handful of drag kings are carving out a vibrant niche in the local queer arts scene, performing bogan-inspired characters at venues across the city. Key performers include Dirty Damo (Soph Keegan), Gary Snow (Shan Hooper), and Barry Bothways (Phoebe Adams), whose acts draw on working-class Australian masculinity, personal family histories, and experiences navigating male-dominated industries. The loss of Hobart's only dedicated gay bar during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 paradoxically broadened the drag scene's reach, pushing performances into traditionally heteronormative spaces where they have found enthusiastic new audiences. Several performers describe drag as personally transformative, helping them explore non-binary identities, overcome stage anxiety, and build genuine community with cisgender, heterosexual allies. Phoebe Adams, who has been performing since 2013, says the art form challenges the gender divide and can erode patriarchal structures by reducing the emphasis placed on gender altogether.
What different sources said
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Meet the mullet-bearing drag kings of Hobart lip-syncing about Centrelink
Related
David Hockney, Celebrated British Artist, Dies at 88
British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88, prompting reflection on his prolific career and his final creative years spent in Normandy, France. Known for his iconic California swimming pool paintings, Hockney spent the Covid-19 lockdowns in rural France, producing 220 iPad drawings that were exhibited as a 91-metre-long frieze at the Musée de L'Orangerie in Paris. His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and technically adventurous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
America at 250: Conservative Voices Debate the State of Higher Education and Shared Culture
Two opinion pieces published ahead of America's 250th anniversary argue that foundational American ideals are under threat — one focusing on the ideological drift of universities away from merit and civic education, the other on the erosion of a common national culture that once bridged class divides. Both pieces are written from a conservative perspective and appear in right-leaning outlets. The arguments reflect a broader debate about what American institutions should preserve or restore as the nation marks a major milestone.
North Melbourne Holds On for One-Point Win Over West Coast as Waterman Hits the Post in Final Seconds
North Melbourne defeated West Coast Eagles 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) at Optus Stadium on Saturday, with Eagles forward Jake Waterman hitting the post from a set shot with 42 seconds remaining. The Kangaroos led by 20 points early in the final quarter before West Coast kicked the last three goals in a dramatic fightback driven by Jobe Shanahan. The result leaves West Coast at 4-10 heading into the bye, while North Melbourne improves to 6-7 and remains in the wildcard race.