From drag kings and queer science to free street parties and a very personal road trip, here’s your guide to the people and events lighting up Feast Festival this November.
“It’s really important that we see ourselves in story and we see ourselves on stage or screen, because it makes us not feel alone,” says Feast Festival’s new Creative Director Katherine Sortini.
Since 1997, Feast has given South Australia’s queer artists a place to share their work and audiences a chance to see their experiences reflected on stage.
This year’s festival, running from 1-22 November, features more than 80 events spanning comedy, cabaret, drag, theatre and music, plus a queer science fair with a Strip Spelling Bee, a rooftop pool party celebrating trans joy and a variety show featuring performing dogs.
There are also free street parties, family activities and youth events, along with Feast’s first regional tour, taking Adelaide comedian Yoz Mensch’s award-winning show about a road trip with her grandfather to five regional SA locations.
A clown, a grandpa and a road trip
Yoz has spent the past year touring My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow Me On Instagram: A Guide To Trans-generational Road-Tripping around Australia and overseas.
But there’s one person who hasn’t seen it yet: her 80-year-old grandpa.
That’s about to change in November, when he’s planning to travel from Mildura to Renmark with about a dozen relatives to watch the show inspired by their journey from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands.
Feast has produced the regional tour as part of its push to make the festival a statewide event.
The show mixes physical comedy, five different characters and the experience of being trans while navigating a relationship with someone you love.
“It’s about family and love for each other, even though you’re all incredibly different,” Yoz says.
She hasn’t spoken directly with her grandfather about being trans, although he’s read the articles about her “one-woman show”.
“How many people get to come out to their grandpa through a five-star review?” she says.
From Rudolph to Romeo to Feast
Yoz’s performing career started at preschool, when she was chosen to play Rudolph in the Christmas show while all the other children were ordinary reindeer.
“I think from that point it was pretty hard for my parents to dissuade me from wanting to do anything,” she says.
After years making her own shows, a state government arts grant took her to France in 2024 to study clowning at École Philippe Gaulier. The training helped shape the characters in her latest production.
“I’m up there having so much fun, and I enjoy this so much. It feels like I’m double dipping, getting all the praise as well.”
But it’s the conversations after shows that mean the most.
“My favourite part is getting people that I’ve never met before, teary-eyed and smiling and asking if they could hug me.”
Yoz has attended Feast for years, but this is her first time performing in it.
She’s no stranger to the Feast Hub’s stage, though. The last time she performed at Goodwood Theatre & Studios was in 2014, playing Romeo in Urban Myth Theatre Company’s Romeo and Juliet.
“I played Romeo, so it’s a bit of a change,” she says.
She’s particularly excited about taking the show to regional audiences.
“I don’t know necessarily how this show will land for everyone out there, but I know that there’ll be at least one person that really needs a show like this to come to them.”
Almost 30 years of queer creativity
As Feast approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027, Katherine and new Executive Director Skye Bee are taking the reins together for the first time.
But Katherine is quick to acknowledge the independent artists and community organisers who’ve kept the festival going – many returning every year.
Open-access artists are one of the crucial reasons the festival still exists,” she says.
Among those dedicated creatives is Feast co-founder Margie Fischer. This year she’s presenting 73: The Variety Show, featuring everything from AC/DC to performing dogs, with Katherine directing.
Katherine’s also an accomplished artist in her own right. The 2025 Ruby Award winner often draws on her experiences as a queer woman of Italian heritage in her writing.
Her latest work, The Damage Is Done, is part of this year’s Feast program. It’s her first one-woman show, exploring the awkward, emotional chaos of coming out to migrant parents.
Skye, who’s been attending Feast for about 20 years and performing in it for a decade, believes art can help people understand experiences different from their own.
“There’s less barriers to art sometimes than conversations,” they say.
“Maybe an ally doesn’t feel like they can ask some of the questions. But then you go and see some amazing visual art, or a live performance, or you listen to some incredible queer music, and that’s another way of digesting our stories.”
Plenty to enjoy, whatever your budget
Alongside plenty of cabaret, drag and comedy, Feast has everything from queer tours of Adelaide Zoo and the South Australian Museum to the Adelaide Queer Film Festival’s new trivia night.
The opening-night street party takes over Hyde Street on 30 October with local performers and DJs. It’s free and open to adults aged 18 and over.
Picnic in the Park returns to Whitmore Square/Iparrityi on 22 November, with live music, activities and the Feast Dog Show. This one’s free and open to all ages.
Families can enjoy free activities at the City Library and the Rainbow Families Disco of Joy.
Teenagers have their own free Minus18 Queer Formal, while the free Queer Youth Drop In Extravaganza welcomes 15-25-year-olds. There are also workshops and art exhibitions.
Feast receives ongoing support from the state government through alongside funding from other partners, including the City of Adelaide.
Feast receives ongoing support from the State Government through Create SA and the SA Tourism Commission, alongside funding from other partners, including AEDA & City of Adelaide.
Finding joy wherever you can
This year’s theme is Joy, although Skye says its meaning has changed as the festival has taken shape.
Initially, the team wanted to celebrate liberation. But as the wider climate became more difficult for queer communities, joy took on another significance.
“We realised that we have to really claim that beautiful saying of joy being an act of rebellion,” Skye says.
For Yoz, queer joy can be as simple as singing in the shower or trying on a thousand skirts and dresses at Savers, even if none fit.
“Queer joy can be anything and can be found anywhere, and it can be shared or it can be just for you,” she says.
“It’s friends, it’s community, which in a time like now, knowing that you’re not alone is incredibly important for your wellbeing and for your safety.”
She also appreciates that Feast gives queer artists the freedom to make work about whatever interests them, rather than always having to explain their identities.
Her advice for festivalgoers? See someone you’ve never heard of, try an art form you’ve never experienced live, and catch someone everyone’s talking about.
Seven SA artists and shows to catch at Feast
Katherine and Skye’s picks:
- Phoebs, You’re a Lesbian – Phoebe Rodger’s award-winning musical comedy about lesbian life.
- Two Men Observing an Elephant – Queer theatre from emerging Adelaide group Curious Roach Collective.
- It’s a King Thing – A celebration of drag kings.
- Re:Life – Feast cover artist Eddie Normington explores queer joy and identity through visual art.
Yoz Mensch’s picks:
- Brendan Goh: Gay First, Chinese Second – Stand-up exploring culture, dating and belonging.
- Queer Reviewed: Hot Wet Australian Science – A queer science fair with burlesque and a Strip Spelling Bee.
- Kymbo’s Variety Extravaganza Vol. 2 – Comedy, music and storytelling from a prolific local performer.
See the full Feast Festival program for more events and ticket information.
