By Allan Sko
It’s best to be unashamedly trashy
It’s been a long time between drinks but—thank the Gaudy Gods!—producer, performer, singer, MC, and mother to us all, Bambi Valentine and her KREWD
Productions, is BACK with a capital B-A-C-K. Along with overseeing her brother Tom Woodward’s imminent album launch at Live at the Polo, Bambi has cooked up a l’il summin’ special for us trash-starved denizens.
With the tantalising theme of Glittering Garbage, The Gaudy Ball’s halls shall be filled with the joy and splendour of its perfectly pitched performers. Featuring Venus Mantrap, Frankie McNair in full Tabitha Booth mode, Lea Docks’ Guy Alias, DJ Tachérie and, natch, Bambi Valentine herself, this is shaping up to be a Ball y’all- ’ll be enthralled with.
I sometimes struggle with the interpersonal, and on stage is where I feel most comfortable and able to connect. My closest friendships were forged through the arts, which you see from my talk about the performers on board, particularly Frankie and Lea.”
BAMBI VALENTINE
So, what gives!? Why so long to satiate us suppering lewd KREWD-sters?
“Ahhh, well… I stopped producing over Covid,” Bambi reveals.
Fair.
“I didn’t adapt to the online market at the time,” Bambi continues. “I ended up moving into the Education and Disability sector, with my performance art taking a back seat.
Well, it’s damn good to have her back. Bambi feels the same.
“I’ve really missed performing on stage and being able to nourish it and put the work in,” she enthuses. “I just didn’t have the energy to work 40-50 hours a week, and as a single parent with disabilities as well.”
But the bugle blast of The Arts is a strong one, and Bambi is nothing if not tenacious.
“So, I have now taken a step back from employment to return to the arts and entertainment industry. In Canberra, you need to create your own opportunities and produce your own shows to stay relevant and collaborate with the people you want.
“And taking on (brother) Tom’s album launch was a chance to reconnect with the live music scene as well… feeding my love of merging art forms and creating multi-platform experiences.”
For more on the lovely Tom Woodward, flick to the Artist Profile on page 13. But not before poring further over The Gaudy Ball! And given the wealth of talent on display, it is set to be a rip-roaring of an eve.
As a veteran of the Arts for many-a year now—having booked and/or collaborated with a dizzying list of tippity-top talent— how did Bambi go about selecting such a line-up?
“I’m a massive fan girl of Venus Mantrap, but I’ve never worked with them before,” Bambi reveals. “I definitely created that opportunity for myself.
“Frankie and I have a friendship spanning well over a decade, and I was extremely keen to bring her home for some KREWD fun again,” she continues. “Her character, Tabitha Booth, is perfect for the theme.
“Guy and I are also good mates with a solid working partnership going on. We love touring and developing shows together. And Tachérie? Who else can get a party boogie’ing like that babe?
“They were the first I asked for the Gaudy Ball.
Bambi takes a deserved moment to bask in what she has created.
“I can’t think of a better, more appropriate line-up,” Bambi beams proudly.
“We have the new with Venus and Tachérie, the current with Alias, and the legendary in Frankie, all KREWD performers perfect for the theme.”
Ahhhh, yes, the theme! The Glittering Garbage Gaudy Ball. Where’d that come from?
“I’m a big fan of alliteration… Ummm… and I’m too poor to buy anything that’s not cheap? I love sparkly stuff? I dunno.”
Good enough for me. Bambi, however, elaborates further.
“Gaudy allows you to indulge in the camp and colourful without taking yourself too seriously or accidentally being tacky. It’s best to be unashamedly trashy.”
And no party production would be complete without the KREWD Kween herself, who may delight us with somewhat of a tall order.
“I’ll be MC’ing and will perform as well,” Bambi says to my great relief. “The Polo is a big enough performance space to maybe even do something extra-extra.
“I will likely be sparkling up on stilts,” she reveals. “I have a beautiful costume made by Empress Eyrie that is part of a duo with my KREWD Sister, Anna Judith, for our characters
Luna and The Evening Star.
“I’ll wear the costume if Anna doesn’t mind. Regardless, I’ll bring out something sparkly and spankin’ new.”
The Players
VENUS MANTRAP – Venus is so captivating on stage with well-thought-out performances. They’ve got that extra power and energy that just draws you in, mastering the art of dynamic stillness.
I can not and do not want to take my eyes off them for a second. And Venus they’re so incredibly warm and approachable! They exude a deeply comforting/at ease presence on stage as both performer and host (see their Cult Classics at the NFSA and their hugely popular and highly life-affirming Six Degrees of Separation for proof).
FRANKIE McCNAIR TABIATHA BOOTH – Frankie’s comedy timing is unmatched. The best in the business, and very easy and natural to feed off.
We worked together a lot when KREWD first entered the scene with our friends Lucy Boon, Miriam Slater (ICKY) and, later on, Jolene Mifsud (InkBits). Then, Frankie and Miriam developed Sweaty Pits, which divulged more into that absurd comedy world I love. Then Frankie moved to Melbourne and took the scene by storm.
When I saw Frankie’s fabulous character, Tabitha Booth, I knew she’d be perfect for Gaudy (not that I’d EVER call Tabitha gaudy to her face…).
GUY ALIAS – Lea often says, “I just want to dress up with shiny things and be a dickhead” and not have to deal with social politics. Lea Docks’ drag king character, Guy Alias, is our gaudiest sweet bean, and can be seen at their regular Drag Cabaret nights at Smith’s Alternative.
I feel like Guy came out of nowhere with an unmatched energy and a genuine want for others to shine, giving newbies the spotlight time and offering her time.
Lea’s a huge motivating kick up my butt to upskill and have fun creating. Guy’s the best MC in Canberra, but I probably shouldn’t advertise that because I’m MC’ing the Gaudy Ball, ha.
DJ TACHéRIE – I first boogied to DJ Tachérie at a Glitterbox party at Flazeda, produced by InkBits. Tachérie is great at working within a theme and being a living-breathing boogie machine. I can’t get off the dancefloor with Tachérie is DJ-ing, and I always go home with my spirits lifted at the end of their set.
I’m excited to have Tachérie on board a KREWD Production for the first time. I hope it’s the start of a flourishing working relationship and friendship.
*The Gaudy Ball* by KREWD Presents. *Get ready for a night of Glittering Garbage!* Sat 14th Sep, 7pm at The Polo. Tickets are $27.99 incl booking fee via Humanitix. GET EM QUICK!!!