It's a shame that Stand Up and Be Counted: Knows No Boundaries was a one-night-only affair, because it was a ripper. Over two hours (and a bit), six female comedians brought the house down.

Read more at rhum.org.au

The Comedy Festival is happening all over our wonderful city, so leave the metro-hub and see what's happening a few tram stops away. First stop is the Gasworks Arts Park for the the uber-delightful and super-gorgeous Dos or Duo.

Dos or Duo won hearts at the Melbourne Fringe, was nominated for awards at the Adelaide Fringe and delights everyone who sees it.  There's nothing quite like sitting in an audience who are all loving what they are watching.

Read more at SometimesMelbourne.blogspot.com

Part of the Dos or Duo schtick is to pretend they have been coached to not interact with the audience, which they do over and over and penalize one another each time they look at them; to leap for the pig as much as possible, and to debate extensively who should play the part of the pirate for one of their sets. They correct and poke fun of one another throughout their performance… conveying a sort of innocence and a bit of kookiness about the characters, that makes them very lovable.

Read more at ArtsHub.com.au

INSIDE a former blacksmith's forge at the Gasworks Arts Park, ceramics artist Kris Coad is shaping thin, pastry-like strips of translucent porcelain clay into one of her signature vessels. From a stack of plastic-wrapped clumps beneath her work table, she will craft impossibly delicate artworks and elegant white tableware in which traces of the maker's hands can be seen and felt. Outside a large window that infuses the space with a gentle light, birds can be heard amid the rumble of traffic along one of Port Melbourne's busiest roads. Inside, the predominantly white workspace has an air of serenity that seems to have been captured within the countless works that line the shelves.

Read and see more at theAge.com.au/interactive 

Flamenco sensation Tomas Arroquerro showed ABC Arts presenter Dan Brophy some new dance steps while rehearsing his new show Pasedoble as part of Melbourne’s Midsumma Gay and Lesbian Arts Festival.

Click here to see full video

The first in the Gasworks’ Short and Physical series showcasing edgy queer performers, was definitely on to a strong start. The two part show gave it’s audience a glimpse of two artists; Queer performer Sunny Drake, and Burlesque Circus performance duo, Switch.

Gender Seeking Queer was the first piece of the night, and it was my first encounter with the extraordinary work of the fabulously and comfortably queer Sunny Drake.

All up, the first in Gasworks’ Short and Physical series is a strong start with some strong work that will provoke both thought and a smile. So get Physical!

Read more at SameSame.com.au

Yana Alana and the Piranhas play Midsumma Performance artist Sarah Ward channels her inner diva to create the rowdy, raunchy and raucous Yana Alana.

She talks to Dan Brophy about her new show featuring an all-female power team and some kinky, confronting cabaret.

Click here to see full interview

Lesbian Cabaret artist Shirley Billing returns to the stage in her two part Midsumma show, The Billing Method , featuring special guests SLIT.

Part one is a brilliant untitled performance piece by the girls from SLIT; Francesca Sculli and Sarah Pheasant.

After a brief intermission, the super talented Shirley Billing brings us part two of the show – The Billing Method. The show hilariously plays on the stereotype of the humourless lesbian.

Read more at SameSame.com.au

Melbourne’s queen of queer cabaret, Yana Alana (Sarah Ward) has raised the performance bar to a world standard in her AMAZING new Midsumma show at Gasworks. If you only see one show this Midsumma, make it this one.

Multi Award winner, Sarah Ward is an incredible talent with a huge following as a result of her work as part of duo SistaShe, and more recently as character creation, Yana Alana. Her shows are witty, sharp, elegant and delightfully subversive. She was already creating work so astounding that it was hard for anyone in the opening night audience of her lastest Midsumma show to even fathom that the bar could be raised much higher… but she did.

Yana Alana And The Paranas Featuring The Igaunas is exquisitely beautiful and sophisticated; From the sets to the ambience, costume to vocals, performance to content and ensemble, every element is beautifully considered.

Read more at SameSame.com.au