Final Queen: Where drag meets danger and gay glam meets gore | Midsumma Festival | Gasworks Arts Park

Armed with a hot pink Holden Commodore, circus queen Grace Lightning, the last surviving member of a cross-continental drag convoy, is screeching through the Australian outback fighting to stay alive from the horrors trying to end her. Harrison Sweeney is bringing campy terror, drag glamour, and outback chaos together in Final Queen, a show that defies genre. Inspired by everything from classic slasher films to iconic divas, he and co-creator Rachel Kerry have crafted a story on survival, spectacle, and queer joy. We sat down with Sweeney to talk horror, circus theatrics, and what it takes to turn a solo drag performance into a multi-character, gasp-and-giggle extravaganza.

Final Queen wears its cinematic influences proudly on its blood-splattered sleeve, and Sweeney draw on a wide range of horror techniques to shape the show’s look, tone, and scares. "The main influence is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, one of the original slashers! Indeed the entire subgenre of slasher films was a huge inspiration to us," he tells me. "Rachel and I also looked at Australian outback films like Wolf Creek to help spark ideas. She is a horror guru! Her extensive knowledge of horror films and tropes has been so incredibly helpful in the creation process. We were interested in exploring the Final Girl trope (as referenced in the title), and bringing that to life on stage in a solo show. “Final Girls” like Laurie Strode from Halloween and Ripley from Alien influenced the character of Grace and the story. And we mustn't forget the Scary Movie franchise for some hilarious horror parodies!"

Set against the unforgiving outback, Final Queen leans into a landscape where isolation can be just as frightening as any monster. The setting has its own dangers, from the natural environment to the unnerving sense of being completely alone, while drawing on distinctly Australian cultural touchstones. "One of the most terrifying things about the outback is its sheer expansiveness. It is so unbelievably massive, and that isolation delivers a unique kind of fear - who may be lurking out there? This raises the stakes for Grace as she fights to survive," Sweeney says. "Another critical reference point for us was The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which presents the natural beauty of Australia (and incredible Australian drag). It is so important to highlight uniquely Australian stories, and we chose this backdrop as I wanted to make a show that was proudly Australian."

Grace’s ambitions sparkle as brightly as her love of pop culture, with aspirations of performing alongside Kylie Minogue driving much of her arc. Her character pays playful homage to divas past and present, weaving their energy and charisma into the performance. "Grace loves Kylie Minogue because I love Kylie Minogue!" he laughs. "For as long as I can remember Kylie’s music has been an immense source of joy for me, and I know many others. They say every gay has one pop diva they worship above all others, and she is mine. For Grace, performing with Kylie is her motivation, and that sets her whole journey in motion. Her drag friends are also portrayed in the style of my favourite gay icons. There are flashes of legends such as Barbara Streisand and Elaine Stritch, as well as modern divas like Lady Gaga and Carly Rae Jepsen. So of course we celebrate these divas through energetic drag numbers!"

Final Queen fearlessly blends drag, circus, horror, and comedy, creating a theatrical cocktail that is as unpredictable as it is thrilling. Sweeney embraced the challenge of balancing laughs with genuine scares, and transforming a solo show into one with multiple characters. "It’s exciting to mash different genres together, especially ones that you might think don’t go together! Navigating that clash makes for really surprising moments," he explains. "One of the biggest challenges was finding the balance between heightened physical comedy, and genuinely scary sequences. With drag it’s so easy to lean into the comedy but we wanted to maintain the spooky!"

"A further delightful hurdle was figuring out how to depict a range of characters on stage at the same time. Solo shows must find their own way of doing this, and we wanted to play around with various concepts to establish what would fit each scene best. There are some truly gag worthy scenes I am excited for audiences to see! Turns out it’s rather difficult to hula hoop when covered in fake blood."

At its heart, Final Queen is a story of chasing dreams and surviving chaos, with Grace’s courage and tenacity lighting the way. With its blend of terror, comedy, and spectacle, it is an experience that is exhilarating and uplifting, celebrating perseverance, conviction, and the joy of laughing through life’s bleakest periods. "I hope that audiences connect with Grace’s resilience. It is the pursuit of her dream that drives her to battle through some extremely terrifying incidents," Sweeney says. 'That determination is crucial for all of us, especially for queer people, as we navigate a world that in many ways was not designed for us. I particularly hope that queer people are able to take that self-assuredness and self-belief from Grace and carry it into to their own lives. And to still have a laugh even in the darkest times."

MIDSUMMA MINUTE – QUICKFIRE FIVE

1. A song I could listen to on repeat forever is "Get Outta My Way" by Kylie Minogue.
2. One object I can’t live without backstage is my massage ball, otherwise my back gets sore from all the aerial acrobatics!
3. My favourite word is ‘ubiquitous’, because it’s fun to say.
4. Something unexpected that brings me joy is dancing alone in my bedroom pretending I’m Kylie Minogue (perhaps not altogether unexpected).
5. If I could live one day as someone else, it would be an astronaut because I really want to go to space.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham St, Albert Park
Season: 5 - 7 Feb | 8pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc
Bookings: Midsumma Festival

Image credit: Anais Stewart