No Dome For Sleaze Ball This Year

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 8th September, 2008

This year’s footprint for Sleaze Ball won’t include the Dome. There’s only been a couple of times since the nineties when this has happened, and on those occasions there were alternative venues provided – such as City Live or the RHI. While the forecourt will have DJs featured throughout the night, this will be the first time since the eighties that Sleaze Ball will only use one venue – the Hordern.

“Over the last few years the nature of Sleaze has changed,” says David Imrie, Mardi Gras Chair. “Our strategy is to take it back to a darker, dirtier party. Traditionally the Dome was the darker venue – we want to make the entire party feel like the Dome.”

Imrie says that by concentrating all their energies on the Hordern, they can do this more effectively. “The Hordern will get darker and dirtier as the night goes on, to give it that Sleaze ambience and flavour.”

Last year’s Sleaze Ball had an amazing vibe – the shows, the colour, the costumes – it felt like a return to form. Unfortunately, despite all of this, it was a financial disappointment.

”[Concentrating on the Hordern this year] has given us the opportunity to increase the production values, which will really allow us to create a dark Sleaze experience in that one space,” says Imrie.

Sveta and Mark Murphy are two DJs that normally play the Dome. They’re thrilled to be playing to a bigger audience in the Hordern this time around.

“It’s actually quite exciting,” says Murphy. “I played in the Dome and Forum the last two Mardi Gras and I always seemed to play last, so it will be refreshing to have a captive audience mid-morning this time. The Hordern is very special to me as it was my second home in the late eighties and early nineties when house music exploded. I can’t wait!”

The party will now be starting an hour earlier, due to daylight savings. So those of you who don’t want to miss a minute can now arrive from 9pm. Project Sleazeway, the costume competition, will take place in the forecourt at 11pm.

While Mardi Gras are keeping tight lipped about the entertainment, Aaron Farley, one of the Sleaze Ball choreographers, says that The Villains’ Lair will feature everything “from Disney to Mad Max”.

“Keep [your] eyes peeled for bears, breasts and, perhaps, something just a little bit phallic,” says Farley.

The main drag show of the night is called Sleaze City and will feature some of Sydney’s best know drag queens as “vicious villainesses” including Mitzi MacIntosh, Tora Hyman, Charisma Belle, Mystique Jewel and Natasha Knowles.

Imrie adds that the party entertainment will be broad, and “representative of various subcultures”.

Sleaze Ball – The Villains’ Lair hits the Hordern Pavillion from 9pm Saturday October 4. Tickets are $99 for Mardi Gras members, $119 for non-members and $79 for concessions, and are available from Ticketek. Click here to buy yours.

Click here to check out our coverage of last year’s Sleaze Ball – Zirkus.

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