Two years after they first came together for a reunion party some of the big names of the fondly remembered Staircase glbti nightclub will return next month for another glittering party recreating some of the ambience of the original venue. Buckwheat, Bertha and Tess The Staircase was one of New Zealand’s classic early queer nightclubs, opening its doors long before the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform bill was passed decriminalising men who have sex with men. It operated as the country's biggest safe venue for deeply marginalised and frequently persecuted gay people, allowing them to meet, dance and match up away from prying straight eyes. Staircase spanned three decades and three Auckland venues, initially located up a long flight of stairs on downtown Fort Street, then on lower Albert Street, and finally on Karangahape Road. Three original Staircase drag divas – Bertha (now based in Sydney), Buckwheat and Tess Tickle – will be joined by three original Staircase DJs – Alex Taylor (now DJing around the globe from his base in Sydney), Bevan Keys and James Leuii – plus "a galaxy of special guests from across the Staircase decades." Supported by 28 BLACK, the Staircase Reunion party will be held over all three floors of the historic Galatos venue, just off Karangahape Road, on Saturday 6 February. Tickets are now on sale via iTICKET or at Real Groovy, Marcello’s Caffé and the Eagle Bar.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 9th January 2016 - 7:48am