The boundaries won't just be pushed in Wellington on Saturday night, by all accounts they'll be shoved so far into the hinterlands there might as well be no boundaries at all. A bevy of performers who may just redefine the term diversity are banding together for the R18 extravaganza Risqué Queer Cabaret, an event produced by Andy Harness and Cathie Sheat from Tomboi Productions, who are both entertainers themselves. GayNZ.com spoke to a couple of the people involved about their alter-egos and the wonders that will be onstage this weekend. Brendan Goudswaard Brendan Goudswaard (aka Ellie Kat) Brendan Goudswaard first did drag when he was in high school, but first brought Ellie Kat to life around seven years ago. He says Ellie is flirtatious, but has also been described with a term not often given to drag characters – demure. "I was at a launch thing somewhere and a lot of people described her as demure. So I guess it depends on the place, you kinds of create your character depending on the situation." Ellie Kat will be in three pieces in Risqué; a solo, a duo and a trio. The performers are remaining rather tight-lipped about their pieces so as not to spoil the show, but Goudswaard says his solo performance will look at drag roles and gender identity. "It will be quite a, well I don't know if I can say gender-fucked, but quite a gender-bending piece. It'll definitely play around the whole idea of gender and sexuality." Jac Lynch Jac Lynch Jac Lynch was a founding member of popular Wellington troupe The Drag Kings which wound up about six months ago after eight years together. She says Risqué is a great chance to keep performing. Lynch says being a drag king is her favourite form of entertaining and a great outlet. "Just stick on a mo, pack up large and let rip. I love it." Jac will perform a range of characters in Risqué, with one piece centring on a Frankie Valli track. "And that's sort of contrasted with a few crazy hip hop style characters. But it's not just drag kings in this show, there's a whole range of characters going on." Lynch says Sheat and Harness have been really open about what the performers wanted to bring to the show and really only set boundaries within a theme. "And I think that's generated a really nice flow of the show, and there's some great new stuff that you wouldn't have seen, certainly in Wellington, before." She says the audience can expect a couple of hours of roaring fun and a really sexy show. "There are parts that are screamingly hilarious. It's really different for a queer show in Wellington to have such a mix up on stage. It's showcasing some of the real talent in town – and there'll certainly be some familiar faces and some real favourites. On the other hand there are a lot of new people coming through who will stun a lot of their friends in the audience." Risqué Queer Cabaret, The Ruby Lounge, 14 Bond St Wellington. Saturday 14th August, 9pm. Tickets $35. There will be limited door sales at 7pm. Contact tomboiproductions@paradise.net.nz Jacqui Stanford - 12th August 2010