The Progressive Arts Institution prefers The Circus of the Oppressed

TextaQueen is known for using the humble fibre-tip marker to draw out complex politics of gender, race, sexuality and identity. They work has appeared at Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; de Young Museum, San Francisco; and Kunsthalle Darmstadt, Germany, and in collections such as National Gallery of Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. TextaQueen is a current artist in residence at Acme London via Australia Council for the Arts.

Krishna Istha is a London based performer, writer, live artist and theatre maker. Their practice looks at transformations (physical/political/collaborative), gender politics & queer culture using subversive text, cabaret elements & comedy. They have performed extensively across the UK, Germany, Australia and USA in works that span across theatre, opera, comedy and performance art.

Krishna’s most recent solo show, Beast, directed by Barry Award winning comedian Zoe Coombs Marr, is a trans stand-up comedy show, a self-help comedy for the oppressed. It was commissioned by the city of Melbourne through Arts House, was developed through Culture Lab and is supported by public funds from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Jacob V Joyce is a non binary interdisciplinary artist that disrupts commercial and community spaces with queer and decolonial, creative interventions. Jacob’s work brings satirical and theatrical critiques to institutional and every day instances of marginalisation. As well as self-publishing a number of illustrated books addressing a variety of political issues, Jacob performs spoken word and solo electronic music which combines ritualistic voice looping with poetic strategies of resistance.

Lasana Shabazz is a performance artist, writer and director whose work incorporates theatre, dance, spoken word, visual art. They work in art galleries, theatres, arts festivals, museums, educational institutions Black, queer and QTIPOC art spaces internationally.

Travis Alabanza is a performer, writer and theatre maker. In the last two years they have been noted by numerous publications, such as ARTSY, ID AND MOBO _AWARDS, as one of the most prominent emerging queer artistic voices, and also listed in OUT as an influential queer figure, appeared in campaigns with MAC X ASOS and performed across the country and internationally. Their unique mixture of performance, poetry, style, political views and risk taking performances has given them a unique placement both nationally and internationally.