AQuA x Homophonic! Moonlite collaborationsHomophonic! and The Consort of Melbourne are presenting the Australian premiere of Wally Gunn & Maria Zajkowski’s epic oratorio: Moonlite. ‘Moonlite’ tells the true-crime queer love story of the 19th-century Australian bushranger Andrew George Scott, in the form of a 90-minute oratorio for voices, percussion and viola. Winner of the Albert Maggs composition prize, this is a powerful work that effortlessly transcends musical genres to paint a picture of Victoria’s own star-crossed lovers, set uniquely in our Gold-rush-era past. AQuA is collaborating with Homophonic! to present a pop-up stall at two of their performances. AQuA volunteer and historian Jacobin Bosman will also be participating in a panel discussion. Panel: Art and Queerness in 19th Century AustraliaWednesday 23 July 2025 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Join Homophonic! Artistic Director Miranda Hill; ‘Moonlite’ composer Wally Gunn and librettist Maria Zajkowski; Australian Queer Archives Historian Jacobin Bosman, in a panel discussion on historical queerness, colonial narratives, and the challenges and importance of artistic interpretations of historical events in the lead up to the Australian Premiere of “Moonlite” on Saturday July 26th. Come for the panel discussion, and stay afterwards for a drink and a chat! Presented by Homophonic! in partnership with the Australian Queer Archives, and Grouse Melbourne. Grouse Melbourne room 7 is wheelchair accessible through the Webb St entrance. Please get in touch with any access requirements. Melbourne performance of MoonliteSaturday 26 July 2025 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Fitzroy town hall Further details and performances
John Willis in Conversation with the Australian Queer ArchivesSaturday 2 August 2025 Australian Queer Archives This Australian Queer Archives (AQuA) event offers a rare opportunity to listen to one of Australia’s foremost bibliophiles, John Willis. This ‘in conversation’ session at the Archives will be accompanied by a small display of rare books from AQuA’s Rare Books Collection. John Willis was born in Melbourne in 1931, and is a former retailer, early gay activist, and bibliophile. His significant collections of gay and lesbian works now reside at The University of Melbourne and State Library Victoria. |