Trans people have always existed, yet in recent years, their identities have become politicised, exoticised, and – far too often – weaponised in cultural debates. Presented as part of Vivid Sydney, Law & Life: Transgender Stories hands the mic and spotlight back to trans voices, with a night of storytelling and personal performance.
Presented by the Inner City Legal Centre, the organisation who presented last year’s sold-out Sex Work: A Legal and Social History – this powerful event brings together five trans storytellers and one lifelong ally to share their lived experiences – navigating gender, identity, legality and survival.
“Every single week dozens of trans people in NSW seek our help because they have been spat on, fired or sexually assaulted. Trans people are experiencing hate in our community. The community need to understand that, we need to hear their stories,” said Inner City Legal Centre CEO, Katie Green.
The Inner City Legal Centre has partnered with trans theatremaker Charley Allanah, whose recent credits include Julia, Sydney Theatre Company’s hit show about the life of Julia Gillard, to make the work.
“We’re sharing the inside view on what it’s like to live as trans people; how the fight for basic fairness, in the law and in the community, affects us day to day,” said Charley. “For trans people, creativity, performance, humour and joy even in dark times – these are central to our survival.
“Law & Life: Transgender Stories will expand audiences understanding of trans lives, but that doesn’t need to be a chore. We experience more than our fair share of hate, but we generally still manage to show up with radical joy. “
Law & Life: Transgender Stories will feature a diverse cast of trans performers including:
- Vonni: A former Les Girls cast member who performed in the iconic Kings Cross show alongside Carlotta, and in the touring production that inspired the classic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
- norrie mAy-welby: gender diversity advocate, queer community icon, and the first person ever granted a non-binary gender marker on an Australian birth certificate (2014)
- Jeremy Moineau: actor and corporate DEI advocate, involved with the NSW Equality Bill, provisions of which go into effect around the time of the event
- Kavitha Sivasamy: lawyer and director of LGBTQIA+ legal service, Justice Q.
For a lot of trans people, the core of survival in a system stacked against them is creativity – so expect pageantry, song and outside-the-box-and-binary expression. Beyond the camp and colour though, this evening lays bare an important and necessary conversation.
We must face up to the discrimination embedded in our culture and law, its human impact and what can be done to create a better, more inclusive world.
Law and Life: Transgender Stories
The Rebel Theatre (ATYP), Pier 2/3, 13A Hickson Road, Dawes Point (Sydney)
Performances: 5 – 7 June 2025
Information and Bookings: www.vividsydney.com
Image: Charley Allanah, Jeremy Moineau, Kavitha Sivasamy, Vonni, norrie mAy-welby and Katie Green will feature in Law and Life: Transgender Stories (supplied)