Crush Cabaret

Natasha is a Chinese-Indonesian writer, public speaker, and educator based in Naarm. Her work can be found on Kill Your Darlings, ABC, Australian Multilingual Project, Archer & more. Her short stories are part of the anthologies ‘Everything All At Once’ (Ultimo Press, 2021), ‘New Australian Fiction 2023’ (Kill Your Darlings, 2023), and ‘Bodies of Land’ (Sinister Wisdom, 2026). She is currently writing her debut novel, a historical fantasy YA, while teaching at Story Studios Australia.

Jamila Main is a queer, disabled playwright and theatremaker telling stories for the stage, screen, and livestream. Jamila’s work engages with idiosyncratic humour that crafts joy amidst despair, gathers community, and reflects the nuances of queerness and disability. They tell stories where ferocity meets love and candor finds joy.

Jamila is known for their plays Pillow Talk (Warehouse Residency Arts House); Benched (Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Midsumma Festival, Carclew, Ramble Arts, published by Playlab Theatre); Butterfly Kicks (RUMPUS Theatre, published by Australian Plays Transform); How Long Can This Last? (Adhocracy Vitalstatistix); and How to Eat Rabbit (La Mama, The Mill).

Matias Nuñez is a Latinx, Australian writer, theatre-maker, and actor. Nuñez is drawn to works that explore human experiences shaped by family, culture, and queer identity. As a writer, he’s written a variety of plays exploring different forms and genres such as ‘Aliens Are Real!’, ‘Between My Legs’ and “Oh my god!’ for MUSE Festival and ‘Hello Stranger’ and ‘The Girl on the Moon’ for Anywhere Theatre Festival. ‘Hello Stranger’ was recognised and awarded the Brisbane Council Audience Vote and Queensland Theatre Emerging Theatre Makers.

Danny Silva Soberano is a poet. His writing appears in Australian Poetry Journal, Cordite Poetry Review, Meanjin Quarterly, and elsewhere. He has previously served as a poetry editor for Voiceworks Magazine and associate editor for LIMINAL Magazine. He was a recipient of a Hot Desk Fellowship from The Wheeler Centre in 2020.

Katerina is a violinist, artist, trained death doula and teacher. She performs as a freelance violinist around Melbourne and is a member of Anatreptix and Nea Skoupa, performing the Rebetika, music of the Greek underground and the music of the Hellenic traditions of Asia Minor and of the refugee composers who continued those traditions in Greece.
She has performed alongside spoken word and poetry performances as a musician.

Nikki Viveca’s poetry has won numerous prizes including the Liquid Amber Emerging Poets Prize, third place in the Melbourne Poetry Union’s International Poetry Competition and first place in the Midsumma Poetry Slam.
She is a prolific performer in poetry, standup comedy, theatre and improv. Her past shows include poetry cabaret The Femme Commandments, solo comedy shows Wasp Movie, The Lazy Show, and Asexual Healing, variety night ACEtravaganza and the play Back Pocket, a theatrical exploration of queer joy.
By day she leads walking tours, where she tells people about the amazing women who have shaped Melbourne’s history.

FREDDY WEIR