Jeremy Goldstein’s Truth to Power Café is a profound theatrical reflection on loss, hope and resistance. This internationally acclaimed performance event is told through memoir, image, poetry, music and live testimony from community participants with stories to tell in response to the question: ‘Who has power over you and what do you want to say to them?’

Speaking truth to power is a non-violent means of conflict resolution, the origins of which lie in the anti-war movement.

Is it to your parents, sibling, politician, landlord, neighbour, banker, or simply your best friend? It’s time to tell them the truth before it’s too late.

Truth to Power Café is inspired by the political and philosophical beliefs of Nobel prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter and his Hackney Gang.

PARTICIPANTS

Naavikaran is an all-round goddess, community facilitator, writer, theatre producer and choreographer from India, based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Their work creates platforms for accessible and safe storytelling for identities of various intersections and communities. Their upcoming work and producorial debut, People Of Colours, is premiering at the MELT Festival from the 27th of May onwards, check it out! Naavikaran is the also founder of ruhmantic, a royal chai brand that is aimed to support artists and storytellers of colour. They were named one of the 30 Under 30 LGBTIQ+ Leaders in Australia by Out For Australia in 2019 for their contributions to the community. Naavikaran’s pronouns are she/they. They can be found on all social media platforms @naavikaran

Emma Di Bernardo is a bespectacled writer and speaker from Queensland. She is a women’s rights, LGBTIQ+ and disability advocate. Emma’s non-fiction work has been featured in The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, Disability in Kidlit and One Woman Project.

Brian Day was a founding member of theBrisbane branch of CAMP (Campaign Against Moral Persecution), a member of theGay Activists Alliance and founding member of Camp Club, the first LGBTI socialclub all established in Brisbane both in the early 1970s.

Naomi Irvin: I am the girl that never wanted to grow up – I’d much rather be running around barefoot in the garden where there are no expectations.  My son is the reason my heart beats and dogs are my best friends. Believe it or not, I actually love life.  It’s living it I have trouble with.

Darsha Hockings: I am currently studying Psychological Science at Griffith University and am Assistant Director for Kitchen Diva with MATES Theatre Genesis. I also run an online business and when I finish my university degree at the end of the year, I plan to focus on my acting career.

Jodie Smallwood: My name is Jodie. I am born in July. I really love dogs.

Taz Clay: My name is Taz Clay I’m a Kalkadoon (My Isa) and Bwgcolman (Palm Island) Brotherboy I’ve have used my lived experience to change and start conversations around Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Island LGBTIQAP+ Sistergirl Brotherboy community.

Destiny Rogers works as an editor at QNews after a varied career that includes both drag and crocodile shows. She says she loved both jobs but worries that increasing populations of drag queens are pushing crocodiles out of their habitat.