It’s 2023, being educated about diversity, equity, inclusion and systemic racism is so very overdue.

If you have ever wanted to learn more about the experiences and challenges some members of our Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) communities face, you are in luck because Jojo Firestar has wrapped it up into an engaging and necessary Fringe show for you.

All of the performers in this show are members of the BIPOC community.

Some are even Human Rights activists by day, they moonlight as Fringe performers that hope to share their experiences that they have skilfully shaped into art with the world.

Red and blue flashes blaze across the stage as our first artist and MC performs a burlesque piece whereby they begin to throw off the ropes that bind them. The symbolism of the ropes being the multiple conflicting cultural expectations that they walk within as a product of colonisation. The costuming is magnificent for this variety show with each person showcasing traditional clothing from their respective cultures.

It’s only a Monday night but the crowds passion and enthusiasm for the respective performances is palpable. Malika Moon sings an enchanting song in Swahili as an offering, sharing her culture and the intimate music that is special to her with the audience. The exchange is beautiful and they burst into rapturous applause.

Maven performs a stylised drag/burlesque performance. Their costuming and makeup is exquisite and their portrayal is piercing. The audience is struck by the aesthetic and skill of this artist.

Jojo Firestar dares to be vulnerable in sharing a story of racism that they experienced consistently from the age of seven - an age where their focus should have instead been able to be on her “Care Bears” and “My Little Ponies”. Hearing this story was both powerful and empowering, it is easy to want to support Jojo in amplifying their voice with such an important message to tell.

Miss Samia’s magnetic presence had the entire theatre hooting and hollering in response to her comedy act and the stage manager and kitty did a wonderful job of keeping the performance polished.

A spectacular burlesque performance is given and it is described as being “in the style of Mulan” if so this is Mulan like I have never seen her, the dancing and interpretation by this artist was incredible and once again entirely congruent with the theme of the show.

We are reminded throughout this meaningful variety show that representation matters, particularly after so many decades of having BIPOC whitewashed from the theatre or depicted negatively in typecast/stereotyped roles. The world has been changing too slowly for too long and Jojo Firestar and her troupe are going to fiercely overcome any adversity they experience to propel us all forward.