Arts Centre Melbourne and Briefs Factory Present BRIEFS: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

After its hugely successful run earlier this year, Briefs Factory are back by popular demand with a return season of their dazzling show, Briefs: Close Encounters once again taking over Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse Theatre from 23 - 27 October.

Their sold-out shows left Melbourne begging for more of their trademark blend of cabaret burlesque, comic caper and circus with their unique skill and humour pushing the boundaries of artistry, masculinity and decency. Having glitter-bombed the globe as we know it, the Briefs mother ship again crash-lands into Arts Centre Melbourne for an alien invasion of the third kind. Expect galactic glamour, astro-athleticism, dark-side drag, inter stellar aerials and warp speed strippers from outer space.

The cosmic crew are powered by a fierce energy as they mix up a rocket-fuel blend of dancing, tumbling, juggling, acro-balancing, trapeze, hula hooping, lip-syncing, sequins, feathers and frocks. At the helm of starship Briefs is Commander Shivannah (Fez Fa'anana) who, with voluminous sleeves and steely grip, leads the cosmic crew through the show with astronomical audacity.

The Las Vegas award-winning Captain Kidd takes proceedings to the outer limits with his alluring athleticism. One of Australia's leading aerialists, contortionists and circus trainers, Thomas Worrell, defies gravity and literally ties himself in knots as he takes a lone space walk over the audience. The queer Kamilaroi man from Mungindi Dale Woodbridge Brown goes into hyper-drive with his acrobatics, flying trapeze, baton twirling, and dance; Louis Biggs sets his phaser to stun as he has the audience gasping for mercy.

Briefs: Close Encounters is the third show from Briefs Factory. Since its development at Brisbane Powerhouse and premiere at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2017, Briefs: Close Encounters has gone on to stellar seasons at London's Underbelly Festival, Auckland's Q Theatre, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Edinburgh Fringe and even a performance at World Pride in Madrid. The 2019 Melbourne return season follows a stint on London's West End, and sold-out shows at Arts Centre Melbourne in March.