It’s World Pride 2023 and the queer globe is converging on Sydney Australia to celebrate diversity, inclusion, community and fabulousness!

To mark this momentous event the STAGES podcast is saluting the cast of captivating drag divas and personalities who have been featured on the podcast during the past 5 seasons.

They are artists who have appeared on national and global stages; thrilling audiences, making a difference, healing community and expressing unique and wondrous talents.

We spotlight these episodes so you can savour a second listen - or so you can sample the delights of these entertainers for the very first time.

A Diva a day for each day of World Pride!

Tobin Saunders is a freelance performer, writer, choreographer, dancer, actor, DJ and events Co-ordinator/producer. Combining elements of contemporary dance, expressive movement, popular culture, social comment and satire, Tobin’s work could best be described as - Pastiche!

Over the past 30 years he has been involved in theatre works, production and performance at Mardi Gras, in fashion parades, film, and dance variety at Belvoir St Theatre.

Tobin is now working solo with the Vanessa Wagner character and is also freelancing as an actor. He appears on TV as a social commentator and contemporary icon. His eclectic experience and skills have enabled Tobin to produce work that is fresh, challenging and innovative. Avoiding the labels of “Dance”, “Theatre” or “Comedy”, he combines all into a vibrant hybrid.

Vanessa Wagner is one of Australia’s most colourful and entertaining identities. She started as a dedicated housewife and part time hostess. Vanessa was crowned Sydney Mardi Gras Miss Fair Day 1993 and for seven years she coordinated and hosted the spectacularly successful Drag Race Meet at Bondi Beach for the Sydney Fringe Festival.

From early 1993 till 1996 Vanessa captivated audiences with ‘Jamie and Vanessa’ parties and stage shows. Vanessa now produces her own parties, events and shows. She is proud dance mistress of her very own Crystal Stepz Dance Company, creating works of a kind rarely seen! Her sell out hit dance show, Vanessa Wagner’s History of Dance broke box office records during its premiere season.

She Co-hosted the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade telecasts on Channel Ten for 5 years. She also had a regular appearance as talk back host, on national youth radio station Triple J. Vanessa’s intelligent, opinionated and funny repartee is a sure crowd pleaser. She was the most colourful and loved entrant in Celebrity Big Brother, has made Australia laugh featuring in a saucy Snickers TV commercial and keeps Australia laughing with TV and Cable appearances.

As a tireless advocate for HIV health education and safe practice, Tobin’s work has had far reach in many communities. In July 2022, Academic Daniel Reeders commented - “Tobin’s ground-breaking work as Vanessa Wagner with Kath Albury as Nurse Nancy was a key inspiration for Michael Hurley’s theory of cultures of care that has had a sustained and powerful influence on HIV health promotion practice in Australia. Vanessa and Nancy used glamour and humour to bring audiences on a journey through sensitive topics like having a positive sex life and managing complicated medication regimes in the emerging era of antiretroviral treatments.”

With a myriad of corporate speaking & charity works across Australia, Vanessa has proved her flexibility and has cemented her position as a loveable Australian icon. As has Tobin!

Always genuine. Always passionate. Always opinionated. And always inspiring!

The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and from where you find your favourite podcasts. Tune in daily for a history of drag in Sydney. Tell your friends, share the podcast, relish the stories and embrace your own sense of Pride.