By ALESHA CAPONE
SARAH Ward’s latest show is billed as a night of “blues, burlesque and blame”.
On Friday and Saturday, the Spotswood performer will take to the stage at The Substation in Newport as her alter-ego Yana Alana.
The concert, titled ‘Between the Cracks’, is part of the 2013 Midsumma Festival – Melbourne’s premier queer artistic event.
An experienced performer, Ms Ward has spent the past few years performing with Circus Oz and the hip-hop cabaret act Sista She.
In ‘Between the Cracks’, she will be accompanied by Footscray pianist Louise Goh.
Ms Ward said after two years out of the spotlight, Yana was coming back to “to bare all in intimate night of camp cabaret”.
“I am exploring a different aspect of the character with every show,” she said.
“In the first show, Yana Alana was angry. In the second, she stepped into being a diva.
“In this show she is broken and on the other side of being a celebrity.
“People know they’re going to get music and cabaret and they also know they’re going to get something that’s funny.”
Ms Ward said ‘Between the Cracks’ would offer insights into the deepest parts of Yana’s psyche – in a humorous manner.
She said Yana, although a flawed character, was a courageous example to anyone experiencing tough emotions.
“I want people to realise who they are is perfect,” Ms Ward said.
“I guess that’s the message of the show in the end.”
‘Between the Cracks’ will be on 1 Friday and 2 Saturday February, 7.30pm at The Substation, 1 Market St, Newport.
Tickets: full $30, concession $27. See www.thesubstation.org.au for tickets.
