Fridae

When the Sydney Leather Pride Association converted the Royal Hordern Pavilion into a "chunky" industrial site, upon first view it was more like entering the set of a big theatrical production (something like Cats) where the whole room was alive with the theme and you where a part of the show.
Right from the start the performances impressed party-goers. With over 66 performers "doing their thing" throughout the night. There were aerial performances, shows in the toilet, the chill-out area, the main space and even some the dark corners (with some over-zealous party guests).

Think industria and you've got an idea of what is was like. AnA Wojak, Scenic Designer, did well; the set was seriously industrial with no corners cut. It was all hard, heavy steel - nothing was fake! With the extra dark spaces for guest to 'hang-out' at, and the intriguing live shows, nobody went home without at least one of their fetishes catered to.

"I wanted to take it back to how I knew the parties to be ten years ago," said Inquisitions first-time Show Director P.B. Hobb. "Basically, the gay scene has been slowly but surely conservatising their parties," he went on to say. Well Inquisition IX was anything but conservative. "It was the best party ever - more queer than all the others," said Garry who was last seen walking from the Hordern Pavilion around 7:00 am Sunday morning.

P.B. broke new ground for Sydney Leather Pride week and Inquisition. Never before has it had a Show Director working on the event and people are not yet to warm to the idea. However a quick chat with party-goers on gay.com by the author senses that many of the younger guys using Inquisition as their entry point into the leather community are more than happy with the idea. "The shows where great. Darn right dark and dirty! That was the best bit for me, it was great to see others doing what I want to try," wrote LookingForABit, a 25yo chat regular.

It was fantastic to see an unusually higher proportion of women than men among the performers. "I could have filled the space four times over with women performers," P.B. confides. "The women's scene is just awesome. I mean the men are doing stuff, but they're a lot quieter about it. They tend to do it more in the dark" P.B. was quoted to have said earlier in the week. (So that's why those dark corners where so full).

The party didn't stop there - many guests moved on to their favoured recovery space, The Barracks, just off Taylor Square. The action went on here til well into the afternoon, with plenty of leather and rubber being shared by all.

Currently no statement has been made from the committee of Sydney Leather Pride, but from all accounts most party-goers went home very happy.