Guest hosts Oliver Coleman & Steph Teitelbaum welcome Ben Graetz onto SmartArts this week to discuss his upcoming show which honours the life and work of Tina Turner, as part of YIRRAMBOI festival.

Ben’s journey with Tina goes back to 1993 when aged 16 he saw her live in Darwin - the moment changed his life and inspired him to be a performer. Tina – A Tropical Love Story is written, performed and directed by Ben, although (as he explains in the interview below) there are plenty of guests from the drag, First Nations and queer performance scenes who will light up the stage with him.

As well as discussing what will be an electrifying show on Wednesday 7 May at Melbourne Recital Centre, Oliver and Steph also ask Ben about the perceptions of First Nations art and his experiences in drag.

"Drag allows me to celebrate my creativeness through my queerness."

Tickets for Tina – A Tropical Love Story are available here.