The WAPs
The WAPs: Queering Competition with Whimsy, Fun, and Chaos
Happi Valley and Earnest Cuddles, the delightfully daft duo behind Deliciously Divergent, share insights into their quirky creation: WAPs (Whimsy. Assonance. Pennies. Speed) — a home-grown burlesque “competition” that celebrates creativity, chaos, and community. By taking a lighthearted approach to performance, WAPs shifts the focus from high-pressure competition to fun and experimentation. It offers both seasoned performers and newcomers a platform to express themselves without the traditional pressures of competition.
Each performer is given four weeks and a $50 budget to create their acts, with a whimsical theme announced five weeks before the event. This limited time and resources alleviate the typical stress performers face, allowing anyone to participate regardless of experience or financial situation. “It’s all about creating something the audience enjoys,” Earnie explains. Happi adds that the structure ensures WAPs is accessible, even for those who struggle with time management or have ADHD. The low expectations for polish and perfection further encourage creativity on stage.
Understanding the emotional and mental strain typical competitions can impose, Happi and Earnie intentionally designed WAPs to be a supportive and relaxed space. “Putting something close to your heart on stage can be really hard,” Happi says. To counter this, they asked themselves, “How can we create a more supportive space?” The answer was simple: “Taskmaster if it was gay and naked!” Earnie clarifies that while there is a winner who receives a trophy, the title is chosen randomly by an audience member who catches “The Golden Poo.” and earns the title of The Grand Poobah. This means that winning isn’t based on performance skill but on audience engagement.
A standout feature of WAPs is the “No Thank You” button — an escape hatch for overwhelmed performers. “At any point, if it all goes to shit, we don’t care. Just put it on stage anyway,” Happi explains. This button symbolises the event’s ultimate goal: enjoyment. “If you’re not having a good time, hit the button. We have pocket performers as a backup, ready to step in,” she continues. This ensures that participants can step down without guilt, emphasising the focus on fun rather than stress.
Reflecting on past performances, Happi and Earnie fondly recall the beautifully unhinged acts from WAPs. One standout act featured Iris Envy, a friend and, at the time, emerging burlesque artist who, with only four weeks and $50, created a performance that eventually won her the Mx Burlesque South Australia competition. “We cried in the audience when she won. It was great!” they recall. Iris’ journey exemplifies the supportive environment Happi and Earnie have cultivated, encouraging performers to experiment without fear of failure.
Happi reflects on what burlesque has meant to her: “Before WAPs, I was facing a lot of challenges and was going through a particularly difficult time, so we began producing shows to keep my sanity!” Already deeply involved in the burlesque community, Happi found it to be a vital part of her life, especially as someone with a chronic illness. “I needed to reconnect with my body in a positive way.” She adds, “I tend to drag Earnie into things, and that’s how he became involved.” Together, they tapped into Adelaide’s thriving burlesque scene, and began performing as a duo in the local Hot Sauce burlesque school.
Earnie elaborates on his experience, saying, “I was playing rugby but struggled with being a trans man in sports. Even though I was on an accepting LGBTQI team, I was still struggling with my self-image.” It was during this time that Happi encouraged him to try out burlesque. “Initially, I was convinced it wasn’t for me. I planned to attend just one class to see how it went. However, I quickly realised how good it made me feel and how supportive the community was. Everyone is there to lift you up.” He continues, “Being able to move my body and express myself creatively is what I love about burlesque. It allows me to explore different perspectives of myself in a really fun way.”
The evolution of WAPs is deeply connected to Happi and Earnie‘s commitment to supporting rural queer communities and burlesque scenes. When their friend and burlesque mainstay Karney Doll moved to Peterborough and started a burlesque school, they saw an opportunity to support existing queer performers. “We thought, let’s go loud and proud and promote queer-friendly businesses and shows in the Mid North region,” Happi explains. Recognising the stark differences between city and rural life, they were determined to champion their queer identity through burlesque.
Happi reflects on their journey as WAPs has grown significantly since its humble beginnings, recently winning the Lesbian Incorporated grant. After a challenging day, they filled out the grant application in a race against time after realising the deadline was not a week away as they initially had in mind. Now, with this added support, they are eager to bring the competition to the Feast stage at Clare’s Town Hall, reaching an even wider audience!
Happi and Earnie’s commitment to cultivating a supportive community is evident in their efforts to connect with those in rural areas. As a trans man from a rural town, Earnie understands the isolation that can come from a lack of LGBTQIA+ representation. “WAPs allow us to show people they’re not alone,” he states. Happi shares her perspective coming out late and how important it is to her to create art through WAPs with other queer people: ”I’m from a rainbow family, my parents are queer, but it still took me until I was 30 to realise I’m a bisexual woman even though I have been adjacent to queer spaces most of my life. But for me WAPs is about fellowshiping with my fellow queer people. I want to be a valuable member of the queer community and bring our art to those who need it most…I keep thinking about how we’ve had a lot of closures of our queer-only spaces. We’ve lost a bunch of bars around the scene and I’m really feeling that dissolution of culture. Because we’re not getting together and you know nobody wants to go back in the closet.” Happi states “But we still need to remember that we are our own culture and that there is value to be shared with other queer people and making art with other queer people.”
Since last year’s Feast Festival, Happi and Earnie have gained more confidence in their roles as producers. “We’ve grown so much since then, not just
within the burlesque community but with the broader LGBTQIA+ community,” they say. This growth has solidified their desire to support queer performers and create inclusive spaces. Reflecting on their journey, they note, “Back then, we worried, ‘Do we belong here?’….but Feast certainly makes you feel welcome and that you do belong here.” “Involvement with Feast is incredibly important for us as queer performers—it’s so valuable to have a platform that supports the queer community as a whole. We really enjoyed the entire experience. It’s a great festival, and we have a passion for wanting to support it. We’re returning this year with more confidence and greater self-awareness regarding our show and who we are as performers, which is all very exciting,” shares Earnie.
WAPs stands as a testament to the power of creativity, inclusivity, and joyful chaos. By providing a space where performers can express themselves freely and without the burden of traditional competition, Happi and Earnie are redefining what a competition can be — one filled with whimsy, fun, and acceptance. Their dedication to community through performance art has made WAPs a beloved event that highlights the importance of joy in the creative process and the value of queer representation in all spaces.
Join us in supporting The WAPs’ wacky, wonky and wonderfully wobbly burlesque at Feast on November 16, 2024, at 7:30 PM at Clare Town Hall and November 23, 2024, at 7:30 PM at Diverse-City. Experience the magic firsthand! Follow them online on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on their journey.
Written by Feast’s Storyteller, Stiles Swanepoel (he/they)
14 November 2024
Talking to the Box Office...