In The Flesh
HOTMESS returns to Horizon for one night only with In The Flesh – an electrifying fusion of art and performance that blurs the lines between audience and artist.
In The Flesh is an interactive life-drawing performance providing a safe space for people to discover and explore the depths of their creativity while escaping their inner critic – igniting boundary-bending conversations and ideas and unifying community through art and theatre.
This immersive experience invites festival-goers to dive into surreal narratives through live drawing, theatrical performance, and vibrant storytelling. Using costumes, soundscapes, and bold visuals, In The Flesh transforms the creative process into an interactive spectacle, inspiring participants to explore their own creativity without limits. Rooted in collaboration, and shaped by the energy of each audience, this show is a celebration of artistic expression and community.
Just a heads up: HOTMESS sold out in minutes last year, so you best be quick.
— HOTMESS PARTICIPANT
“HOTMESS is a sensory wonderland. Entirely different from any drawing class you’ve ever graced. It’s a full immersion into absurdity that commands your attention in ways that open you up to possibility and make strangeness the norm. Thank the high heavens we can be a hot mess again in a wonderful environment that promotes and celebrates what it is to be a big bunch of weirdos. 5 stars.”
Creative Team
- Creator/Performer – Gabrielle Miller
- Creator/Guide – Sophie May
HOTMESS is a multidisciplinary collaboration between Sophie May and Gabrielle Miller. They create surrealistic narratives and performative art offering audiences healthy escapism. Our practice takes many forms, adjusting to different realms from life-drawing classes to online courses, festival and theatre performances and gallery exhibitions. HOTMESS was created during the Northern NSW floods as an escape from the hardship, grief and exhaustion we were all experiencing.
Sophie May is a Gamilaraay artist living on Bundjalung Country. She works with ceramic sculpture and mixed media painting, as well as photography and textiles. Sophie is in her third year of a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Queensland College of Art (QCA) in SouthBank. She explores expressionism using both painting and sculpture making. Her work is loose, colourful and expressive, and is inspired by nature, emotions and her mixed cultural background. Sophie plays in the space outside of the box, beyond the lines. Having a passion for passing on cultural knowledge and skills, Sophie works with adults and children, running art-based workshops. She is passionate about the benefits art has on our mental well being, and believes it can be used as a powerful tool. She completed an artist residency program with Metro Arts in January 2022.
Gabrielle Miller is a director and performer bringing ingenuity to the stage and screen through music, dance, acting, puppetry and mask. Gabrielle trained at the Atelier für Physisches Theater in Berlin and tours worldwide with her swing show, Zap. A chimerical storyteller with a wide reaching practice, Gabrielle has devised a number of works, including the AC/DC meets Rocky Horror cabaret If You Want Blood at Adelaide Fringe Festival, dementia dissecting comedic tragedy Baba in English Theatre and Brot Fabric in Berlin, a visual anthology Wunderwagon at Woodford Folk Festival and the transcendent lake performance, What Happens in the Dark at Javorwood Festival in Bosnia. Gabrielle played lead roles in films Bite the Hand, Bystro, Ius Talionis, Die Proses, Adventurados and Outback Motel and is a part of the European based ensemble Remote Control Productions directed by Michael Laub.
Acknowledgements
In the Flesh is presented by Horizon 2025 in partnership with Solbar.
In the Flesh is a life drawing workshop including live music and performance, with dialogue in English - presented in an indoor, licensed venue.
Seating is not allocated, cabaret style and all materials will be provided.
There are refreshments and food available for purchase at Solbar.
Wheelchair Accessibility
This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Level Access
Ramp access available.
Bathroom Access
Solbar has bathrooms available.
Any other access requirements
We welcome all audiences to Horizon and strive to make every event and performance as accessible as possible.
We are always open to discussing your individual requirements to assist wherever possible. If you’d like to speak to someone about your access requirements, please contact us during business hours at (07) 5475 7272 or [email protected].
Companion Cards
Horizon is proud to support the Companion Card program. Companion Card holders are eligible for a second ticket at no cost for their companion.
To access a complimentary companion ticket, please contact our team via [email protected].
Strobe lighting
Adult themes
Nudity
18+
Loud Noises (Live Music)
If you are travelling by car there is free, three-hour parking available at the Big Top Shopping Centre carpark located on Ocean Street. Parking is limited, we advise you use alternative transport, carpool or park and walk.
Solbar is within easy walking distance of the Maroochydore Station Bus Interchange. Plan your journey to festival from the Translink Website.
Car Parking is limited on Ocean Street so ride your bike to the Duporth Ave bike parking hub. You can lock your bike in the Council facility that has 24hr security cameras active.