Join Queen Jesus for a revolutionary queer ritual in which bread is shared, wine is drunk, and familiar stories are reimagined by a transgender Jesus.

Winner of the 2021 Green Room Award for Best Independent Theatre Production for its premiere season at Theatreworks, The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven features Kristen Smyth as Queen Jesus, delivering writer Jo Clifford’s provocative and inspiring text. Under the direction of Kitan Petkovski, Smyth’s powerful performance is supported by a live choir of four singing Rachel Lewindon’s hauntingly beautiful original score. The result is a transcendent take on what it means to be human, imagining Christianity’s message of love extending to embrace all those traditionally excluded because of their sexuality or gender.

“I wrote The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven because I wanted to resist,” says Jo Clifford. “Resist the profound and damaging shame and fear and guilt that has been with me almost all my life. The shame and the fear and the guilt that comes on almost all of us trans women and men born into this hostile world.”

“An amazing fusion of theatre, storytelling and ritual.” Stage Whispers

“An inspiring antidote to the legacy of shame left by many a church upbringing.” The Age

★★★★½ “Smyth’s performance is enthralling” Arts Hub

★★★★½ “This is a deeply affecting piece of theatre” Theatre Matters

Photos by Daniel Rabin

Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants