I Went On A Gay Cruise And, Ooops, I Spilled Some Tea!
FEATURED: AJ Lamarque | Instagram | TICKETS
AJ Lamarque’s upcoming Sydney Comedy Festival show is a A Beginner’s Guide To Gay Cruising. We asked AJ what audiences might be in for!
DNA: What inspired you to create a comedy show about going on a gay cruise?
After going on my first cruise in 2022 I was surprised at how different the actual experience was compared to how people described it beforehand. Kind of like the guy who talked the big game on Grindr only to turn up and just want cuddles. I think with this show I want to bust a lot of myths about what these cruises can and should be.
Can you share the most memorable or outrageous experiences you had on the cruise?
The most memorable experiences I had aboard the cruise was paying the bill at the end and realising they charged everything in USD. The biggest dom top on the cruise was the Accounts Department!
How do you navigate the line between comedy and respecting the diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community?
You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think being honest and genuinely caring about people is paramount to finding the line and playing on it. I want people to come and have fun but I’m definitely not afraid to read the community because after all, “Reading is what?”… something twinks struggle with.
What do you hope audiences will take away from your show in terms of understanding gay culture?
I hope audiences feel like they get a good understanding of what modern gay culture is like. I can’t summarise our whole experience in an hour, but I think the community is due a funny show that really looks at the good, the bad and the honest of being gay in 2024. But I know by the end of the hour, audiences will leave feeling loved, thoroughly roasted and really wanting to book a cruise.
What makes a gay cruises unique compared to other forms of travel or entertainment within the LGBTQIA+ community?
Definitely floating on water. Nothing is more entertaining than seeing hundreds of gays being rocked side to side as they try to balance the turbulent seas with going hard at a circuit party.
Have you had any unexpected reactions from audiences?
I’ve had a great reaction to the show so far. I think the main demographic for the show is gays who were also onboard wondering if I’m going to spill the tea on their hedonistic adventures. I promise I won’t… if you book…
Go on, spill a bit, just a few drops. Change names to protect the guilty!
Well, I don’t know the specific details of what happened in the hot tubs but when we were leaving the cruise, there were three guys in hazmat suits scrubbing that tub within an inch of it’s life. At least it was squeaky clean for the next cruise taking place which was – and this is the truth – a Holy Sites Of Europe Tour.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone considering going on a gay cruise for the first time?
I think not setting expectations of what the cruise should or shouldn’t be. When people talk about these cruises it’s always with this sordid fascination and, while you can get naughty on board, that’s not the only experience to have. There’s many different people on board with different ideas of what is fun and relaxing so it’s up to you what you do with your time on board. It’s a space for you to be unapologetically you.
Book tickets to see AJ Lamarque’s A Beginner’s Guide To Gay Cruising here.
