MCQP HAILED AS SUCCESS

The Mother City Queer Project – the largest ‘queer’ party on the continent – rocked Cape Town this weekend, with most declaring it a success. The costume event was held under the banner of “It’s a Circus” at the Ratanga Junction theme park.

Many have hailed the bash as a return to the party’s previous splendour following last year’s event which was widely seen as disappointing – largely thanks to bad weather. The decision to house the party at a venue with indoor spaces paid off, although some said that having multiple dance floors sponsored by various club, dispersed the crowd of thousands too much.

As has become tradition, partygoers attended in themed costumes, many impressively elborate and witty. “Some of the outfits were fantastic. People went to a lot of effort” said Mambaonline writer Christo Valentyn, who attended the party. “Overall it was a great concept, although with such a big space, the event could have had more people”, he added. Some who spent R250 for VIP tickets felt that the extra cost didn’t get them very much in real value.

Nevertheless the mixture of various dance floors, three fairground rides, circus acts, food stalls and a multitude of well-buffed bodies has left a positive impression on many, boding well for future MCQP events.

Sheryl Ozinsky, one of the MCQP organisers and co-owner, said that she was happy; “It was an excellent event and very successful in light of the fact that we had two or three months to organise everything. Our creative director Peter Hayes did an unbelievable job”.

She added though that much could still be done to improve the party in the future. “We got it up to a standard which we can build on. And it will be built on from here, and it will grow and prosper. The challenge is to make it into an event that is incredibly alternative and artistic and creative but also professional and organised. But that takes money and sponsorship,” she said.

As for the future Ozinsky says that the strategy is to make it more into an ‘art’ event with visual arts, theatre, and of course the costumes. The organisers will apply to the lottery for funding and will begin planning for next year’s event in January.

MCQP was sold earlier this year by its founder André Vorster to a consortium of people, including Richard Gradner and Raymond Bloom of Samurai Experiential Marketing, Egon Klein of the Opium Group and Henry Shields of Marimba Jazz Café at the CTICC as well as Sheryl Ozinsky, former Cape Town Tourism chief.