250703 Anna Key

Who Killed Anna Key – Opening Night

I messaged Anna the day before opening night to see if she had a photographer — she didn’t, and she was excited for me to come along and capture it all. It wasn’t until we met in the doorway of The Butterfly Club that I realised we’d actually met once before, after Bulletproof! (by Strewth) on the rooftop. Later, she told me she was Strewth’s drag daughter.

She arrived in a big jacket and trackies with makeup done, but still needing to get into costume and splatter herself in blood (yes, really). There’s something iconic about that half-finished drag stage, in the midst of metamorphosis.

Her drag persona, Anna Key, is high-femme, intense, and dripping with drama. Big hair, massive chest piece, and hips wide enough to cause structural damage. When I asked about the look, she told me the character first emerged as part of a uni performance, but that’s not where it truly came from. Anna Key was born out of defiance, a response to the pressure she felt growing up, being sexualised as someone assigned female. Over time, the persona became something more complex. She was not just a reaction, but a presence with power all her own.

The show sold over 20 tickets. The crowd laughed and enjoyed it, but there was a flicker of awkward energy, and Anna had to work hard to carry it. There was something devastatingly admirable about watching her push through in 8-inch heels and full drag, giving everything and never letting the weight of it show.

After the show, the crash came. Exhaustion and disappointment settled in. I didn’t photograph that moment because it felt too personal. Instead, we sat together: Anna, her production assistant Dustin, George on the tech desk, and me. It was a safe space for her to express her feelings, and for us to start exchanging ideas on how to improve the next two nights.

About 10 minutes later, her drag sister and her bio sister called down from the bar, asking if she was coming up, telling her that her audience was waiting. As Anna entered the bar, a wave of applause broke out. It was warm, loud, and full of love. You could see the weight of the night lift slightly, the audience’s support giving her just enough space for hope.

Reflection

• What worked: Arriving early meant I could capture behind-the-scenes moments, especially the transformation into drag, while also building the trust and safety that made post-show conversations possible.

  
  

• What didn’t: I didn’t ask ahead of time if it was okay to photograph post-show moments, so I held back when things felt too personal.

  
  

• What’s next: Have a pre-show chat with performers about what moments they’re comfortable having documented, including the vulnerable moments after the curtain falls.

After note (from Anna):

“That moment I had with you and Dustin and George was so valuable to me. Immediately post-show I had a safe space to express my feelings and get it out of my system. All of us exchanging notes and ideas on improvements led to the next two nights going exactly how I'd hoped! But all of this was because of you Lucky — your curiosity, your talent, your empathy, your kindness. From the moment I met you at Bulletproof I could tell you had a beautiful and kind soul. I knew I could trust you and open up to you and vice versa because that's the kind of person you are. Plus, your photos are bloody awesome.”