Raw, heartbreaking, and hilarious, drag gets political and personal in Goody Prostate’s KINDER. In a world where gender and sexuality are constant targets of censorship, Goody delivers a beautiful defence of Drag Queen Story Hour, blending sharp dance moves, razor-sharp wit, and not a moment wasted on stage.

Goody Prostate bursts onto the stage in sparkly lederhosen, a cheeky nod to their German roots and a subtle prelude to the deeper, unspoken themes of censorship and history that underpin their performance. They are in a rush to find an idea for their act at the library, reading to children following a humorous misunderstanding over what “reading” entailed (It’s a roast, right?). The first performance they come up with is definitely a little too raunchy for the kids, but they aren’t deterred. The act has been brought forward by an hour in anticipation of protests outside the library, leading to this show—half brainstorm, half breakdown—as Goody reaches into their past with empathy for the child they once were and what seeing a Drag Queen at story time would have meant for them.

Always relevant, but especially so in light of recent US government attempts to erase trans people from government and educational publications, KINDER pulls back the curtain on those who are hurt the most when censorship rears its ugly head. In debates about queer identities in the educational system, it’s often implied, if not outright stated, that children will be confused by these identities. They forget that we were once children too, and as Goody reminds us, it is precisely those children who need a Drag Queen storytelling at the library.

Through sharp wit, tales of their childhood, and their opinions on parenting, Goody reminds us: We were children too. It’s raw and heart-wrenching as we dig into the heart of the matter—the dangers of censorship and the power that education on queer identity holds for children. In a segment that particularly delighted me as a self-titled linguist, we’re treated to an etymological breakdown of kinder—tracing its roots to a word that means both family and knowing, and of course, the modern German word for children. There’s a heartfelt plea woven in: to allow children the privilege of being known and knowing themselves, even if that understanding doesn’t come from their parents. It might need to come from a drag queen.

It’s not just an important message but an utterly magnetic performance, with sharp, cutting transitions and sudden lighting changes that feel haunting and almost claustrophobic as Goody relives their coming out to their father in front of a mirror under a strange UV glow. Every outfit is a winner, from the bedazzled lederhosen to the Magic School Bus-inspired colourful ensemble reminiscent of Goody’s childhood drawings. Each serves to explore the joy, the rage, and the child at the heart of this issue.

Raw, furious, and ultimately compassionate, KINDER is a radiant celebration of the children we were, the adults we’ve become, and the unyielding hope that future generations will be free to know—and be known—exactly as they are.

Recommended drink: A hot chocolate with Baileys, hot chocolate for your inner child, and Baileys for the fun of it.

Catch KINDER at the Studio Theatre @ Goodwood Theatre and Studios on Sun Mar 16 at 21:00. Tickets available on the Adelaide Fringe website.