Briefs came out of workshops in a warehouse space of a bookshop in Brisbane's West End in 2008. First performances were club nights as part of the Brisbane Festival, which led to a run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
From there, the show has toured the world. Shivannah says they've spent the last year "glitter-bombing" the globe, from London and Berlin to Edinburgh, Paris and Glastonbury. Highlights include an invitation from celebrity comedian John Bishop to take part in his prime-time BBC1 show, residency at Berlin's legendary Tipi am Kanzleramt and a mega season at the London Wonderground.
There's now six Aussie performers and one New Yorker, all with extensive experience in burlesque and cirque. For Shivannah, the move into the world of sequins, feathers and stage spotlights isn't too different from the rugby field.
"It takes a lot of work, heart and soul to be the good sports person that you want to be, and it takes a lot of work, heart and soul to be the real person that you know you want to be, particularly with your family and your peers.
"Everyone has their own story and ending as long as you are moving forward it is worth the struggle. There is a long way to go in terms of defeating the evil forces of homophobia in general, not just in sport, but it does feel like we are heading in the right direction. As a kid I didn't feel there was any progress. I hope kids feel safer now."
Cabaret has provided a natural home for Shivannah, who says it's always given a platform to artists who didn't fit anywhere else.
"It is the spiritual home of talented misfits and radicals. The work can be taken at razzamatazz surface value but if you scratch the surface cabaret artists challenge a lot of ideas under the guise of satire and humour.
"Booze-fuelled cabaret clubs began in late 19th-century Paris and inspired British music hall and variety, American Vaudeville and perhaps most famously the German Kabaret clubs in Berlin. In all these places artists and misfits gathered to share radical ideas and perform. Some people just sit back and watch, enjoy spectacle and don't engage with the political message. That's okay too. Maybe next time that person encounters a challenging situation in everyday life they might reference their experience with us or another cabaret show. With these small steps we move closer to equality, one glitter bomb at a time."
And what does the audience enjoy most about Briefs?
"I think audiences are shocked and impressed with the level of skill, artistic merit, social awareness and shameless entertainment. I believe audiences understand the world we try to create and really do feel the energy that explodes when we are on stage.
"For us, there have been so many memorable moments [from touring] that have disappeared due to excessive partying while on tour with this show for three years. Glastonbury Festival 2014 and 2015 were festivals that I will never forget. Thousands of punters in our giant big top, surrounded by amazing musicians, gobsmacking creativity, ridiculous food and an excitement in the air that would make any amount of mud acceptable.
"The other moment that would be most memorable was performing this show for the first time and realising that we collectively as a group of artists that we made something really special."
