A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format.

Country Always

Caring for Country

A Corner of the Empire

The Garden Palace

Sepia photograph of the Technological Museum and a cow in the foreground

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

Sepia photograph of the Technological College and Museum in Broken Hill

Regional Networks

Across New South Wales

A Museum of Doing

Technological Museum

Black and white photograph of man walking through eucalyptus plantation

Expanding Stories

Evolution of the Castle Hill site from botanical research station to Museum Discovery Centre

Colour photograph of red corrugated iron building from a high vantage point

Transforming the Tramsheds

Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Powerhouse Museum, Stage 2 exterior from high angle, city skyline in background

Ongoing Transformations

Powerhouse Ultimo

Blurred image from film with museum object number

Applied Arts and Sciences

Defining the terms in the 21st century

Powerhouse Renewal

Two people standing next to a cow in a field of cows.

Powerhouse Food: Producers

Across Western Sydney24 Aug 2024 — 25 Jul 2025

We Rise

Blak Powerhouse

A tall rocket with a long trail of burning fuel lifts off from a launchpad at Cape Canaveral.

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

An initiative of the Powerhouse: Future Space program

Photofields

Across Sydney6—7 Dec

Exoskeleton

Powerhouse Parramatta

A woman stands on stage in front of a large audience. She has her left hand raised in the air and a microphone in her right hand. The audience are holding their phones up recording the woman.

Blak Powerhouse

Powerhouse x We Are Warriors

Slider thumb2023

Program Powerhouse Late

Powerhouse Late: BERTHA

Name: Powerhouse Late: BERTHA
Start: 2023-08-24T07:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-08-24T11:00:00.000Z
Location: Ultimo

Tag iconLate

when

Ended 24 Aug 2023

where

Ultimo

Grab your champers and best shimmering frock for the celebration of BERTHA! A daughter of disco, BERTHA is the alter-ego of Harold Samu and will take us on a glittering journey across time using sound, image and 13 exquisitely dressed baby-BERTHA dolls by Yuki Kihara commissioned by the Powerhouse Museum and recently added to Yuki Kihara's Paradise Camp exhibition, curated by Natalie King.

BERTHA will reunite onstage with her lifelong collaborator Buckwheat, along with other performers from the queer community. This night also features a screening of the 90s cult TV cooking show Eaten Alive, a tour of Paradise Camp with Yuki Kihara and tunes all night long by DJ Alex Taylor.

Program

INTRODUCTION
5.45pm Acknowledgement of Country by Ebony Williams

PERFORMANCE
5.50pm Pese (song): O le Sau o Te’e (pre-Christian pese from Savai’i, Samoa) performed by Samu aiga (family)
5.55pm Lotu (prayer): Lealaitagomoa Muliagatele Tuisina Ymania Brown – Co-Secretary General of ILGA World (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)
6pm BERTHA
7pm Taualuga performance by BERTHA with pese (Faleula e & Falealili uma) by Samu aiga
8pm BERTHA and Buckwheat reunited

TALK
7.15pm Tuiloma Lina-Jodi Vaine Samu speaking about the Samu gafa (genealogy) plus elements of BERTHA’s Tuiga headdress and her finale B-B outfit
WARNING There will be photos of deceased ancestors shown in this presentation

TOUR
6.15pm Tour of Paradise Camp including BERTHA dolls with Yuki Kihara and BERTHA

SCREENING
5–9pm Eaten Alive (episode 31) featuring BERTHA and Buckwheat, courtesy of TVNZ Digital Production Library and Tagata Pasifika

VISUALS
5–9pm We Are Family – BERTHA’s private photo collection from over the years
5–9pm Diva • Doll • Costume Design by BERTHA

MUSIC
5–9pm DJ Alex Taylor

BAR
5–9pm Bar by Grifter, cocktails curated by BERTHA

Venue

Powerhouse Ultimo
500 Harris St
Ultimo NSW 2007

Plan your visit

Entry

Free, registration recommended
Suitable for all ages

Thursday
24 August 2023
5–9pm

Accessibility

We encourage visitors with accessibility requirements to contact us via book@powerhouse.com.au or (02) 9217 0222 for help in planning your visit. We accept Companion Cards.