Pants Off for a good cause

Stars of stage and screen will come together in Sydney for a special concert next month to raise money and awareness for Beyondblue and people experiencing depression and anxiety.

Cast members from Dancing With The Stars, Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line, Fame, and Wicked will join Tara Morice, Marney McQueen, Ben Mingay, Stephen Mahy, Jeremy Brennan, Ana Maria Belo, Belinda Wollaston and even the star of the Optifast television commercials for the one-off Pants Off! concert at Slide on Monday, February 18.

Producer Trent Kidd, from Just Kidd’n Productions, told SX he was inspired to put on a benefit show after seeing the impact of the annual Hats Off concert series that raises funds for services to help people living with HIV.

“We believe mental health illnesses such as depression are not really spoken about, yet it is hugely prevalent within the gay community. So we’re trying our best to get the message out there,” he said.

“Gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths and 30 per cent of all completed youth suicides are related to the issue of sexual identity. Over the past seven years 25 per cent to 40 per cent of young lesbians and gays have attempted suicide in Australia.”

Kidd said the concert was already shaping up to be one not to be missed. 

“My aim is to create a concert that is diverse and entertaining,” he told SX. 

“We want to please and wow the audience by using known artists and all the while raising awareness and support for those people suffering from mental illness and depression.”

Pants Off! is on 6.30pm, Monday, February 18 at Slide, Darlinghurst. Tickets $30 ($35 on the door). To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.slide.com.au