Backstage at Antony's Meltdown 2012: in pictures

Antony with Michael Cavadias, a friend and fellow artist from New York Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Marc Almond, who Antony introduced as one of his greatest influences before joining him to perform Marc and the Mambas' groundbreaking 1983 album Torment and Toreros Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Kembra Pfahler of glam-punk band the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, who proclaimed 'I just turned 51!' before cracking an egg with her vagina while doing a handstand Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Chrissy Lux, plate spinner and contortionist, who opened for New York performance art pioneer Joey Arias Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Vaginal Davis, performance artist Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Performance artist Johanna Constantine Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Andy Butler and John Grant from Hercules and Love Affair Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Dame Janet Suzman, actor and director Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Dancer and choreographer Yoshito Ohno Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Performance artist Marina Abramovic who delivered a lecture to a female-only audience, and actor Kim Cattrall, who introduced her Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer

Martin Schmidt and Drew Daniel of Matmos, the experimental electronic music group Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer