Filthy but fun

Whether you’re looking forward to the parade, the workshops or dancing on a box wearing a boob tube, why not try fitting something a little different into your Mardi Gras diary? If you want a bit of glitz and glamour, then this year’s drag king shows may be right up your street.

For years the Sydney scene has had its fair share of queens taking to the stage in our bars and clubs, but this year the chicks with dicks are going to be given a run for their money by the men with fannies. Throughout February and March, drag kings from around Australia will be descending on Sydney, putting on cabaret acts and workshops and adding a bit of butch to the air.

The must-see of the month has to be the King Victoria Drag King Cabaret. The show, which hails from Melbourne, is on tour and tickets are bound to be snapped up fast as these highly talented performers promise their audience some butch parodies and tributes and a bit of naughty porn thrown in too.

Organiser and performer Bumpy puts the success of the show down to its having plenty of filth and fun, but mainly originality. She told the Star: We have been going for four years now, and put on a different show every week. The Sydney audience will love us, and the audience should be prepared to become part of our act.

The show is set on a porn set and features stand-up comedy, live music and live cabaret. Drag king Muthafuka MC, who has recently returned from the US where he played 38 gigs in 30 cities, is looking forward to the Sydney show. The show is an extravaganza, it’s totally hot and sexy and rock ‘n’ roll, and Sydney is going to love it, said Muthafuka.

So if you feel like meeting Bumpy, Muthafuka et al, then get yourself down to the downstairs theatre at the Seymour Centre on 3 or 4 March at 8:30pm. Tickets are $28, $25 for concessions and $22 for New Mardi Gras members. To book, call 9351 7940 or the Seymour Centre box office.

For a light-hearted look at drag kings, The King’s Balls is a great choice -“ a drag king ball where performers and partygoers playfully explore female masculinity and drag characters. The event also showcases new drag king talent.

Meredith, editor of Slit magazine and organiser of the event, said: What we are doing with the night, The King’s Balls, is creating a space for you to untie the rebel within, a night of bent drag piracy. Punters will be pirates, drag kings, femme queens, naughty bois, your basic saucepots. Slit gigs are invariably a crowd of glamorous friendly spunk rats.

The friendly atmosphere and excellent venue will be sure to give us all the urge to grab the fake ‘tache and shoulder pads and play dress-up. So get yourself along to the Metro Theatre, George Street, on 21 February at 9pm. Ticket prices are $25 and $20 for concessions and New Mardi Gras members. To book, call 9287 2000 or visit www.metrotheatre.com.au.

Last but not least is the perfect opportunity for all aspiring drag kings, or anyone else who just fancies a bit of a giggle, to get the lowdown on becoming gorgeous or butching it up at Glamour Outreach. Join Sexy Galexy, Della Deluxe and friends for a great workshop for all genders of any persuasion. The gang will be demonstrating the finer details of unleashing that drag persona hiding deep down in all of us.
If you’re needing a bit of advice on strapping, packing, corsets, stilettos or just feel like a bit of a chit chat, make sure you make time for Glamour Outreach at the Pride Centre, 104 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, on 21 February from 1:30pm to 6pm. Ticket prices are $25, $12 for concessions, $20 for New Mardi Gras members. To book, email [email protected].