Drags Aloud
Encyclopedia
Drags Aloud is an Australia
n drag entertainment troupe.
Drags Aloud is a troupe of Australian Drag Queens
which was formed by a co-operative of leading Melbourne (Australia) drag queens in 2005. The members of Drags Aloud are: Amanda Monroe, Jessica James, and Kris del Vayze.. Former troupe members include: Linda Lamont, Christina Andrews, Jillette Jones, Jackie Stevens, Miss Bunny and Roxy Bullwinkle. Drags Aloud first received general public acclaim, outside of gay venues, when community television station Channel 31 aired an independently produced late night variety programme titled "Drags Aloud" which featured the well known Melbourne drag troupes the "Showbags" and The Manly Sisters . The series was filmed at Templebar Precinct in Collingwood. When the Showbags and The Manly Sisters group expanded their cast to present a newer innovative style of narrative drag performance, they renamed themselves Drags Aloud, in reference to the name recognition
from their television series.
Drags Aloud operated their own venue at the now defunct Newmarket Hotel in St Kilda where their new style of drag production shows were developed and first presented. They came to national prominence in 2007 when they were the first drag troupe to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
, receiving an honorable mention at the Director's Awards and a cash prize. Following their Melbourne International Comedy Season, they were invited to perform at the Gilded Balloon
venue in Edinburgh as part of the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
with their satirical production "The Sound of Music Drag Show" lampooning the culture of 'Nazi Musicals'.
In 2008 they consolidated their success with seasons at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In August 2008 they returned to Edinburgh for a second season at the Gilded Balloon for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, followed by seasons in London's West End (Leicester Square Theatre) and off Broadway at The Theatres at 45 Bleecker . These achievements made Drags Aloud one of the most successful Australian drag shows to date, being the first ever Australian drag show to perform Off-Broadway
, and only the second ever Australian drag troupe to perform in West End Theater. Their New York season led to them being invited to open for Joan Rivers
in March 2009 show at her comedy show in Melbourne and a resident season for Kris del Vayze at Edinburgh's Priscilla's Cabaret Bar.
Drags Aloud's style of performance is comic-parody, usually performed with a narrative subtext which draws upon popular culture
and which satirizes their own drag characterizations. Typically they are described as cabaret performers using drag as both medium and message.
In Australia's long history with the drag genre, Drags Aloud is most notable for taking the art of drag from its usual preserve of gay clubs
and out to a wider public. Drag differs from female impersonation in that drag is built upon characterization and not impersonation. Female impersonation has been in the general public entertainment arena for many years, however, in Australia drag queens have almost always been found within the exclusive domain of gay hotels and nightclubs. Drags Aloud has a performance style and presentation which consciously attempts to break down barriers between the perception of 'gay minority entertainment' and the wider community concept of 'theatrical entertainment'.
Drags Aloud is the subject of a documentary currently in production (est. release late 2011),by renowned documentary producer Linette Etheredge. (see:Wade in the Water)
In 2011 Drags Aloud is relocating to Europe to pursue their cabaret performance opportunities and intend to return to Australia for regular appearances at festivals and for tour dates.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n drag entertainment troupe.
Drags Aloud is a troupe of Australian Drag Queens
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
which was formed by a co-operative of leading Melbourne (Australia) drag queens in 2005. The members of Drags Aloud are: Amanda Monroe, Jessica James, and Kris del Vayze.. Former troupe members include: Linda Lamont, Christina Andrews, Jillette Jones, Jackie Stevens, Miss Bunny and Roxy Bullwinkle. Drags Aloud first received general public acclaim, outside of gay venues, when community television station Channel 31 aired an independently produced late night variety programme titled "Drags Aloud" which featured the well known Melbourne drag troupes the "Showbags" and The Manly Sisters . The series was filmed at Templebar Precinct in Collingwood. When the Showbags and The Manly Sisters group expanded their cast to present a newer innovative style of narrative drag performance, they renamed themselves Drags Aloud, in reference to the name recognition
Name recognition
Name recognition is a concept used in politics to describe the number of people who are aware of a politician. It is considered an important factor in elections, as candidates with low name recognition are unlikely to receive votes from people who only casually follow politics. Name recognition is...
from their television series.
Drags Aloud operated their own venue at the now defunct Newmarket Hotel in St Kilda where their new style of drag production shows were developed and first presented. They came to national prominence in 2007 when they were the first drag troupe to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
, receiving an honorable mention at the Director's Awards and a cash prize. Following their Melbourne International Comedy Season, they were invited to perform at the Gilded Balloon
The Gilded Balloon
The Gilded Balloon is one of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's best-known venues, established by Karen Koren in 1986 in Edinburgh's Cowgate. When a fire destroyed the original premises, Teviot Row House in Bristo Square became the Gilded Balloon's main venue....
venue in Edinburgh as part of the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
with their satirical production "The Sound of Music Drag Show" lampooning the culture of 'Nazi Musicals'.
In 2008 they consolidated their success with seasons at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Adelaide Fringe Festival is an arts festival held annually in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The event is the Southern Hemisphere's largest arts event and the second-largest fringe festival in the world, second in size only to the Edinburgh Fringe...
and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In August 2008 they returned to Edinburgh for a second season at the Gilded Balloon for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, followed by seasons in London's West End (Leicester Square Theatre) and off Broadway at The Theatres at 45 Bleecker . These achievements made Drags Aloud one of the most successful Australian drag shows to date, being the first ever Australian drag show to perform Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
, and only the second ever Australian drag troupe to perform in West End Theater. Their New York season led to them being invited to open for Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
in March 2009 show at her comedy show in Melbourne and a resident season for Kris del Vayze at Edinburgh's Priscilla's Cabaret Bar.
Drags Aloud's style of performance is comic-parody, usually performed with a narrative subtext which draws upon popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
and which satirizes their own drag characterizations. Typically they are described as cabaret performers using drag as both medium and message.
In Australia's long history with the drag genre, Drags Aloud is most notable for taking the art of drag from its usual preserve of gay clubs
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
and out to a wider public. Drag differs from female impersonation in that drag is built upon characterization and not impersonation. Female impersonation has been in the general public entertainment arena for many years, however, in Australia drag queens have almost always been found within the exclusive domain of gay hotels and nightclubs. Drags Aloud has a performance style and presentation which consciously attempts to break down barriers between the perception of 'gay minority entertainment' and the wider community concept of 'theatrical entertainment'.
Drags Aloud is the subject of a documentary currently in production (est. release late 2011),by renowned documentary producer Linette Etheredge. (see:Wade in the Water)
In 2011 Drags Aloud is relocating to Europe to pursue their cabaret performance opportunities and intend to return to Australia for regular appearances at festivals and for tour dates.