KING - CARL CONNIELINGUS

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET IN TO DRAG?? I was contacted by friends of mine, Dick Von Dyke and Electra La Cnt in 2017!! They explained that they were creating a new Queer space and platform for a more open range of performers, that included Queer Performance Art, Poetry, Burlesque/Trans Strip Teases, Singers/Dancers plus much, much more. I was hooked as soon as they told me that Queertopia would be that thing and my mind went wild!! They knew I sang and performed before but never in this light so I had no clue what to do and then being a Drag King or BioDrag King was brought to my attention and something I had actually thought about before but never thought it could come into fruition!! With a little guidance from the guys Carl ConnieLingus was born and continues to grow.

WHERE HAVE YOU PERFORMED? I’ve been lucky enough to be able to work in a few fab places in Belfast and beyond!! Between The Art Department, Union Street/ Kremlin, Maverick/Boombox, Limelight, The Belfast Telegraph Building (with Harland & Poof and Taboo for Pride 2019), Dublin and more recently I performed in Cookstown to Launch Mid-Ulster Pride, so I hope to see more of everywhere in 2020.

WHO HAVE BEEN THE BEST PEOPLE TO WORK WITH?? Oh, my beautiful Haus of Poof Scisstors rock my world every month at Harland & Poof!! We are the strangest wee collective and we work so well plus we look damn good doing it haha. Every month our Host The Only Sassie, Holly ‘Go Heavily, O’Neilly Cummins, Nancy Screww and Carl ConnieLingus (myself) really mess with your heads due to our themes and antics!! JP McGuckin and Lisa Flavelle knew what they were doing when they started this night and it’s working!!

I’m also lucky to work with the Cabargay Girls (Trudy Scrumptious, Paulette Stiletta and Glitzy Glamour) in Union Street every other month, they are the sweetest and funniest bunch of talented Queens ever!! And last year was fab for me because I got to work with Paul Ryder, who is a Southern Queen making their stamp all over the country and on TV!! I also entered their competition Ringmasters last year, where I won the Belfast Heat to Dublin and although I didn’t win the Crown, I did win Mr Congeniality. It was one of the best nights EVER!! And get this, I got to perform with Manila Luzon in July last year as part of my prize for that competition and it was absolutely amazing!! She was so lovely and beautiful!! I hope I get to do more stuff like that this year for sure, the bigger the better!!

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU, THINGS THAT JOE BLOGS MAY NOT KNOW Well, I’m 36 years young, Non-Binary (I do not mind any pronoun for myself but I will correct you on others if you are incorrect or being insensitive). Pansexual (No, I do not love Pans but I will explain if asked)

It’s not an easy task being a King in Northern Ireland as not many are aware that Kings even exist but Kings have been about for as long, if not longer than Queens, and with Queens being more flamboyant the Kings took a back stage for a long time, but not anymore haha. Honestly the amount of talent that has been there this whole time and that is now coming out is so inspiring and it’s about time Kings

got to shine too because we’re just as fierce as Queens and I am proof of that, as are a lot of the Kings out there doing their thing now!!

I mostly sing live now but I’ll throw out a wee lip sync and/or routine of course because performance art is a big part of drag after all!! I would definitely love to get into acting, pantos, musicals and things of those light this year.

TELL US OF YOUR PLAN’S AND SOME THINGS YOU HAVE LINED UP 2020 is gonna be a big year for Carl ConnieLingus!! You can catch me:

- The last Sunday of EVERY MONTH at Harland & Poof (we are on Facebook and Instagram) - A new weekly Karaoke Night and Bingo night with twists are in the works and coming soon (more details to follow on my Facebook and Instagram below) - Carl recently got Ordained to Marry anyone who wishes to get married by a Queerling Drag King and I will be taking bookings for Wedding Ceremonies very soon, so watch this space for that!! - I will also have a “Party Starter” package becoming available soon, where CCL will kick off any kind of party with fun and craic!! Queer Stag and Hen parties, Birthdays, Weddings and much, much more!!

FIND OR BOOK ME @: Facebook - Carl ConnieLingus @ carlconnielingus Instagram - @carlconnie_lingus

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