Nothing like a dame

from I'd Rather Be In Deeping June 2022

What’s on

Theatre at the time of William Shakespeare was strictly ‘men only’ and that meant men dressing up as women for the female roles – hence their robes would drag on the floor and the term ‘drag’ artist was coined. Even when women were allowed to perform, drag artists never really went away – they emerged in variety theatre of the music hall age with characters such as Julian Eltinge, followed later by Danny la Rue and Dame Edna Everidge. What would a panto be without a dame? Nothing!

But then RuPaul exploded onto the TV with Drag Race and all of a sudden drag became mainstream! In 2017 Time Magazine named RuPaul as one of the hundred most influential people in the world. This has meant the growth in numbers prepared to get involved. Naturally this has seen some watering down of the quality of some of the acts but at the same time the opportunities for drag queens continue to grow and the colour and vibrancy of their contribution enrich society! Annually this culminates in the Pride Parades, not just parties but, in a world where there are several countries where it is still illegal to be gay and eleven where the death penalty still exists if you are found to be a part of the LGBTQIA, they are an essential statement of self worth.

Peterborough Pride will take place in August this year and locally born Queen, Teddi, has already booked her place. Teddi, born and raised in Peterborough, has played with gender all her life, dressing up in her mum’s clothes, wearing her heels as a kid and then, when she attended the London Met Uni, exploring this in a more serious way as she looked at gender dynamics, writing a dissertation on how gender roles reversing can help your understanding of character. It was after this as a political statement that she went into a straight room in drag and it certainly took the air out of it! Just two years later and she was performing in drag, singing, dancing hosting – anything from engaging bingo to interactive quizzes and networking events.

Influences are her Mum and aunties and also gay icons such as Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Emma Bunton – all have a place. Naturally RuPaul and the legendary drag race offerings: The Vivienne, Alyssa Edwards, Lawrence Chaney and Shangela.

Top tips for makeup are always to protect your skin with a good primer, make sure that you match your skin tone with your foundation and never be worried about a bold lip! Being a larger Queen the High Street is not a great place to find costumes and so some are handmade; some are from drag specific websites and Asos.