Drag Feast: The New Liverpool Drag Showcase Celebrating the City’s Queer Talent
Liverpool has always been famous for its drag. From Lily Savage to Danny Beard, from Lavinia to The Vivienne, Liverpool has produced some of the most iconic British drag performers of all time. Liverpool’s LGBT quarter is known for its rainbow street signs and vibrant bars, where glittering drag queens usher eager party-goers inside packed out bars to dance the night away.
Recently, however, the mood has been more subdued. Many venues are closing down or pivoting towards non-LGBT clientele. With its thriving economy and diverse drag scene, Manchester has become a hub for drag performers from all over the UK, while Liverpool feels behind. The gorgeous drag queens of Stanley Street are finding it harder than ever to survive, despite their hard work and dedication.
The Hidden (but fabulous) Alternative Scene
Tucked away in small independent venues across the city are many wonderful and varied queer cabaret shows. These events, often run on a shoestring by grassroots producers, host a dazzling array of drag performers alongside burlesque, clowning, comedy and other queer performances. Here, audiences can discover drag kings, things, monsters, gender-f*ck artists and much more.
The trouble is though, that the alternative scene and the more commercial scene rarely cross paths. Liverpool is home to an extraordinary array of talent, but there are few spaces where the two worlds can meet. So where is Liverpool’s drag excellence? It’s exactly where it has always been – in Liverpool – it’s just not always visible or joined up in one place.
An Open Inclusive Show
An intrinsic part of many major cities’ drag scenes is the open drag show. Places like Manchester, London and Brighton host regular open mic-style nights where drag performers of all types can come together and perform. These events are a fantastic showcase of everything a city has to offer. They form the backbone of the drag community and provide opportunities for new talent to emerge.
Despite being known for its drag, Liverpool has no such opportunity for the many diverse and talented performers who call it home. As such, it can be exceptionally difficult for new or unconventional artists to find opportunities, but that is all about to change.
“Drag Feast” is Born
On 2 July, in the beautiful surroundings of beloved, queer-friendly venue Botanical Garden, the first ever opening night of the much anticipated new show Drag Feast will take place. Drag Feast is Liverpool’s open drag night – a spectacular showcase of everything that makes Liverpool great. The opening show forms part of Liverpool’s Queer Jardin Festival – a summer-long programme of queer events curated by renowned local drag king Franz Genau and hosted at Botanical Garden.
The night is set to be jam-packed with every type of drag imaginable. From dancing drag divas to belly-dancing drag trolls, there will be live drag pole performances, unbelievable looks from iconic makeup artists and drag cosplay artists, drag pirates, drag horror and much more. The opening night will feature some of the city’s most well-known names alongside up and coming artists.
Humble Beginnings
Drag Feast is the creation of three friends: Charlotte Rays, Coco Fabulicious and Shanita Glitter. The three met in Liverpool and bonded over being outsiders. Despite their passion, all three found it challenging to find opportunities when they first arrived in the city – Charlotte from Singapore, Shanita from Poland and Coco from Scotland. Having spent years building their careers in Liverpool, they now want to create a space for others to find success.
As well as being a fabulous show, Drag Feast is also a community. Each performer is supported and offered mentoring opportunities, including a regular costume and wig-making club where artists come together to create, learn and help one another. Many of the city’s major producers will be in the audience, as Drag Feast focuses on building community and creating opportunities for artists to be seen.
Join us…
The show has received huge support from across the community and the opening night is set to be a sell-out, though tickets are still available at the time of writing. If you want to witness this major event and see the very best of Liverpool drag, head to Skiddle. Follow @dragfeast on Instagram for updates.
