Back by popular demand, “Free Your Inner King” - from zero to drag king in just 4 weeks - is a unique program of in-person workshops delivered by several stars of Scotland's drag king scene that takes you through the process of creating a drag king persona and developing your debut performance for a New Kings On The Block showcase*.
This program welcomes people of any gender. Places are strictly limited.
*Workshops and showcase take place in wheelchair accessible venues.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Workshop 1 | Saturday April 2nd 2022 4-7pm
Outcomes:
Drag King 101: Gain a thorough understanding about everything you need to know about being a drag king to get you started on your journey, including:
- Drag king culture & history
- Face contouring & highlighting
- Faking the facial hair
- Creating a bare chest illusion
- Body language & movement
- Tips for creating a unique stage persona
Workshop 2 | Saturday April 9th 2022 4-7pm
Outcomes:
Gain the basic knowledge to further develop your drag persona. You will learn tools for character development and building characteristics to develop a unique drag persona.
Workshop 3 | Saturday April 23rd 2022 4-7pm
Outcomes:
Further development of your drag persona by exploring the use of space/stage with an emphasis on movement. You will learn tools and skills for stage performance and some simple choreography.
Workshop 4 | Saturday April 30th 2022 4-7pm
Outcomes:
Gain the knowhow about the building blocks of a compelling act and tips and tricks to help build up confidence to bring your drag persona to the stage. Creative time will be allotted for work on your debut act concept with stage time and feedback on your idea.
Note: In the lead-up to the New Kings On The Block performance showcase (date and venue TBC), additional rehearsal time and specialised workshops may be offered.
What folx are sayin’ - quotes from previous workshop program participants:
“Inspiring immersion into everything you need to know about becoming a Drag King”
"I don't think I've felt so supported and learned so much in such a short space of time. The course was the perfect introduction to an amazing community and a brilliant art form, and all the teaching was accessible and inspiring. Thank you so much, Shut Up and King!"
“It was fun learning about all the different aspects of becoming a drag king, so much to think about and process. The workshops covered everything and the kings were amazing.”
“Shut up and King have made my year amazing - one reason being how generously they offer a safe and inclusive space for learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge. It has helped me so much to learn and experience how drag king artistry can work for folx from all walks of life. The whole experience has been so inspiring and just so much fun!”
"Empowering! Enriching! Joyful!"
About the Kings:
Glasgow-based Dorian T. Fisk is the creator and driving force behind Shut Up & King - a platform for Scottish drag kings everywhere - and was recently featured in The Guardian for being one of the UK’s most inspirational drag kings. A multi-award winning drag performer, Dorian has been teaching drag king artistry since 2016 and in 2021 represented Scotland as a finalist in drag's answer to Eurovision. In December last year, Dorian produced a record-breaking drag king showcase which gained media attention in The Scotsman. More about Dorian at doriantfisk.com
Glasgow-based Poppa Joint is a trans drag artist and was the UK’s first visibly disabled drag king. A trained actor, singer and experienced host and workshop facilitator, in 2021 he started working alongside Dorian in designing and delivering the Shut Up and King ‘Free Your Inner King’ workshops and has been mentoring other drag artists with disabilities.
Markee de Saw is an international cabaret performer, compère, musical saw player and singer who uses a blend of the masculine and feminine in their work that challenges traditional ideas of drag and holds a space to celebrate androgyny. They have performed in the Glasgow cabaret scene for over 14 years, and worked with Scottish-born drag king pioneer, the late Diane Torr, from 2008 and up until the year of her passing. Markee was also one of the few ‘non traditional’, or only 'performers in a female body’ that were cast in the early days of some of Glasgow's best known drag shows.
Veteran Scottish drag king Phil Herrin is based in Edinburgh and satirises Lad Culture and some of Edinburgh’s favourite blokes via song, music and comedy. Performing and producing for the last 7 years on a myriad of UK stages (from local cabaret to international festivals), he is one of Scotland’s most beloved drag kings. He is also an accomplished youth theatre director, arts engagement practitioner and has developed several creative programmes and workshops in a variety of different capacities.
Agent Cooper [Oasissy] is a producer and drag artist based in Edinburgh who was also greatly influenced and fortunate enough to learn from and collaborate with the late Diane Torr, Scotland’s pioneering drag artist. One half of drag king rock-n-roll tribute clowns Oasissy, Agent Cooper came third in Europe’s biggest drag king competition, Man Up! and has been a drag consultant and facilitator for Garvald Edinburgh and consulted on Leyla Josephine’s 2019 Anatomy-awarded show, Daddy Drag. They are also co-director of Sanctuary Queer Arts - Scotland’s newest arts organisation for amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices.
King Biff [Oasissy] is a performance maker, drag artist, and creative enabler based in Edinburgh and also one half of drag clown double act, anarchic trouble makers, Oasissy. They have experience in disability, artist-led devising and clown practice, community engaged participatory work and cabaret. They have supported learning disabled performers at Garvald Edinburgh to create and devise their own cabaret characters which performed at Anatomy at Summerhall and have created cabaret acts and performed at cabarets in Scotland, London and NYC.