Spike Rhodes and Titti La Camp are joining forces to produce a new show 'The Drama Queens'. It will start in the Black Cap at the end of October and they are looking for performers, backstage and front of house helpers. If you're interested, read on for full information. Good luck!
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DRAMA QUEENS !
Calling all Drama Queens ! The Drama of it all !
Titti La Camp , Comic Mime Drag Legend and host of the Black Caps Drag Idol , has joined with Spike Rhodes,former Performer, seasoned Club Promoter to proudly announce their new Joint Project…
The Drama Queens
The ‘DQ’s are a Community Based Theatre Troupe, open to all Professional and Semi Professional Performers, Drag Queens, Drag Kings, Lesbian, Gay, bisexual and Transgender Actors, singers, dancers who especially welcome Novice and wannabe Performers . The Drama Queens will be based at ‘The Black Cap’ in Camden .(‘The Palladium of Drag ‘ as called by it’s first of many Drag Legends - Mrs Shufflewick.’)
Titti and Spike ,a strange combination you may think ? But when you consider both there Histories your discover they both have a Love of all things ‘Theatrical’ and between them there joint experience on the ‘Entertainment’ scene covers nearly 40 years !
“ You must understand , Spike is a lot more Older than me, “ Titti interjected, “Much More Older ! We had been talking about this idea for a while now,” Titti continues, “ During the late seventies and threw the eighties, many of the then Drag Stars were involved in ‘Big Seasonal Production Shows’ that were seen at The Black Cap, Union Tavern and the RVT.
Spike , had also created a ‘bearded Drag Queen troupe in the eighties called A.D.C - (Alternative Drag Company) and appeared in some of these shows , along with Lee Paris, Regina Fong, Lilly Savage, Dave Dale, ,Duncan McCann, Sheena Showgirl, Frankie Barry to name a few.”
“These cleverly edited Lip-sync Productions took a lot of work to create and by the early Nighties the London Gay scene was developing into more of a Clubbing scene and with New Bars opening some venues that used to be packed nightly with Drag shows seemed to be on the way out and these Big shows just didn’t happen anymore.”
“Spike, continued with his Charity Group ‘Company’ that appeared at the RVT & Two Brewers raising funds for HIV charities his shows had Scene Drag Divas , Lola Lasagne ,EbbonKnee and Adrella (The Company’s Patron) making special appearances in full Musical Productions. Spike, then himself moved into Club Promoting with his Turnmills Club Night ‘Warriors’.”
“ 13 years later, (after Renegades, Sleaze, DNA, and others including the Annual Red Ribbon Balls ) I suddenly wanted to return to my first love Stage based Entertainment, I was ‘Dance Clubbed out !” interjected Spike.
“No, don’t lie Spike , your Joints were worn out, dear!” Titti smiled “ People don’t realise that Spike was one of Danny la Rue Dancers back in 1977 ! “
“We think the scene has gone full circle “ continued Spike “ with ‘Variety’ becoming popular again, as shown by shows like X factor, Britain got Talent , so there is now a new opportunity to create a new Company that is made up of Professional performers, Keen Amateurs and wannabe Performers.”.
“ Five years of successful “Drag Idol’ competitions “ Titti continued “ shows there is a wealth of untapped talent out there and I know there are many more who may want to performing who may find the idea of joining a Group rather less daunting than going Solo. So when Russell, the Black Cap manager, (who is also younger than Spike ) started to reminisce over how much he missed these Big Productions Shows of yesteryear, we decided we should make this happen and see if the scene missed them too”
” In 2006, “ Spike interrupted “ I asked Titti to star as Nancy’ in my Special Halloween show I created for the RVT “ Dream a little dream”( a musical version of Nightmare on Elm street ) where Titti faced an all singing, dancing and ‘Slashing’ Friday Kruger! It was a big hit , so we know these shows have an audience it’s has always been the case of finding a regular home for this unique style of entertainment so we could build and develop a Company of Performers.
The ‘DQ’s’, will start small and hopes to develop into a ‘Profit share company’ and they also intend to invite established Performers to appear in a big Production, maybe staging them in a role they have dreamed of playing with a full company backing.
” This,” said Spike “ would allow for the newer Performers and Amateurs the opportunity to learn from the more experienced Performers different aspects of stage and Drag Craft, as a company we will developing and learning together as well as having lots of fun and meeting new People .” Spike paused “ Cleaver edited Lip-sync shows are an art form that was created and developed by the Drag scene over the years and shouldn’t be allowed to disappear. To me ‘Drag Queens and Kings’ are another style of a ‘Clown’, they never forget nor allow us as an audience to forget there true ‘Sexuality’, they mimic and mock the real world and never take themselves too serious.” Spike and Titti smiled.
“Drag entertainment over the years has seen different styles of drag from the ‘Glamorous’ to the outrageous and bizarre but they are first and foremost Entertainers , Drag Queens and Kings are totally happy with there Sexuality and there stage persona gives them the opportunity to show another ‘wicked, sometimes twisted ‘ side of there Personality from behind the mask called DRAG.” concluded Spike with Titti nodding in agreement next to him.
Are you interested in joining ‘The Drama Queens’ ?
Do you want to Perform, work Backstage or be part of the Front of House Hosting Team ?
To book an Auditions place (From now & before Wed 23 rd September)
Rehearsals will be every Wednesday evening from wed 23rd September
& every Saturday afternoon from 26th September.
Launch & first Show for ‘Halloween’ at The Black Cap Camden Town.
Visit there website via Black Cap site ; on facebook or www.thedramaqueens.co.uk
Contact direct for details info@thedramaqueens.co.uk
