Discover more than 100 years of history of drag kings with SAYiT’s Fiona Moorcroft.
Did you know that 100 years ago, the highest paid female entertainer in the UK was a drag king? Vesta Tilley sprang out of the music halls and toured the UK and America with her 'male impersonator' act that she had honed since childhood.
This talk will look at the popularity of drag kings in the UK and in the US, and the similarities and differences between the British kings and those who performed in America, and the resurgence of drag kings today.
You’ll hear how subversive the performances were, how Vesta Tilley was a key figure and how 'straight' women followed her shows and wrote her love letters, whilst working class men loved to see her ridicule upper class men.
SAYiT (Sheena Amos Youth Trust) is a registered charity that works with young people aged 11-25 and professionals to make real lives better. The organisation provides practical support to LGBTQ+ young people, hosts a parent and carer group and delivers training that helps organisations improve knowledge and address discrimination.
