Drags Aloud
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Drags Aloud is an Australian drag entertainment troupe.
Drags Aloud is a six member troupe of Australian Drag Queens. Drags Aloud was formed by a co-operative of leading Melbourne (Australia) drag queens in 2005. They first received general public acclaim, outside of gay venues, when community television station Channel 31 aired an independently produced late night variety programme titled "Drags Aloud"[1] which featured the well known Melbourne drag troupe the "Showbags" [2]. When the Showbags group expanded their cast to present a newer innovative style of narrative drag performance, they renamed themselves Drags Aloud, in reference to the name recognition from their television series.
Drags Aloud operated their own venue at the now defunct Newmarket Hotel in St Kilda where their new style of drag production shows were developed and first presented. They came to national prominence in 2007 when they were the first drag troupe to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, receiving an honorable mention at the Director's Awards and a cash prize. Following their Melbourne International Comedy Season, they were invited to perform at the Gilded Balloon venue in Edinburgh as part of the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe [3].
In 2008 they consolidated their success with seasons at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In August 2008 they will travel to Edinburgh for a second season at the Gilded Balloon for the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Drags Aloud's style of performance is comic-parody, usually performed with a narrative subtext which draws upon popular culture and which satirizes their own drag characterizations. Typically they are described as cabaret performers using drag as both medium and message.
In Australia's long history with the drag genre, Drags Aloud is most notable for taking the art of drag from its usual preserve of gay clubs and out to a wider public. Drag differs from female impersonation in that drag is built upon characterization and not impersonation. Female impersonation has been in the general public entertainment arena for many years, however, in Australia drag queens have almost always been found within the exclusive domain of gay hotels and nightclubs. Drags Aloud has a performance style and presentation which consciously attempts to break down barriers between the perception of 'gay minority entertainment' and the wider community concept of 'theatrical entertainment'.
Drags Aloud is also notable for being the first Australian drag troupe to be booked on engagement for overseas and international appearances since Australian female impersonators were engaged for a season in London in the 1970's. Current members [4] of the troupe are: Amanda Monroe, Jessica James, Miss Bunny, Kris del Vayze, Linda Lamont and Christina Andrews.
