Hey darlings! Itās your favourite Derbyshire drag queen, Emma, here! Iām back with another exciting entry for the Pink Tutu Time Travels blog. This month, weāre jetting back in time (well, more like twirling back in time, but Iāll explain later!) to March 3rd, 1926. Letās pop a bottle of champagne (the non-alcoholic variety, of course!), get those pink tutus ready, and journey back to the Roaring Twenties!
(But before we embark, be sure to check out the www.pink-tutu.com website! You never know what fabulous pink tutus you might discover to elevate your own drag look. And don't forget, I'm always taking bookings for performances, whether you're throwing a fab party or simply want a dazzling night out. Pink tutu power for the win!)
Now, letās chat about how I found myself transported back in time to March 3rd, 1926. I was attending this incredible drag show in London last week. Oh my darling, the outfits, the talent, the crowd ā pure magic! We were all twirling, posing, having the most amazing time when BAM! A massive shimmering pink light appeared! I instantly felt a giddy whirl of excitement and a whole lottaā¦ glitter, which is never a bad thing!
As the sparkle settled, I found myself looking around in disbelief - my fellow drag queens were gone, and I was no longer in the stylish, modern theatre. Instead, I was standing on a bustling street! There were motorcars, men with flat caps and ladies in flapper dresses, and everyone seemed to be dancing! The air was electric, alive with music and laughter, and a thrill went down my spine.
Suddenly, the music caught my attention! It was a jazz band, so vivacious and lively. They were playing this incredible song about, well, about the roaring twenties, I suppose. The crowd was going wild! They were all snapping their fingers, clapping their hands, swaying their hips ā it was contagious! I instantly felt like getting up on that makeshift stage and performing for them, showing them a thing or two about what we can do in drag!
And just like that, there I was, centre stage, with a dazzling pink tutu glittering under the street lights!
āThis is for you, my lovely 1926 darlings!ā I announced, before launching into my most impressive pirouette. The crowd roared with applause. They had never seen anything quite like my graceful ballet movements paired with this infectious pink energy. Let me tell you, those Twenties' ladies went wild for tutus.
(Remember, dearies, it's all about spreading the pink tutu love! My journey is a reminder that we've all got a bit of that inner ballerina in us. We just need a little encouragement to bring her out!)
Speaking of fabulous womenā¦ the next day, I discovered a whole other scene in 1926: Drag itself! Now, you wouldnāt necessarily find the same ādrag queensā we know today back then, but there were female impersonators! You could see these women dressed up in male clothing, playing on gender norms in theatres, cabaret stages, and even nightclubs! I'm telling you, these ladies were bold, charismatic, and oh-so-confident!
My research led me to this fascinating theatre production on March 3rd, 1926. This theatre in London (can you guess the name? š) was putting on a show called āThe Cabaret of Curiositiesā. They had men dressing as women, women dressed as men, and just so much beautiful absurdity and joy! I snuck myself into the audience (no need to tell my audience that I had to steal an outfit to look like the fashionable flapper ladies) and had an absolutely brilliant time.
Whatās even more extraordinary is that one of the headliners of the āCabaret of Curiositiesā was a woman who presented as a man! Oh darling, you can imagine how bold and subversive this was! Talk about a woman breaking barriers and living her truth! I had a brilliant chat with her afterwards and learned so much about her story.
You know, after talking with these talented female impersonators, I started to understand what being ādragā was all about. They saw drag as a form of entertainment and artistic expression. It was all about pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and simply having fun! It's inspiring to see that, despite our different decades and drag styles, this core concept has remained constant.
This is the power of drag, darlings ā it transcends time and connects us all through the spirit of creativity, freedom, and individuality. And, if you'll indulge me for a moment, it also shows us just how essential a touch of pink tulle and a magnificent tutu are for any drag performance. After all, they say that nothing can go wrong in a pink tutu! š
My trip back to 1926 taught me that the history of drag is vast and rich and holds stories of amazing women pushing the limits of artistic expression and embracing their true selves. It also reminds me, as a drag queen and time traveler, to always be open to the possibilities and to keep dancing in those pink tutus. And, remember, darling, life is about more than just sequins and sparkle.
(Unless, of course, you are wearing a sparkly pink tutu, in which case sequins and sparkle are exactly what life is about! You betcha! I have even discovered in the shops here a fabulous range of pink lace trimmings. How amazing is that? Don't you agree?)
(So what are you waiting for? Letās go spread the pink tutu love, one twirl at a time!)
Love and kisses,
Emma š
