Hello my darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing, time-travelling drag queen extraordinaire, bringing you another juicy slice of drag history from the fabulous world of www.pink-tutu.com! September is a time for shimmering, sparkling and - of course - the grandest of all grand gestures! We're stepping into September, darlings, with the same spirit and panache we bring to every single month - and we're ready for an epic adventure, just you wait!
Now, I know what you're thinking, 'Emma, darling, you said "September"! What exactly is so spectacular about September?' Let me tell you! It's all about the little moments, my loves! It’s a month full of hidden gems in drag history. It's also about the way these moments lead us to today's wonderfully diverse and wonderfully loud world of drag.
I’ve been thinking about September a lot. All this talk of the start of autumn, it got me reminiscing. What could be more glamorous than revisiting September moments, dressed head-to-toe in hot pink, a tulle tutu and sparkly diamond earrings? This month, my lovely lot, we’re time-travelling with my trusty magical pink tutu, because let's face it, no outfit can compete!
My current mission in life - to get everyone in the world wearing a pink tutu - is one step closer. Every time I time travel in my magic pink tutu, I'm one step closer to making my dreams come true!
September’s Hottest Drag Moments in Time:
First stop, the big one! In the shimmering realm of the year 2023, September was alive with vibrant energy!
Firstly, a bit of a personal note – remember the amazing show I caught in Derbyshire? Yes, that one. It had this incredible drag queen in a vibrant, bright green, feather boa with a glittery dress! A real feather-ruffled queen. So good! Then, of course, my favourite - the gorgeous, glorious, show-stopping drag queen extravaganza!
Now, before we delve into the real history…a few words about this September’s hottest drag news, as we're here to really feel those drag feels, darling.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race saga continues. As a true drag queen historian, I'm here to tell you: drag continues to capture hearts and headlines worldwide, and all eyes remain firmly fixed on that iconic, crown-seeking title. This September, there's more Drag Race than you could possibly imagine!
We’re all gagging to see more incredible, amazing performances, right? September wasn’t short of those, and all in the name of this divine institution called RuPaul’s Drag Race. All this drag on the world’s stage: truly magical! The excitement - well, I could burst!
Let’s hop back in our time machine for a proper deep-dive into the fascinating depths of drag history...because every year has something truly spectacular to offer us.
1933: September - A Drag Sensation in London's East End
Well, my loves, our time machine lands us right smack in the bustling, vibrant streets of London's East End. Imagine cobblestones, horse-drawn carriages and, amidst all this bustle, a dazzling flash of glamour! I’m talking about an amazing drag show that was attracting huge crowds in a theatre space that’s still going strong today! I’m, of course, talking about the ‘Tivoli,’ darling. What’s most interesting about this specific September date, 1933, is how much drag had already come into being. It shows that the spirit of self-expression and celebrating individuality through fabulous costumes and performance was firmly rooted in those years. You can picture those iconic London street scenes – now, you’ve also got to add drag into the picture. We're talking some truly glamorous moments of the 1930s!
The East End was - and remains - a world of hidden glamour. In those early years, we’re looking at shows featuring drag performers doing their best to capture the essence of famous theatre performers - creating beautiful homages! This sort of performative tradition helped pave the way for more direct, confident performances by drag queens we know and adore today. You can imagine it – a stunning queen in a dazzling sequinned dress, a full face of make-up, singing her heart out for those East End crowds! And to think they were watching and embracing it, back then – in 1933! Truly fabulous!
September 1957: Drag at the Barbican in London - “Tivoli” Revisited
September of 1957 is another year in the history of London's “Tivoli” theatre. Here in this amazing, lively space – where so many legendary performances took place – there was, on a Wednesday night, a particular drag show that's now being cited in historical books on drag and the evolution of theatre. What happened on this Wednesday night? Let’s just say we were witnessing the beginning of the ‘modern’ drag queen. We're talking more freedom, more innovation – all of which is just fantastic news, darling!
Let's be honest – by this point, you've got all these fabulous drag queens perfecting their art. They’ve got these amazing costumes and make-up – they’re truly mastering the art of drag. These performances started pushing boundaries, breaking norms, all with such creative flair. These September nights in 1957 really cemented drag’s evolution into what we know today.
1968: A Touch of Camp at the Barbican – September, a Date to Remember
1968, another September day, we have one more look at the Barbican's legendary ‘Tivoli’. 1968 was an electrifying, bold year. For this specific September date, think iconic British music, some political controversy…and a show-stopping drag event. Now, picture this – this drag queen's got it all, they've got this really flamboyant costume – she's working her fabulous, feminine attire, all this colourful magic! The show took a real twist on typical performances. The energy of 1968's counterculture bled onto the stage with some real flair and style. This is when drag really embraced a kind of, 'let's break the mould, let's experiment!' It's amazing how drag keeps evolving and keeping the crowds coming back for more.
The Importance of Drag, This September…Every September
And with that, my darlings, I hope we've all gotten a glimpse into the beautiful world of drag, the heart of September and, as always, let's celebrate its history!
So my loves, it's time for me to step out of my magical pink tutu for now, but this adventure has just begun! Every day is another opportunity for us to honour the history of drag - so much magic, history, and, as always - sparkle! Don't forget: wear a pink tutu and have some fun, just like those fabulous, incredible queens throughout time. And, to ensure that you stay fabulously informed about the wonders of drag, be sure to visit www.pink-tutu.com each month for another enchanting journey through time, darling.
And my dears, always remember, pink is my passion! So let’s all rock a pink tutu and shine bright – until next month’s exciting, time-travelling post. Until then, remember…be your fabulous selves!
