The Great Southern Drag Off, a student-run drag show and competition, will be returning after a long hiatus. The 2018 event, Tucked and Loaded, will be run at Stilettos, in conjunction with Dunedin Pride and Sacrilege Productions, an alternative performance group, on the 14th of September. Critic and Radio One are both sponsors.
Matthew Schep, one of the student organisers of the event, said that he wanted to bring back the event because he wasn’t aware of any entry-level drag opportunities for people in Dunedin.
“I think one of the things that really defines the University experience is people coming here and starting a new chapter of their lives and exploring their identity. I think having opportunities like an open drag competition, where people can explore those new ideas and new interests and maybe ask and answer questions about themselves is a really important thing to have.”
Jasper Ririnui, of Sacrilege Productions, said that drag can seem intimidating for people who’ve never done it before, but “it’s not; it’s people getting into costumes and jumping around a bunch”.
The event will feature performances from drag and non-drag acts, including Daddy May, Sam in Colour, Dirtier Harry, Amara Morningstar, Vinny Lux, and DJ Communism Will Win, before going on to a “lightning round” where members of the audience are asked to put themselves forward to be, in half an hour, put into full drag and coached by the professional performers to give a short performance. After that, there’ll be an open mic session for anyone who’s pre-prepared an act.
Jasper said that the format it is “quick and easy and way less daunting than having to spend hours learning and doing these things and preparing anything, but also [showing that] it’s not that hard to get into drag; like you only have half an hour, you can definitely do this and you will enjoy it.”
Matthew said that for him it was important to provide an event where “we can be loud and proud but also we can get down to your level and know where you’re at and coach you through that and bring you to a space where you feel safe and comfortable”.
Another aspect of the show is showing an alternative to the mainstream drag culture that most people are aware of. Jasper said that “Sacrilege has been trying to re-work how traditional drag has got really toxic and we try to remove a lot of that toxicity and reclaim it as something that we can use to satirise this ridiculous world that we live in, without relying on the transphobic and racist stereotypes that run rampant in mainstream drag.” As part of this effort, the organisers have decided to move away from the traditional Drag King/Drag Queen model, with performers of all genders welcome in all sections of the events. “The only difference [for the section you can perform in] is experience,” said Matthew.
Claire Weinhold, Stilettos General Manager, said that Stilettos is “delighted” to host the event and is “always really happy to provide space to performers looking to push the edges of adult-oriented entertainment, and facilitate more diverse events in Dunedin”.
Tucked and Loaded will be on the 14th of September at Stilettos. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are $20, with ID concessions on the door.