A team of Jersey’s top cabaret performers, artists, and producers have come together to create an accessible drag night that promises a “joyful, anarchic explosion of raw local talent”.
‘Jersey Royales’ will take place on Saturday 12 July at the Troubadour.
Billed as a night of “drag kings, queens and in-betweens”, the show is “inspired by the joyfully unruly East London cabaret scene” and will be comprised of acts ranging from comedy and music to poetry and drag.
The event organisers explained: “We are here to nurture and celebrate Jersey’s LGBTQ+ artists at every stage of their career – to give them a space to hone their craft, make connections, and experience the joy of sharing their work with a loud, loved-up live audience.”
Queer community organiser Roísín Shaw is a part of the team behind the event.
“Having a supportive, non-competitive space to explore drag and performance art feels so important for the island,” they explained.
“It gives performers room to be playful and unpolished – and it’s in these spaces that we get to experiment, inspire each other, and keep our local scene alive, weird, and wonderful.”
Roísín told Express that, despite drag’s recent popularity in Jersey, it is a “difficult industry to crack” in the island.
Having a supportive, non-competitive space to explore drag and performance art feels so important for the island
Roísín Shaw, jersey royales organiser
Jersey Royales therefore aims to be a “supportive and non competitive space” with “room to be playful, experimental and unpolished”, where performers just starting out can learn from those with more experience.
The show due is to be hosted by cabaret star Dr Adam Perchard, who recently fronted Channel Islands Pride.
They said: “This night brings a radical new flavour to Jersey’s queer scene: a place where we can let loose, go wild, take risks, and blow the roof off!
“Jersey Royales is safe and welcoming, but it’s also fabulously avant-garde. I can’t wait to share it with you!”
As well as Roísín and Adam, the Jersey Royales team also includes documentary photographer Shan O’Donnell, performance artist Jamie-Lee Douglas, writer and performer Oliver Gaynor, and actor and dancer Misha Hervieu.
Doors will open at 20:00 for the event, and performances start at 21:00.
As a part of Jersey Royales’ accessible aim, there is a tiered ticket scheme in which subsidised tickets are available from £5 here.
GALLERY…
Click to view images of some of the performers who will be taking to the stage at the first Jersey Royales event…
