Overview

The Art of Drag: A Practical Performers’ Handbook is the ultimate guide for all drag kings, queens and queers who want to bring their best to the stage. Filled with a wide range of exercises and advice from working performers, this book is a guide and support for every working drag act, but also the drag-curious wanting to step a sequinned toe onto the stage for the first time. The book focuses on practical performance advice for creating new work, refining existing work and exploring new skills and perspectives from the world of drag. It also includes: Practical performance tips demystifying live performance skills such as singing, lip-sync, impersonation and comedy. Top tips on how to get bookings, get paid and make a profit. Advice on how to communicate with an audience and create an unforgettable live experience. Interviews with seven sensational acts who discuss how they use the art of drag: Adam All, Simply Barbra, Ada Campe, Hugo Grrrl, Le Fil, Me the Drag Queen and Son of a Tutu. Written by a drag act, for drag acts, The Art of Drag is an invaluable resource for new and aspiring drag performers, along with academic performance courses covering Drag, Cabaret, or Queer Performance.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michael Twaits
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781032803104

ISBN 10:   103280310
Pages:   312
Publication Date:   09 July 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Getting on the Same Page 1. Starting Here, Starting Now - A New Beginning 2. Being Good, Isn’t Good Enough - The Business of Drag 3. Who Will Buy? - The Economics of Drag 4. The Best Thing You’ve Ever Done - Measuring Success 5. Memory - Rehearsal & Development 6. As Time Goes By - Building a Set, Range & Repertoire 7. Sweet Inspiration – Inspiration Part 2: Craft, Stages & Inspiration 8. Where Do You Start? - Basic Drag 9. It Had to Be You - Alter-Ego 10. Being Alive - Making Choices & Finding a Voice 11. People - Audience Experience 12. Anywhere I Hang My Hat Is Home: Stages & Spaces Part 3: Performance, Skills & Style 13. Tell Him - Talking On-Stage 14. Make Your Own Kind of Music - Vocal & Singing Technique 15. Sing - Sing a Song 16. Putting It Together - Editing & Creating a Track 17. Gotta Move - Performing & Rehearsing a Lip-Sync 18. Send In the Clowns - Comedy, Reading & Roasting 19. Isn’t This Better – Parody 20. With a Little Help from Friends - Impersonation; Celebrity Tribute & Parody 21. Where Is It Written? - Actings, Script & Castings 22. Much More- Hosting & Solo Shows 23. Don’t Rain on My Parade – Onwards Part 4: Praxis in Practice 24. My Man - Interview with Adam All 25. My Name Is Barbra - Interview with Simply Barbra 26. Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now - Interview with ADA Campe 27. The Way He Makes Me Feel - Interview with Le Fil 28. Simple Man - Interview with Hugo Grrrl 29. Let’s Hear It for Me -Interview with Me 30. Mother - Interview with Son of a Tutu 31. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Finale

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Author Information

Michael Twaits is a drag act, actor and producer based in London. He is the creator and facilitator of The Art of Drag course at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, which has run for over a decade and birthed over 200 drag acts. Michael is a prolific drag performer who has 20 years of performance experience; tiny clubs, huge Pride stages, films sets, theatres, embassies, trains and much more! He’s worked across the UK and internationally and can usually be found at his West End residency The Saturday Supershow at the legendary Phoenix Arts Club.

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