Category is: “Serving Midlands Realness” 

Since LGBTQIA+ Pride month (June) has been celebrated globally with annual Pride parades, drag queens have graced the streets of their hometowns with their fabulous and regal presence. From their outrageous fashion to their punny stage names, nowhere appreciates the camp humour of a drag queen more than generations of Brits raised on the pantomime’s most iconic character: the Dame. Since RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s very own season five contestant ‘Kate Butch’ recently brought her fantastically whimsical show to the Warwick Arts Centre stage, I thought it only right to shine a spotlight on the talented, rhinestone-embellished stars of the Midlands’ drag scene, as well as local venues that host drag performances.  

Since RuPaul’s Drag Race has crossed the pond for a total of six seasons now, the show has promoted the artistry of the Midlands drag scene. This category includes fan-favourite Kate Butch, the only famous export from Buxton, Derbyshire, other than the bottled water. As a “comedy Queen”, her style of drag is a fusion of silliness, wit and musical theatre chaos, summarised by her attendance at London DragCon as a fully rhinestoned Shrek. While involved with season five of Drag Race, she even described herself as “the comic sans of drag” – “instantly relatable but ultimately tragic”. Since the show televised, Kate has performed regularly at comedy clubs, partaken in a number of Drag Pantomimes and is currently midway through her Kate Bush themed juke-box musical spoof, the Wuthering Shites tour.  

A number of queens from Birmingham have also appeared on the show, such as bubbly blonde Kitty Scott-Claus, who has been incredibly busy since her appearance in season three

A number of queens from Birmingham have also appeared on the show, such as bubbly blonde Kitty Scott-Claus, who has been incredibly busy since her appearance in season three. As a member of the Drag Girls Aloud group, she took her singing and dancing skills on tour, starred in Drag Pantomimes and DJed in nightclubs across the country. Beyond her energetic performances, Kitty is a Queen committed to giving back to her community, recently having run the London marathon to raise money for Queer-supporting charities such as Switchboard and Sahir House, and attending countless Pride Parades.  

Another queen proud to represent her hometown is season one’s Sum Ting Wong, who modelled her first runway look on the Birmingham Bullring statue, complete with giant horns. Born to Vietnamese parents of Chinese descent, she used her stage name to reclaim a racist joke she heard, and now enjoys dramatically performing emotional ballads by Billie Eilish in clubs.  

Baga is famed for her charming and authentic personality and her impersonation of British icon Amy Winehouse

West Bromwich, also in the Midlands, is the hometown of season one icon Baga Chipz. Baga is famed for her charming and authentic personality and her impersonation of British icon Amy Winehouse. She was even featured on Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, and is now commencing on her Chip Off The Old Block Tour in 2025.   

Afraid you’ve been missing out on all the Drag performances that the Midlands have to offer? If local drag performances are what you are looking for, Coventry venues such as The Yard (a Queer bar) host weekly Drag events such as Karaoke and Brunch. If you live in Leamington Spa, don’t miss out on the Drag Karaoke hosted by Queens like Mama Tasty in FIFTEEN, just opposite the Parish Church bus stop.  

thanks to Swiftsoc at Warwick University, our very own SU’s Copper Rooms is host to the frequently sold-out ‘Wonderland’ charity fundraiser club night

Lastly, thanks to Swiftsoc at Warwick University, our very own SU’s Copper Rooms is host to the frequently sold-out ‘Wonderland’ charity fundraiser club night. The event has featured a Taylor Swift tribute act performed by local Queen, CatTerina T Styles, known for her celebrity-inspired acts such as Sabrina Carpenter, or Ariana Grande as Wicked’s Galinda.  

While Drag is a fun and entertaining performance style, the expression of queer identities has also become innately political, making Drag Queens a cherished and resilient form of queer presence in the media and local communities. Their recent subjection to unfair criticism has threatened their livelihoods and the safety of the queer community as a whole. Now more than ever, join your local Drag Queen for a pitchy karaoke rendition of ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA, and give your support to the performers who brighten up your student night out.