Summer has most definitely arrived, and under normal circumstances that would mean the beginning of Pride festivals and shows all across the land. However, this year many of those celebrations will now take place online because of that dastardly Miss Corona. This weekend, one of the sweetest queens on the scene, Minnie Bar will be delighting us all with a very special Pride edition of her Quarantine Cabaret. Jason Reid round out more…
Hey Minnie! How would you succinctly sum up your online cabaret show to strangers?
Quarantine Queen Isolation Cabaret – every Sunday night through lockdown – has been a chance to bring a little camp into peoples homes whilst in isolation, and to judge their interior decor mishaps.
What can people who tune in expect to experience?
Think old school variety style drag in a sordid speakeasy of south London (my front room, wouldn’t you know) with songs and chatter. The audience may only be there virtually but I can feel them bashing their keyboards and screens with delight.
Each show is uniquely themed and the power is firmly in the audiences dirty little hands with choices galore throughout the show. Its free to watch, as I see myself as providing an emotional service to the nation, but each week we choose a poignant charity that people can choose to support, if they are able to, and it is much appreciated.
How are you adapting to this new way of presenting your art?
I think all performers who translated their art to virtual shows agree that the thought is terrifying and it is certainly a different beast to having a ravenous live crowd pawing at your skirt hem and screaming along in delight. But weirdly I have really got into it, and there are ways to keep the audience interaction. Also, there is no drag commute which is just a girthy gals dream and the drinks are all at my command. On an unrelated note: the hangovers for some reason have been much worse! Who knew?!
Tell us a little bit about the charity you’ll be raising money for during this Sunday’s special Pride show.
This weeks fabulous nominated charity is called the Mulwade foundation; they are a new charity I have been working with that provide support and guidance to individuals who have become infected with HIV. There is still so much needless HIV stigma, and when you factor in that for some people this may have occurred through violent means it makes their diagnosis all the more difficult. The Mulwade foundation is a new charity that was set up to ensure people get the emotional, medical and legal support they need to get the solution and justice they require and deserve. After finding out this happened to friends of mine, and is more prevalent than people think, I am totally behind what this charity are trying to do and delighted to support them.
How has lockdown changed you?
I think it has made me realise just how much I adore being part of our glorious community and I’m obviously much more invested in a monogamous relationship with my three-piece suite. Seeing the pride cancellations was quite emotional on so many levels, at times it has felt like the world is a less glittery place. But on the more positive side, the heart and support sent out into the world has been beautiful.
On a personal note, I miss spending time with people in our fabulous venues and safe spaces – these places will need our support more than ever once lockdown is lifted?I miss seeing peoples non-pixelated faces and voices without bandwidth issues, the warmth of a lovers embrace and a strangers breath on the back of my neck in the queue for the self-scan at the local supermarket. But this isn’t permanent; things will return to normal and I for one can’t wait to get out there and see our community again.
Quarantine Queen Isolation Cabaret: Pride Special is this Sunday, 31st May.
Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Minnie-Bar/
Watch on Instagram: @miss_minnie_bar
