Freddie Love has come a long way, from a farm in Oklahoma to living their true self in London as an actor, operatic singer, and drag divo. Freddie’s latest show, Sex, Drag and Opera, is the opening run at the King’s Head MT Pride Lab season from 6th June to 10th June. Their work explores gender, art, opera, and musical theatre—with an incredible fusion of styles and influences, and to critical acclaim. Freddie was kind enough to take time out of their hectic schedule to talk to QX.
Tell us about the circumstances that brought a young American to the stage in London.
I’m originally from rural Oklahoma in the US. I didn’t have a plan- I just knew there was more out there for me, and I couldn’t find that on a farm in Oklahoma.
I knew I wanted to be an artist but didn’t have a plan or sense of direction. I studied musical theatre and opera at university for the simple reason that I was good at it. After graduating, I was broke and swimming in debt. A la Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar of Desire, I relied on the kindness of strangers, trying to find my next steps in an oversaturated business. I moved around quite a bit- New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles. I worked in clubs, bars, theatres, opera houses, private events- anywhere I could find to pay me to perform.
London was a happy accident. I was in a long-distance relationship with my partner. We wanted to live together and didn’t like the way things were headed in America. We moved to London in 2020, right before the pandemic.
What inspired you to bring sex, drag and opera together in one show?
I was performing in drag, and burlesque shows while trying to juggle a budding career in opera. Some mentors told me to keep them separate for professional reasons, but I found it exhausting constantly splitting myself in two. Over time I thought, “If someone doesn’t approve of drag or burlesque, I probably don’t want to work with them”.
Anyway, when the cat got out of the bag about the other side of my career, the way that some of my opera colleagues reacted baffled me. They were shocked and started treating me very differently, making snide remarks and avoiding me. But then they were fine with seeing me do a strip tease as Carmen? I found the dichotomy amusing.
Opera has always had drag roles (castrati and trouser roles), and its stories are filled with innuendo and sex. Why was my career in drag and burlesque frowned upon but then applauded when I did it in opera? I think opera has forgotten its roots and needs to get back to its youthful rock n’ roll days. This is what I hope to inspire with this show.
Sex, drag and opera, if you could only do one, which would it be?
Oh, don’t make me choose!
I think sex, drag and opera are all so closely related- they’re all about power. There’s the old saying, “Everything in the world is about sex- except sex. Sex is about power.”
There’s this book Deviant Opera: Sex, Power & Perversion On Stage by Axel Englund, that explores how opera singing is a sensual act. The voice is this expressive force moving the listeners’ bodies. When I am singing, I am physically controlling, arousing and stimulating an audience’s senses through the powerful vibrations and colourings of the voice- Like aural BDSM.
Drag is a powerful way to shift power roles and turn the patriarchy on its head. In drag, I can slip into an audience’s subconscious mind and play with it. Rearranging and rewiring hardware that is so instilled from a young age by our society, a lot of it goes unquestioned.
So, I very much enjoy playing with power, and I’d like all three please 🙂
You’re getting fabulous reviews. What are your plans for the future? Do you think you’ll stay in London?
I’ve found a career in the arts is not a follow-the-recipe kind of thing. You just wake up every day and try to find the next step, the next piece of the puzzle. The next thing that puts a fire in your belly. I’m really loving life in London at the moment. I still perform a lot internationally as well, but for now, London is home.
Tickets Sex, Drag & Opera: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/sex-drag-opera
Sex, Drag & Opera is at the King’s Head Theatre from 6th June – 10th June, 115 Upper Street, London N1 1QN, United Kingdom.