The Art of Drag

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.

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.