If you don't know...ShayShay
…Let me introduce you!
“Drag is about breaking rules! If you are only seeking out the queens from Drag Race, you are missing the real magic of drag.”
ShayShay (they/them) is a nightlife producer, drag artist, writer and director working across theatre, queer cabaret and shows for children and families.They are also one of the founders of Pan-Asian cabaret collective The Bitten Peach. They’ve lived and worked in London for 7 years but grew up in the Bay Area of California & studied at UCSD.
I asked them some questions!
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HALEY: How do you describe your work?
SHAYSHAY: Through drag and comedy, I explore issues of gender identity, Asian identity, and their intersections through subverting stereotypes, and challenging the concept of “normal”. I transform underrepresented stories into colourful, high-energy shows filled with movement and music, while subverting gender and racial stereotypes from my unqiue non-binary Asian perspective.
HALEY: What’s your artistic mission? Or who is your work dedicated to?
SHAYSHAY: I am dedicated to raising marginalised voices, creating platforms for diverse representation and educating children and families.
HALEY: What are some of your favourite projects that you’ve worked on so far?
SHAYSHAY: "Aladdin and the Feast of Wonders" at the Vaults. A very queer version of the classic Christmas Panto with a cast of drag kings and queens. "Quest for the Treasure Chest" at the Southbank. A show for young children all about gender identity featuring female pirates, non-binary mermaids, and the gender-fluid sea.
HALEY: What are you working on these days?
SHAYSHAY: I am writing a new show for The Vaults called Mulan Rouge, which is a mash-up of Mulan and Moulin Rouge, which will feature drag and burlesque performers.
HALEY: What artists do you look up to?
SHAYSHAY: I look up to all the trans POC drag performers who continue to create amazing work in an industry that is rapidly being colonised by white cis-gender gay men.
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Follow ShayShay on Instagram, or visit their website. Listen to the Bitten Peach Podcast discussing all things queer and Asian and buy their merch - helping the collective get through the pandemic.
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