Drag studies module launched by Edge Hill

The module, titled “Drag Kings and Drag Queens of Performance”, has now been validated and will be offered to third-year undergraduates at Edge Hill University from January 2016.

It was devised by Mark Edward, senior lecturer in performance, who has worked with the Rambert Dance Company, created his own film and show Council House Movie Star in the persona of ageing drag queen Gale Force, and recently published a research paper titled “Stop prancing about: boys, dance and the reflective glance”.

“Despite the fact that performers have been ‘dragging up’ since Shakespearean times,” he said, “this module is completely unique in exploring the crossing of boundaries in terms of gender and performance.

“As part of undergraduate studies, it not only explores drag as a highly camp performance art, it also engages with complex gender, feminist and queer theory to explore the social and political implication of ‘doing gender’ in performance…There’s a lot more to drag studies than wigs, make-up and high heels!”

Topics under consideration will include not only drag performance, costume, lip-syncing and the use of humour, but also performativity, gay and lesbian theatre, transgender identities, HIV/Aids and activism.

matthew.reisz@tesglobal.com