A great line-up of drag artists has been announced for new production Modest at the Kiln Theatre in London this summer.
Modest is about the real-life star of the Victorian art scene, Elizabeth Thompson, and promises to be a riotous, empowering new show starring the UK’s hottest drag king talent.
The role of Elizabeth will be performed by Emer Dineen (Pecs Drag Kings, The Yard Theatre; Haus of Dons, Soho Theatre; WAKE, Dublin Fringe).
The Royal Academicians and Millais are performed by Fizz Sinclair (Witches of Oz and Mulan Rouge, The Vaults; NewsRevue, Edinburgh Fringe) as Alice and RA Two; LJ Parkinson (The Man Who Fell to Earth, Paramount Plus; Death Drop: Back in the Habit, UK tour; The Other One, BBC), aka LoUis CYfer, as RA One and Mary; and Isabel Adomakoh Young (Heartstopper, Netflix; Hamlet, Bristol Old Vic; Foundation, Apple TV) as RA Three and Frances.
The roles of Millais and Cora will be played by Jacqui Bardelang (The Nevers, HBO; Sink the Pink, Mighty Hoopla; Mulan Rouge, The Vaults), and Libra Teejay (When All Is Said, UK tour; North Wales Burlesque and Cabaret Festival; One Time, ORA Films), is Bessie and Queen Vic.
Rooted in music hall and inspired by drag king cabaret, music and theatre, the show follows Elizabeth on her journey from the Royal Academy in 1874 with her painting, Roll Call, to five years later, when she falls just two votes short of becoming the first woman elected to the Academy. In the intervening five years, Elizabeth shoulders the hopes and dreams of women and non-binary people across the UK, fighting for her place in an often actively hostile space full of top hats, ties and mutton chops.
The show is co-directed by Luke Skilbeck (Milk Presents) and Paul Smith (Middle Child), and written by Ellen Brammar (I Hate Alone), with music by Rachel Barnes.
Modest is produced by Hull-based company Middle Child, in collaboration with Manchester-based artist-led company Milk Presents, and the show is also off on a UK tour in June ahead of London, including Hull, Sheffield, Ipswich, Scarborough and Leeds.
Modest runs at the Kiln from 29 June to 15 July 2023.
Book tickets to Modest at the Kiln Theatre in London
Kiln Theatre, London
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Was she aware at the time that she was shouldering the hopes and dreams of non-binary people in the 1870s?