The CSU Riverina Playhouse will host a drag show this weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Photo: Supplied.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is said to have played a massive part in many LGBT community members’ journeys to accepting and coming to terms with their sexuality.
As one of the earliest mainstream demonstrations of drag, the film is often credited as one of the original pieces of queer media.
Since its release five decades ago, the movie has been adapted for live shows, musicals, books and many other forms. To mark its 50th anniversary, Emily Hale, The Curious Rabbit and members of the drag community will host a special show at the CSU Riverina Playhouse this Saturday (25 October).
“It’s a piece of media that has been so integral to so many people’s coming-out experience,” Ms Hale said.
“The film is the embodiment of camp, which is also a big thing in the community. It’s about sexuality and being a weirdo, oddball and not feeling the need to fit in as well.
“For one night only, audiences will experience The Rocky Horror Drag Show, a full-throttle celebration featuring live performances by Rhonda Paradise, Sapphie Q, Erica D’Hesperus, Phillipa Glass, Crash O’Byrne, and this year’s Wiradjuri Drag Pageant winner Terry S’Pantzoff, joined by the incomparable Mike Roscopic.
“Expect outrageous glamour, live vocals, high camp and a touch of chaos as this all-star cast brings the cult classic’s most iconic moments to life — screamed, sung and strutted before your very eyes. Costumes are encouraged, props at the ready, and audience participation is highly recommended.”
Ms Hale highlighted the importance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in her own life and what keeps it so relevant to this day.
“It’s a movie that I’ve been obsessed with. I actually saw it when I was way too young; I think I saw it when I was 10 years old,” she said.
“It’s a movie that has stuck in my brain, so much so that as I have been gathering our props and our costumes together, I realised that I have inadvertently been collecting things over the years that I have just got. Most of the things on stage are just pulled from my collection of strange, oddball items and outfits.
“For a couple of the cast members, it’s been a show that we’ve always wanted to do. Well, there’s been a bit of a boom in drag performers lately.
“It’s a very, very important thing in drag to have someone to nurture you. So drag families are really big. So having a drag mother, a drag father, a drag family, it really is. And so, yeah, we’ve really, really put a lot of work into nurturing the people who are coming up on the drag scene and giving them opportunities to be on the stage, and also, even just showing some of the young ones media.”
With the increasing number of drag queen performers in the Riverina, Ms Hale said it was vital that locals supported drag events.
“I often refer to Vickie Burkinshaw [of The Curious Rabbit] as the patron saint of drag because without her support, I’m not sure it would exist here in Wagga,” she said.
“You go to a drag show, and you will be around other queer people that you can engage with and you can interact with.
“By having the support of Vickie and other like-minded businesses, we are able to put on shows like this.”
The Rocky Horror Drag Show begins at 7:30 pm this Saturday (25 October) at the CSU Riverina Playhouse. Tickets can be purchased here.
