Andro & Eve Keeping queer culture visible online
Queer arts collective announces programme of drag king workshops and an eight-week Cabaret College.
With in-person events and parties still impossible for the foreseeable future, queer arts collective Andro and Eve have announced a programme of online workshops this summer.
It starts with a series of Zoom-based drag king workshops throughout July, hosted by scene superstar Christian Adore, which will take participants through the basics of building a drag king character, including character creation, makeup skills and comedy improvisation.
During August and September, award-winning actor and writer Louis Cyfer will lead an eight-week Cabaret College. Attendees will learn creative tools to help acts generate new material and tips for working an audience.
Pride events across South Yorkshire have been cancelled as a result of the pandemic, and queer collectives like Club Rush have responded by holding live streams and Zoom parties.
Founded in Spring 2016, Andro and Eve is an informal event series seeking to address the lack of safe and inclusive spaces in Sheffield for the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy queer culture. Before lockdown they hosted film screenings and workshops and started Sheffield's first drag king cabaret, The Kingdom Come.
This summer's programme has been made possible through funding from Arts Council England, which includes support for sliding scale tickets to make the events as accessible as possible.
"We feel very fortunate to have received funding to support our work during the Covid-19 crisis," said Andro and Eve founder Finn Warman.
"Being able to provide some fun for our community, and talent development opportunities for queer artists, is a great way to demonstrate the importance of queer culture and we hope will provide a sense of community for many people who are isolated at this time."
Tickets for the Drag King Workshops are available now through Tickets for Good at £8 to £15, with free bursaries available for those with restrictive incomes.
Places on the Cabaret College course are limited with a deadline to apply of 30 July. Course fees are £25/£10 with free bursaries available for Black, Asian and People of Colour.
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