Tea with Kings and Queens

In the 41st episode of Tea with Kings and Queens I was lucky enough to sit down with Tom McConnell, Liverpool-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and mastermind behind the surrealist pop project Novelty Island. Tom first caught my attention with the incredible DIY visuals he makes for his music videos and we chat today quite a bit about his processes around claymation, animation and papier-mâché. We also talk about his latest EP, ‘Taped Over’, the place for nostalgia in song writing, video & cassette culture plus the hazards of going to a print shop and printing off hundreds of copies of your own face. Enjoy!Novelty Island WebsiteNovelty Island Youtube ChannelNovelty Island on InstagramThanks to Joe Bailey for the intro/outro music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!Podcast by Carly Deering.

This episode I was delighted to talk to ‘The Cheeks of the Peaks’ herself: burlesque performer Temptress la Tease. I was lucky enough to see Temptress live at back in February this year at Glorified; the plus size cabaret show which we celebrate at length in our chat. We also discuss audience interaction, getting star struck, how Temptress puts together a routine around her fibromyalgia, her love of the band Diversity, our mutual adoration of Rik Mayall and lots more. This episode is also guest starring Temptress’ lovely dog, Cyril. Enjoy! Temptress on Instagram Glorified Cabaret InstagramThanks to Joe Bailey for the intro/outro music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!Podcast by Carly Deering.

We’re still basking in the glow of Eurovision here in Liverpool, so today is a special Eurovision episode with Liverpool-based Franz Genau, a German Drag King, international cabaret comedian, and clown daddy of the Liverpool alternative scene. Franz is a host and producer, including Quiz with the Queers (a camp blend of pub quiz and Queer ridiculousness) and SPEW, the scratch night for young Queer performers. Every first Wednesday he also fills the airways with his own radio show DRAG DINGS, together with his partner in crime, Dan Chan.Franz performed all through the Eurovision celebrations here in the city and like me is a bit of a super fan. So as well as re-living all things Eurovision that have consumed the city over the last two weeks (including Sophie Ellis-Bextor playing a set in John Lewis), we chat about the German and UK cabaret scene, Franz’s very particular brand of drag: subverting masculine stereotypes with effeminate performances, and we also discuss the importance of scratch nights to encourage a new, diverse range of performers gain confidence. Enjoy!Thanks to Joe Bailey for the intro/outro music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!Podcast by Carly Deering.Franz (AKA Severus) on InstagramSPEW Scratch Nights in LiverpoolQuiz with the QueersDrag Dings Radio Show

In this extra special episode of the podcast, Migrated Kingdom of Drag take over! I was honoured to speak to members of this project which seeks to make cabaret and drag performance more accessible to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially people of colour, women, femmes and non-binary, trans and gender nonconforming people. It started as a collaboration between Polish Migrants Organise for Change (PMOC) and artist and drag king Rita Suszek. Thank you to these incredible artists for their time and for such an amazing chat about the transformative power of drag:Drahoslava Máchová (they/she) | Drag name: Dragoslav | @coldxeRiyoh (he/him) | Drag name: Rooble | @dakkacOlga Macrinici (she/they) | Drag name: Valera.BeLoved | @valera.be.lovedMarzena Zukowska (they/them) | Drag name: Ivan Decisive | @marz.zukowskaRita Suszek (they/she) | Drag name: Janusz | @januszthedragkingWant to take part or see these amazing artists perform?Register for this year's workshops in Liverpool HERE by Friday, 21 April 2023Participants from Migrated Kingdom of Drag may get the chance to perform on 9 May 2023 at The Migrant Cabaret, a life-changing, not-to-be-missed radical cabaret showcasing migrant talent, influences, voices and DJs through a queer lens. The show is brought to you by Eat Me & POMOC and is part of Xpresia Festival during Eurovision.Join us at QUARRY on 9 May (8pm til late). Reserve your FREE tickets for The Migrant Cabaret hereThis project is in part supported by Culture Liverpool and National Heritage Lottery Fund.

In this episode, I catch up with a true gem of the cabaret world: variety artist, juggler, comedian, the extraordinary gentleman, Mat Ricardo. A key figure in the international cabaret scene, Mat started out as a street performer in Covent garden, where he honed his craft, blending astonishing feats, with quick wit and sharp suits.Mat is multi-award-winning, taking his act all over the world, where he’s had had residencies in legendary venues, been on numerous tv shows and recently had a role in a Hollywood film. When we chatted had just finished touring his new show which he’d taken to the Edinburgh fringe.Alongside performing, Mat is a writer, speaker and photographer, and I really enjoyed his YouTube channel during lockdown and his podcast, Imagination and Junk, all about the creative process.It was an honour to spend time talking to Mat as I’ve been such a fan for many years, and this episode of full of his incredible stories, wit, humour. Enjoy! Thanks to Joe Bailey for the intro/outro music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!Mat’s WebsiteMat on InstagramMat’s YouTubeImagination & Junk Podcast

In today’s episode am talking to a titan of the influencer world, UK based J-fashion & lifestyle creator, Addy Harajuku. With a following of over 100,000 Instagram followers and more than half a million on Tiktok, Addy’s content has earned her the title of one of the top UK based content creators within her field. She has modelled for key J-fashion brands and most recently has collaborated with koi footwear on her own range.Addy’s personal fashion is based in the Yamikawaii and Menhera subcultures. For those unfamiliar with J-fashion, Yamikawaii is a Japanese aesthetic that has an emphasis on dark themes and colors and Menhera fashion uses medical imagery like pills, plasters, and syringes. Its considered a ‘vent art’ style, regarded as form of art therapy that helps the wearer. In addition, vent art is now seen an important way to challenge social stigmas and encourage conversations around mental health.Addy’s content is a brilliant combination of Yamikawaii fashion and style, alongside informative and interesting videos about key cultural issues, including art theft, Asian fishing, cringe culture, AI art trends, and various issues around mental health and neurodiversity.Addy’s trademark honest, open and uncompromising style has made her one of my favourite creators, and in today’s chat we talk about her explosion online and all that comes with it, her journey in fashion and how it links to her own self-expression and mental health. Just a quick warning: There are swears in out chat plus discussion of self-harm and suicide, so listener discretion advised. Enjoy the episode!Thanks to Joe Bailey for the intro/outro music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!Podcast by Carly Deering.Addy on InstragramAddy on TikTokAddy’s collab with Koi FootwearAddy’s interview in Vice Magazine on Menhera fashion opening up discussions on mental health

Today’s guest is the incredible Alabama Whirley: pole dancer, burlesque performer and producer of the North West’s first plus size cabaret show Glorified. Well known for her horror and gore themed routines, Alabama has also fast become a key voice for the plus size performer community, and in our chat today we talk about creating safe spaces and get very critical of the BBC…enjoy!    Alabama on InstagramGlorified Cabaret ShowLiverpool Horror ClubAlabama’s article in Polyester Zine ‘Making Space for Glorifying Obesity’Thanks to Joe Bailey for the music, Sam Murphy for the cover art and you for listening!

In today's episode I'm chatting to Rita Suszek, AKA drag King (and your Polish boyfriend) Janusz. I first discovered Janusz via digital drag where I hugely enjoyed his hapless yet likeable comedy antic as he attempts to negotiate the modern world. In my chat with Rita today we discuss the creative process behind forming a character, diversity in the drag scene as well as an exiting series of free workshops that Rita is bringing to Liverpool in a few weeks' time. Enjoy!Janusz on InstagramSign up for Rita's free ' Masculinity for Beginners' drag workshops LiverpoolThe World Transformed: Mascs & Mascaras: The Radical Potential of Becoming a Drag King - Taster showcase, workshop & panel discussionEat Me and Preach Club Liverpool is Liverpool's original, biggest and baddest alternative drag dinner cabaret and club night! Born of the desire for a radical and diverse community for queer performers and participants alike, drag queen and producer Auntie Climax birthed EAT ME back in March 2017. Since then EAT ME has grown up real fast and now boasts a growing alumni of talented acts such as CHRISTEENE, Ginny Lemon, HP Loveshaft, Kalypso Bang, Kevin Le Grand, Lasana Shabaz, Midgitte Bardot, The Nightbus, and SHREK 666.Polish Migrants Organise for Change (POMOC) is a grassroots political home for Polish migrant women and gender nonconforming people living in the UK to organise together towards dignity, power and justice. We build actionable solidarity between Polish communities and other migrant groups, while creating opportunities for anyone - at any stage of their organising journey - to grow their creative leadership and put it into action.