Gay London Life | Oct '24 Edition - Magazine - Page 22
Cabaret
a
Sc
nf
or L
o n d o n ’s l a
te s
tc
a
ba
re
Which comes first for you, drag
te
ve n
or theatre?
ts
I think they’re probably two sides
of the same coin. At my first
nativity play, I vividly remember
the audience laughing every time
I picked off the Maynard’s Wine
Gums my mum had lovingly glued
to my crown and naughtily ate them.
Yes even then I was playing high
uni I learnt how to belt and other
status parts! I caught the theatre
vocal techniques.
bug there are then.
Drag is important because it
Miss
Moppe
This month’s intervieee is an accomplished
all-rounder who performs at LGBTQ+
cabaret venues across the UK and on
theatre stages, most notably in West End
musicals. Drag diva Miss Moppe talks past,
present, hopes for the future, and more…
By
Jason
Reid
I love singing because,
for me, it’s the supreme way of
gives me an outlet for all the pent up
experiencing music. You can play
actor energy. West End musicals
something in the bath and relax
don’t come along every day, and
to it. You can blast something so
when they don’t come at all, drag
loud in your car you feel the roof
allows me to be creative onstage,
might come off. But the only way
be a character, show my talents and
to get that amazing feeling music
receive what I’ve been craving since
gives you is to physically create the
that first nativity play: validation,
vibrations within your own body.
applause, laughter, adulation, love.
It is part of you and you are part of
As a successful drag artist,
it. That’s why we all sing along at
what’s the secret to maintaining
concerts and shows.
a consistent drag career?
What would you like to do in the
Well, consistent really is the right
coming years that you haven't
word here. Whenever you can be, you
done yet?
have to be at your best. Audiences
It’s a very timely question Jason,
notice if you’re not quite yourself; as
because I’ve recently found myself
do venue staff. Trust me, I've had the
feeling that drag is all getting a bit
conversation many times.
too easy, and I’m starting to find it
Because of the way I sing, and
the amount I sing now every week, I
have had to start being careful how
not as fulfilling and challenging as I
used to.
Something like Drag Race
many shows I do in a day or week.
would force me out of my comfort
For instance, it’s no good boasting
zone and challenge me a lot. I’m not
about my three show Saturday, if
going to poo-poo it. I think it would
I’ve got no voice by the time I get
do me good.
to the Old Ship on Sunday night. It
I’d also like to follow in the
gets embarrassing pretty quickly
footsteps of the girls before me,
croaking out a few unimpressive
onto the cruise ships and the
numbers when you’re known as the
national tours. That would be a
belter of Blackheath.
lovely next step for me.
My advice is this: Do your
Your happiest place away from
best to be your best at all times.
the stage?
Whatever that means: how you
Great question. Anywhere on
look, committing to your pre-show
my own. I’m a very social person.
vocal warmups, or just toning down
Being personable and upbeat
the after partying till the end of the
around people is a huge part of
working week.You will feel a lot
what I do. I have great friends and
better about everything.
family around me. But aside from
You also have a stunning voice.
social time, I need almost an equal
How and when did you start
amount of time to myself to function
singing?
properly. I have to let my social
Like most kids I started singing at
battery recharge and I do a lot of
school in assembly. However, unlike
my thinking when I’m on my own.
most kids my father was, and still
I’m very happy in my own company,
is, friends with a kiwi opera singer.
and it’s valuable time that is very
My dad didn’t do much to support
important to me. So could you just
my burgeoning poofiness, but the
go and leave me alone please?!
best thing he ever did was ask his
22
friend to give me singing lessons. I
Miss Moppe performs regularly
first learnt classical technique for
at Halfway to Heaven,
singing, then later on at college and
7 Duncannon St, WC2N 4JF