Miss Katherine takes her ritual afternoon tea with outrageous and eccentric drag personality Ash le Baroque in her front parlour while enjoying a deep and meaningful conversation about London, performance spaces, lampshades and *tortured souls* over a soothing pot of Earl Grey tea and delicious slices of apple teacake.
Miss Katherine: Ash Le Baroque, welcome to my parlour! How are you darling?
Ash le Baroque: (beaming in delight) I am fabulous Miss Katherine, how are you?
MK: …oh well I am still …breeeeeathing… (eyes rolling demurely), I have to ask, you have just recently returned from living abroad in London working as a fabulous make up artist -what inspired you to leave our fair shores for the old world?
AB: I was craving something that I did not feel my hometown (Perth) offered, which was just more experimental avenues of expression. I wanted to obviously travel, and essentially originally to go and follow my passion which is fashion make up, drag and things like that but when I landed there it turned out for me to be more of a journey, I discovered all I needed was time out for the first year.
MK: Would you ever return to London? If so what would draw you back there?
AB: Definitely, I think there are more avenues for performance – there is a wider spectrum and a stronger support for the arts, artistic people from all over the world are drawn to London so it is like a whole ‘Best Hits’ compilation CD of artists from all different walks of life. London is very exciting from that angle, and very attractive…and sometimes it is very cold and disgusting and very polluted…(wink)..ha ha ha.
MK: Compilation CD…I like that metaphor! I find your drag very…Provoking…What I mean by that is it provokes certain emotions … How would you describe your drag style?
AB: I like to think I am a romanticist and very passionate – would like to think that transcends into my drag style. My style is also usually about emotion and time and place so it is definitely a visual expression of where I am emotionally at that time.
MK: You were wearing a huge lampshade as a dress last week…
AB: I was listening to Edith Piaf on a vintage flip top wooden sideboard stereo…
MK: So you translated the atmosphere of that time and space into your outfit for the night, oh I get it! How brilliant – and very deep indeed. Is drag an art or a craft for you?
AB: Drag to me is performance art, it is obviously crafted but drag to me is also unpredictable – I enjoy the idea of not being defined. I do enjoy all drag.
MK: How long have you been a make up artist?
AB: I first started doing make up when I was 19, well I was wearing make up long before that but I did not realize one could use make up artistry as a vehicle to survive until I was 19, or even 20. I have been doing make up for 8 years – so I am 28 – for the record!
MK: Do you have a drag mother?
AB: Yes I do, I am fascinated by the term ‘drag mother’, it is something that I have but was unconscious to until recently. Glamourpuss definitely took that role, but I have to say I fought like a dragon to keep what I found true to myself and my understanding of drag. Even though I was nurtured.
MK: What direction do you see your very individual drag taking?
AB: In the past I have mainly performed outside of the drag community hosting parties and doing shows such as opening for the Presets when they first came to Perth DJing for the people that bought them over, I also joined a drag talent competition…but…(eyes rolling)…that was an absolute riot…I am definitely interested in performing a lot now, I am trying to start up a once a month night called ‘Dressed as Girl’ where performers can come and refine their craft without expectations, a place just to come to express their freedom and grow confidence on stage so as to have a voice as well as look. I am still looking at venues but nothing is confirmed as yet. I think it maybe better outside the gay venues we already have.
MK: Zoo would be a fabulous space to hold such a night! Oh sorry, I was thinking aloud…What’s your favourite flower?
AB: The Iris
MK: Oh I love Irises! Who would be your favourite icon of all time?
AB: Definitely Edith Piaf.
MK: Ahh, I see… Finishing on a lighter note what about your favourite saying?
AB: ‘Essentially I am attracted to tragedy’
MK: Ha ha ha…I love it…oh gosh… Another tea?
