Drag has become a mainstream entertainment with the RuPaul Drag Race UK on TV and the recent Deathdrop at the Garrick which was closed prematurely by Covid. Its raunchy over the top no holds barred style has a strong following and the performers project a glamorous image. But what is like behind the makeup and clothes? Suitcase under the stairs takes into a toilet used as a dressing room of a club where Rose XO has just completed her act. Slowly the man behind the performer is revealed as he peels back the layers he hides behind on stage.
Rose is a confident unstoppable scary woman, six foot seven tall in her black high heeled boots, she is her own woman when in the pink spotlight. Tonight, her offstage partner Matthew is in the audience and when she treats him like any other punter with her acerbic bitchy putdowns he walks out. It is a shame we don’t see more of the one-stage persona and performance which obviously contrasts sharply with the real-life man behind the creation.
