Tag Archives: portrait drawing

Berlin’s legendary drag shows return to the stage!

Antina Christ at Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 8 2020That’s right, Gieza’s Poke House and Pansy’s House of Presents returned to their home stage of Monster Ronsons last night.

That’s resident goth terror dolly (and newlywed!) Antina Christ, above. After five months of virtual shows and weekly livestreams, Gieza Poke and Pansy were very, very glad to be performing and producing IRL again. And so glad that cherished East Berlin queer clubhouse Monster Ronsons has survived, so far, the pandemic recession and months of shutdown.

To keep everybody going has been a stupendous effort of community and mutual aid, a testament of love to and from Berlin’s queer folx.

Pansy at Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 8 2020Pansy has worked so hard to keep income flowing to Berlin’s queer performers.

And she kept herself up, showing up onscreen in exquisite drag looks with no one in her flat but her cute dog Tina, week after week! Last night, back onstage, she wore an absolutely precious Alice look, with perfect petticoats, miles of leg, peeptoe pumps and Marilyn curls.

Reflekra at Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 8 2020During the Poke House, statuesque Aussie Reflektra hit the stage in what looked like couture.

But was apparently made from curtains! In quarantine, Berlin’s drag queens have had time but no money, and have made do creatively!

Debonair Detsuki at Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 8 2020I was excited to draw gorgeous Debonair Detsuki!

However drawing people onstage, after months of drawing mostly people filming themselves in their apartments, is a real shift. I could not see faces very well, and so needed to rely on body language to convey the sense of the performance. I am gonna need to adapt, which is fine. Like Berlin’s performers, I am highly adaptable and creative!

Miss Agnes Mitchell at Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 10 2020Speaking of creative, look at Miss Agnes Mitchell‘s gown!

I swear to you that her gown was at least this big and poufy and amazing.

Luna TikTok by Suzanne Forbes Oct 6 2020One of my favorites, Luna TikTok, gave us classic burlesque!

Luna TikTok is one aspect of ThemTikToks, a performer whose dualities enrich this city so much.

Current Berlin regulations mean tickets for the Poke House/House of Presents show need to be purchased in advance, rather than at the door.

You can buy them here, along with cool merch! And for those who can’t attend in person, you can watch every Tuesday night on twitch! All the regulars are nattering in the chat same as always 🙂

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support lets me keep documenting Berlin’s international, intersectional drag and burlesque performers while I work safely at home.

Vintage beauties from the UK: Marianne Cheesecake and Odelia Opium!

Marianne Cheesecake for Corona Cabaret 6 bySuzanne Forbes Sept 4 2020I love Marianne Cheesecake!

She is hilarious and charming, and one of the most beautiful humans I have ever seen in person. When I saw she was in the lineup for UK-based Corona Cabaret #6, I immediately grabbed a ticket. As always, she was delightful to watch! My previous drawing of her is here, and her website is here. Follow her on insta here!

Odelia Opium for Corona Cabaret 6 by Suzanne Forbes Sept 4 2020The Corona Cabaret hostess Odeila Opium has the most wonderful period look.

And that beautiful Moon seat/prop was in her house, right in the hallway! Miss Opium has a collection of incredible costumes, sells costumes and accessories for burlesque performers and performs in and produces events, like the Corona Cabaret.

As always, I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to work safely at home as I document the creative adaptations of performers in year one of COVID-19.