Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup…
NANA ARTHOLE
What are your pronouns?
Any, unless I’m in drag. Then it’s she/her. Give the devil her due.
Who inspired you to be a queen?
As a theatre kid and lifelong card-carrying whoopsie, I’d dabbled in drag for parts and pleasures over the years, but when it started increasing in popularity due to a certain show on telly box, a group of friends and I decided to give it a bit more of a bash than just popping a wig on. Turns out they were immune to the drag bug, but for me it was terminal.
What’s favourite thing about Notts?
It’s home, babes. I just love living here. Can’t put it any simpler than that without getting soppy!
What’s your best way to deal with a heckler?
Dealing with hecklers is a bit like being an insurance claims manager. It’s assessed on a case-by-case basis and how much I'll make you pay depends on how much damage I think you’re responsible for. A little quip on my bumper, it's a slap on the wrist and a ‘silly you’. Derail the show – you’re catching the bus, mate.
If you could only perform one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
For the best part of a decade I’ve been singing a celebratory song about the lovely Debbie McGee to the tune of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman. Every time I perform in a new place I close my act with this number, and it never fails to get the whole audience singing along, rejoicing the diva, the moment, that is Ms Debbie McGee. Or to open up google and type in ‘Who the f*** is Debbie McGee?!’
What’s your favourite movie?
Most recently I’ve been really enjoying a piece of cinematic excellence called Gay Muscle Whore Gets Used.
“I couldn’t perform without…?”
Three pairs of false lashes and at least one courtesy coat of nail polish on. Those finishing touches are vital to me for The Fantasy™ to reach full penetration.
What does pride mean to you?
I say this a lot, but I feel that Pride is about protecting queer futures by honouring queer pasts. We cannot take for granted how hard it was to get where we are, and we can’t be complacent that where we are as an entire community is far from good enough. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but with the wrong people in charge, our rights can and will disappear. There is no LGB without the T and the Q, thank you very much – I wish everyone who’s pulling the ladder up after themselves a very happy bashing their shins on coffee tables for the rest of their lives.
MARILYN SANE
What are your pronouns?
In drag she/her. Out of drag he/him. So if this is an in drag interview I’d go with She/Her
Who inspired you to be a queen?
Me. I’ve always been a performer, starting in musical theatre. As a visibly gay guy I never really got the lead male roles as they were all straight stories and the women had all the best songs. When I started singing in the cabaret show in the bar I was working at while I was at college studying musical theatre, I was mostly on stage to fill time while the drag queens were changing. Then I was cast as Angel in RENT and realised that being in drag was a lot of fun and a brilliant way to express yourself creatively. Then Marilyn Sane was born. No scripts. No directors. Just me and anything I wanted to do.
What’s favourite thing about Notts?
Notts is such an open book when it comes to culture. There’s everything here and if you can’t find it then you can make it. We have such a thriving and constantly evolving artistic heartbeat in this city and it’s still got some indie charm which has been bled dry from other cultural city centres.
What’s your best way to deal with a heckler?
Ask them to clarify for the room. They quickly lose their gall once given the time and attention they so eagerly demanded. A heckler is basically a dog chasing a car. It has no idea what to do with it if it ever caught it.
If you could only perform one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bubblegum Bitch - Marina & the diamonds
What’s your favourite movie?
Practical Magic
"I couldn’t perform without…?”
An undeserved sense of confidence. I’m a gun at a knife fight.
What does pride mean to you?
Pride means visibility. When I was growing up, every romantic development for a queer adolescent was tinged with shame. First kisses were sordid secrets. Crushes were something you tried to convince yourself wasn’t happening. Pride is about showing, inside and outside of our community, that none of us should be living with shame, that there’s nothing to hide – we’re worthy of being celebrated.
VAYNE
What are your pronouns?
Anything, not bothered.
Who inspired you to be a drag artist?
My mum! She works as a nurse but growing up I would see her play the lead role in the Panto! Out of drag I’m quite an introverted person, so I enjoy the idea that I can create elaborate, performative personas to entertain people and go to work the next day like nothing happened. I’m basically Batman in heels and a wig if you think about it.
What’s the best way to deal with a heckler?
Feel sorry for them and move on. Clearly me living authentically and being proud of who I am is enough to bother them! Stay bothered! I’m not!
One song to perform forever?
Black Velvet – 100%! The song conveys such an attitude that I love to embody on stage.
Fave movie?
Everything Everywhere All At Once! Love a deep psychological film that makes me question life. That’s why Finding Nemo is my second fave.
“I couldn’t perform without…”
A Red Bull and a Buzzball.
What does pride mean to you?
When I celebrate pride, I’m celebrating the decision to live my life authentically. Despite the hardship queer people have to go through, we still make the decision every day to not hide who we really are and show people who aren’t being their true selves, that it’s fun to live freely and there’s so much love in the world.
LIV
What are your pronouns?
She/they
Who inspired you to be a drag artist?
Sasha Velour really changed the game for me, showing us the power of storytelling and defining our own version of beauty.
What’s favourite thing about Notts?
Having worked at almost all our local heritage sites I’d say the history and folklore, as drag artists we are the champions of the Rebel City.
What’s your best way to deal with a heckler?
Enquire about the size of their anatomy, compare and contrast it with mine. I always win.
If you could only perform one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
An unanswerable question… I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston. Diva se nace no se hace.
What’s your favourite movie?
I am a proud Broadway Cinema member so this changes regularly... Sinners was REALLY fierce, our Rocky Horror 50th anniversary screening was amazing, but I always come back to Bridesmaids when I need to laugh.
“I couldn’t perform without…?”
An audience. Actually though, being away from everyone in lockdown was awful. I tried doing digital drag shows but I’m a stage performer not a YouTuber – it didn’t give me the same buzz.
What does pride mean to you?
A commitment to serving our community – as a member of the Notts Pride committee we volunteer countless hours to bring a safe, well-organised and inclusive celebration to Nottingham.
BELLA BESTIA
What are your pronouns?
She/they
Who inspired you to be a drag artist?
As cliche and Gen Z as it is, honestly it was Drag Race; specifically queens like Raja and Alaska. I remember seeing all these different queens express themselves in different ways that I realised there's so much freedom in drag. Lady Gaga has also always been my idol – I remember seeing all her videos and red carpet looks when I was little and aspiring to be as bold as her; she's basically a drag queen.
What's your favourite thing about Notts?
Hopkinsons! It's a shop full of independent artist's creations, vintage stuff, antiques, clothes, jewellery, art, taxidermy – literally everything. I spend hours there and there's always some really fierce drag finds.
What's your best way to deal with a heckler?
Give them all the attention they're clearly desperate for, a big shoutout in front of the whole crowd and watch them go bright red as they realise that they shouldn't interrupt a loud-mouth in a wig!
If you could only perform one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Disease by Lady Gaga – I love Gaga and I love going feral during a performance and this song combines the two so perfectly.
What's your favourite movie?
Silence of the Lambs – eery, quotable and sooooo many metaphors. *Hannibal Lecter hiss*
"I couldn't perform without...”
An audience! Being able to interact with people during a number and feeling their support really does make it all a lot easier!
What does pride mean to you?
My first time out in drag was Nottingham Pride 2021 and it's been since then that drag has allowed me to reclaim the femininity I've never been comfortable with and almost put a caricature spin on it. So, for me, Pride is truly about everyone feeling safe and empowered enough to go out and be authentically themselves.
Catch the queens on the main stage at Pride and at the Gladrags Official Notts Pride Afterparty on Saturday 25 July at The Palais. Tickets now on sale.
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