22.6 C
Byron Shire
March 21, 2023

Every Woman at Glitter

Latest News

Main Arm road works update

Further to last week’s Echo newspaper story Main Arm Road repairs grant unsuccessful, Council’s General Manager, Mark Arnold, told...

Other News

Feros board refuse to provide evidence of facility closure claims

With Feros announcing it will redevelop its aged care facility in Byron Bay, the management board, through a public relations manager, have declined to provide The Echo with evidence that the aged care home does not ‘meet the current government standards as a residential care facility’.

Interview with Sidestep Kids Festival director, Valley Lipcer

Sidestep Kids Festival is a wonderful, free festival for kids and families on this weekend at Banner Park in...

Jungle Juice

Victoria Cosford I honestly feel healthier just reading the list of smoothie and fruit juice ingredients! Broccoli and silverbeet, celery...

Local cricketers prepare for finals this weekend

Tintenbar-East Ballina (TEB) and Bangalow cricket clubs have each had two senior teams qualify for the finals this weekend,...

Election 2023 – Clarence: Dr Leon Ankersmit

Dr Leon Ankersmit is running for Labor in the seat of Clarence. After working for 30 years in the community services sector he says it is vital to provide affordable housing.

Leading women of the farming sector

In recognition of International Women’s Day last week, the Byron Farmers Market are shining the light on some of...

glitterfestival-imeverywoman

Cabaret singer Trevor Ashley presents his sensational hit Show I’m Every Woman at Glitter Festival. 

What is it about singers such as Bette Midler, Cher and Shirley Bassey that have made them gay icons? Is there something in particular about the spirit they embody that sets them apart?

I get asked this a lot, and I think it’s a bit of an enigma. Look, the gays love a frock and a feather, and these girls are all glamorous and over the top to the extreme. But I think the community has always had an affinity with strong female singers. They’re like modern-day gods!

How do you step into their songs… and their frocks? Is there a trick to embodying the feel of the performance to get the song cranking?

Industrial-strength zippers help on the frock front, as well as a very good corset. I like to embody the women as much as I can, so I’ve studied how they move and their particular vocal stylings. I think if there’s truth in how you portray them then you get away with a lot.

What are the songs that never fail to move you?

Both The Rose (by Bette Midler) as cliched as it is, and As Long As He Needs Me (which Shirley Bassey has sung) are just incredible. They’re tortured love songs but full of drama.  

Tell me about your shows in London… and the singalong with Alan Cumming.

London was a bit like a dream to be honest. The Brits ate up Liza, which was very special. The reaction was amazing and they gave me the best reviews of my career. And my number at Alan Cumming’s Club Cumming was a hoot. He’s such a great friend of Liza, so doing her in front of him was really amazing. We’ve gotten to be good friends as we bump into each other in seedy gay bars all over the place.  

How do you manage to sing so many songs? Is it impersonation? What does your ‘real’ voice sound like?

It’s hard singing so many songs. This show in particular there are 19 numbers, so it’s a big night with stamina. But I guess I’m used to it now. My voice sounds nothing like all the girls I impersonate but it’s not used very often… I always seem to be playing a character!  

What is the over-arching concept for your show I’m Every Woman?

It tells the story of how I became a drag queen in the Sydney pubs at the start of my career, and then presents all of the girls I have loved in my life. All my idols.  

What should we expect from you and your show for Glitter Festival?

It’s just a hoot. There are a million wigs and every song you’ll know and you’ll laugh and cry and hopefully walk out with a grin. I had a ball last year and can’t wait to do it again! 

Playing on Friday at 8pm as part of the Glitter Festival at the Gold Coast Arts Centre, running Thursday till Sunday. For the full fabulous program go to theartscentregc.com.au.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

NSW Greens MP defends Nats smear

NSW MP Tamara Smith (Greens) has defended a political post on Facebook by Nationals candidate Josh Booyens. Booyens claims Smith was dishonest with her response...

Green support SSF and free parking at Tweed Valley Hospital

Protecting State Significant Farmland (SSF) and committing to free parking at the new Tweed Valley Hospital are issues Green candidates for Tweed, Ciara Denham,...

 Uki Refugee Project and Mt St Pat’s join forces for refugees

The Mount Saint Patrick College in Murwillumbah held an assembly of 850 students, teaching staff and members of the Uki Refugee Project to officially open their new sports house called Romero House – in honour of Saint Romero.

Scientists call for urgent groundwater management

Groundwater provides almost one-third of the nation’s water and is worth more than $34 billion to the economy, but results from a recent major review have prompted scientists to call for urgent and better appraisal of groundwater and how we manage it.