DRAG UP!

(Dir. Qianlin Wang, documentary, 52' 24", UK, 2023)

(A documentary based on the ‘Decolonising Drag: Engaging Queer Chinese Community through Art and Performance’ project, May-July 2023)

Synopsis

In June 2023, seven young, queer Chinese signed up for a performance art project in East London. In this month-long community art project, they would learn about what is drag and how to perform it, discover their queer Chinese heritage, and explore ways to de-westernise and decolonise drag. The training was hard but also fun. Most nerve-wracking of all, they would put on a live show in front of an audience. On a roller-coaster journey of self-discovery, they would find out about what their identity, community and politics means to drag.

You can watch a trailer here.

Documentary

Producer: Dr Hongwei Bao

Director: Qianlin Wang

Video & Photography Team:

Shaw Chan, Rossy, Shanshan Chen, Yeo Lyu, FDuhyl

Drag Up! Project

Producer: Dr Hongwei Bao

Project Co-director & Workshop Facilitator: Felicia Jiang

Project Co-director: Qiuyan Chen

Live Sound Designer: Fan Bangyu

Project Participants/Performers:

Yang Tianyi, Lin Zhao, Yash Zhang, Matt Tam, Mild Peril, Dawn Chen-Yang Li, Lu Yabin

Special Guests:

Lusty Lovelace, Will Dai, Matthew Baren

Supported by

University of Nottingham Faculty of Arts Knowledge Exchange Communities of Practice Fund (Community Engagement Strand)

Thanks to all involved

University of Nottingham

Queer China UK

The Common Press

UK Black Pride

Theatre Deli

More information about the project can be found here.

July 2023