Life’s a drag I’m in my 80s but more glamorous than ever
Watching my younger sister, Jeanette, then 3, as she practised her dance steps, I was impressed.
‘I want lessons too!’
I said with a grin.
‘Let’s get you signed up,’ my mum, Emily, suggested.
It was 1950, and at 9 I couldn’t wait to join Jeanette as she learnt to tap.
I soon got the bug. When Jeannette hung up her tap shoes a few years later, I enthusiastically carried on with lessons throughout my childhood.
Dancing was one of my favourite things.
I lapped it up, loved showing off on stage.
And over the years, I got to share my passion, entertaining others.
At Christmas, I’d put on a show for Mum, Dad, my four siblings and anyone else who was with us for the day.
Donning a frock I’d found at a charity shop or borrowed from Mum, I’d lip sync songs by Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney.
Such a hoot dressing up, making my family laugh.
It became an annual tradition each year, and we all loved it.
A close-knit family, we lived in South Wales.
But a less happy part of my life was school.
Everybody knew I went to dance lessons, making me an easy target for the older boys.
I became known as the local ‘fairy’, and was often on the receiving end of a fist or tripped up down the corridor.
But I kept myself to myself, didn’t say a thing or try and fight back.
At 15, I discovered the gay scene in Cardiff, taking the bus into the city centre on weekends.
Heading to the pubs, making great friends along the way.
Sometimes I would stay out overnight, but Mum and Dad never said anything about it.
In fact, I never came out to Mum. I didn’t need to.
But I did sit down with my dad, Stan, one day in my late teens, ready to tell him I was gay.
‘We always knew, and we just want you to be happy,’ he smiled.
Then, in 1957, age 16, after I tap danced on stage at dance school in Newport, I was approached by an Australian dancer called Neville Munro, then 26.
‘Do you want to form a double act?’ he asked.
I jumped at the chance, and together we were The Two Munros.
For the next six years, we performed together on stage at variety shows around the UK and Germany. Donning top hats and tails, we tap danced and put on an acrobatic show. Sharing the stage with the likes of Petula Clark, Tommy Cooper and Cilla Black. In 1963, next stop, Australia! Neville wanted to move back home. By now, we were best mates so I followed, getting a job in Sydney as a male dancer in Les Girls, a famous cabaret show.
Two months later, I tried my hand at comedy drag as part of the show.
My performance was proper slapstick humour. Furs draped around my neck, over-the-top make-up and coiffed hair!
It was fun, and it made me realise I loved the more glamorous side of drag. The elegant feathered headdresses, slick makeup, gorgeous jewellery, stunning outfits.
Soon, it became my signature style as I sashayed around the stage in beautiful bespoke beaded dresses.
I’d learned to perfectly apply make-up, while a hairdresser or cast member would help me to
I sashayed around the stage in beautiful dresses
style my wig.
Telling one gag after another, as I felt – and looked – a million dollars! Three years later, I became the star of the show, compering for
Les Girls, introducing the acts each night. Until 1968, when my exciting overseas adventures continued. First, Hong Kong for a year, where I performed my glam drag comedy act on stage.
Next was Beirut, for another year.
‘It was fabulous there!’ I excitedly told Neville when I returned to Australia in 1970. I returned to Les Girls, this time as the show opened in Melbourne. I performed six nights a week over the next eight years, appeared on the telly and even had roles in a couple of films! Of course, I visited home during my travels, seeing my family in Wales whenever I could. Sadly Dad passed away in the early 70s.
But Mum and my siblings were always bursting with encouragement for me. Mum visiting me in Australia a few times, always coming to see me on stage.
‘I’m so proud of you, Stan!’ she gushed. And when it came to finding love, I wasn’t unlucky.
In 1970, I met a wonderful man, and we had a serious relationship for 15 years before parting ways amicably. I’ve had so many career highlights it’s hard to choose one.
Recently, I got to perform in Singapore and Thailand.
Dressing up in drag was and still is something I do as part of my job.
In day-to-day life, I’m unrecognisable from the person I am on stage.
But still I don’t like to look too exaggerated.
I much prefer to look like a woman, rather than a man dressed up as a woman.
Things are definitely different now compared to when I first started out.
As a comedian, I have to be more careful with my jokes and I do miss good old-fashioned comedy.
Stanley Baxter and Dame Edna are my idols.
But then the wider world has come a long way from the days I was thumped and called a ‘fairy’.
People are much more open-minded and I perform to such a diverse crowd, which is amazing.
And I may be 83, but I’ve no plans to stop.
I was born to perform, and certainly don’t plan to hang up my feather boa anytime soon.
In fact, I’ve got a new show, which tells the story of my life.
Called Vintage Drag in Mint Condition, I launched it this month at Sydney Mardi Gras.
My dream would be to perform it at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
And hopefully publish my book one day, which is already written.
I’ve been so lucky to have the career that I’ve had.
To travel the world, meet so many incredible people and make them laugh.
All while feeling utterly fabulous, darling!