Shut Up & King is a Glasgow-based platform for drag kings everywhere
Created during Lockdown 2020 by multi-award winning drag king, Dorian T. Fisk, to connect, grow and diversify the Scottish drag king scene, Shut Up & King has since supported the artistic journeys of hundreds of people interested in this art form and paved the way for drag kings to reach audiences that span the globe.
In 2022 and 2023, our pioneering ‘KINGcubator’ [drag king incubator] artist development program, created to provide crucial practical help and support to drag kings at a critical stage in their creative journeys, successfully received Creative Scotland funding and firmly put the art form of drag on the Scottish cultural map. In 2024, Shut Up & King KINGcubator ‘graduates’ had the honour of being invited to perform at Scottish Parliament.
After four years of almost non-stop activity and drive, the number of kings active in the Scottish scene has more than quadrupled and it is arguably one of the most diverse and inclusive drag communities in the UK. The ripples of Shut Up & King’s impact have spread far and wide with kings being advocates for positive change in their communities and supporting each others’ creative journeys, winning awards, and producing and hosting their own shows that platform the incredible talents of under-represented drag artists.
Shut Up & King Timeline: everything we have done at a glance:
July 2020
Shut Up & King launched
Glasgow-based drag king Dorian T. Fisk launched Shut Up & King during covid Lockdown as a way to connect, grow and diversify the Scottish drag king scene and to shine a spotlight on and elevate under-appreciated Scotland-based drag kings.
August 2020
1st of many Q&As with Scottish drag kings
On Shut Up & King’s social media, Dorian shone a spotlight on every Scotland based drag king with regular Q&As – see KINGS highlight – Poppa Joint, the UK’s first wheelchair using drag king, was the first to be interviewed and has, until his recent retirement from drag, also been the Shut Up & King access consultant.
October 2020
1st of many Shut Up & King online workshops
Beginning with Drag King 101 with Dorian T. Fisk; Halloween makeup looks workshop with Dundee kings Forrest and Demitri Outside.
December 2020
Developed 1st four-week online drag king course
The first Shut Up & King online drag king course was called ‘So You Think You Can Solo’ and co-designed & delivered by Dorian T. Fisk and Edinburgh king Dean Gummer and featured other established Scottish kings
Boxing Day 2020
Produced digital drag show
Dorian produced a festive themed digital drag show which premiered on Youtube: “Bros Before Ho Ho Ho’s” featuring 10 Scottish drag kings plus 1 ‘token queen’.
January 2021
Ran ‘So You Think You Can Solo’ online drag king course
Ran a 4-week drag king course ‘So You Think You Can Solo’ on Zoom with Scholarships for people of colour and people with disabilities.
Spring 2021
Workshops, workshops, workshops
Ran several more online workshops and on-demand How To videos ranging from special effects makeup techniques, comedy skills and costuming hacks.
Summer 2021
Launch of ‘Free Your Inner King’ drag king course
Ran ‘Free Your Inner King’ as a 4 week in-person drag king workshop series in Glasgow with Scholarships for people of colour and people with disabilities, co-designed and delivered with Poppa Joint and featuring Markee de Saw and drag king Tanaka
September 2021
Produced 1st ‘Scotland’s New Kings On The Block’ showcase
Produced first ‘Scotland’s New Kings On The Block’ hosted by Dorian and Poppa Joint at AXM in Glasgow with 11 kings.
Winter 2021
Produced 4 more drag king shows
Produced ‘Kings Haunted Playground’ halloween themed interactive games show in October; ‘The Kings Peach’ – Glasgow juiciest night of drag kings and burlesque at Slay Glasgow in November and ‘Kings Winter Playground’ festive themed interactive games show and HIV Scotland charity fundraiser for at Katie’s Bar, Glasgow in December.
And produced a record-breaking “Scotland’s 12 Kings Of Xmas” in-person show at AXM which was featured in The Scotsman.
March 2022
Applied for Creative Scotland funding
Dorian devised the Shut Up & King’s pioneering ‘KINGcubator’ [drag king incubator] program and applied for Creative Scotland’s Create:Inclusion funding to run it.
April 2022
Ran the ‘Free Your Inner King’ drag king course for the 2nd time
Ran a second iteration of the ‘Free Your Inner King’ course in person but this time in Edinburgh with Scholarships for people of colour and people with disabilities.
April 2022
Received Creative Scotland funding for the KINGcubator [drag king incubator]
Announced the KINGcubator fully funded drag king incubator – a unique 3-MONTH development program created to provide crucial practical help and support to 10 emerging Scottish drag kings at a critical stage in their creative journeys.
July – September 2022
Ran the 3 month KINGcubator pilot program
The Shut Up & King KINGcubator provided fully funded access to:
🌟Bespoke 1-2-1 and group act development mentorship from a team of 7 experienced Scotland-based drag kings
🌟 A series of specialist skills building workshops
🌟 A Creative Materials Bursary
🌟 Professional creative resources such as rehearsal space, photoshoot, videographer
KINGcubator workshops which were also open to the public included one on Sewing Techniques with Markee and Character Makeup with Dorian and Mx Arrow Jackson.
September 2022
Produced another ‘Scotland’s New Kings On The Block’ showcase
Produced the second ‘Scotland’s New Kings On The Block’ showcase with a recording-breaking 14 drag king performers – this show was produced as part of the KINGcubator and was a sold-out live performance BSL-interpreted showcase at Drygate, Glasgow [200+ people in the audience] hosted by the Godfather of the UK drag king scene, Adam All
January – March 2023
More workshops
Zoom workshop Drag King 101 with Dorian and ‘Rock The Mic Right’ Masterclass on vocal techniques and hosting with Markee de Saw
April 2023
Applied for more funding
Applied for Creative Scotland Open Fund for KINGcubator 2.0 [this time a year-long extended program]
May 2023
Busy, busy, busy…
Ran a Writing Original Material zoom workshop series with drag kings Phil Herrin and Wee Jambo
Produced The Lyin’ King – sold-out anti-coronation themed drag king show at Mono, Glasgow.
Announced 3rd iteration of ‘Free Your Inner King’ a hyrbid format part in-person with 4 sessions in Edinburgh and Glasgow and part online – this version was taken over 6 weeks with optional content review and additional learning sessions take place online at various times during the weeks between each in-person session. Scholarships available as before.
June 2023
Received Creative Scotland funding for the KINGcubator 2.0
Successfully received funding from the Creative Scotland Open Fund for a year-long extending KINGcubator 2.0 program, co-directed with Markee de Saw, which included the additional production of 6 King & Caboodle Cabaret shows as part of the extended program of support for Scottish drag kings to hone their craft.
The cabarets also served as a way to offer paid traineeship opportunities to kings to learn the ropes of producing, stage managing and hosting accessible shows.
July 2023
Produced the 1st King & Caboodle Cabaret
The 1st of six bimonthly King & Caboodle Cabarets at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow – this first one had the theme ‘FreeQdom Circus’ and was co-produced and hosted by drag king Mx Arrow Jackson.
August to September 2023
Ran the ‘Free Your Inner King’ drag king course for the 3rd time
This version of Free Your Inner King was funded by Creative Scotland so included Access Angel and BSL interpreter support.
September 2023
Produced the 2nd King & Caboodle Cabaret
The second King & Caboodle Cabaret had the theme ‘Out Of The Toybox’ and included hosting and stage manager traineeships.
October 2023
Launched WERK in Progress free peer-to-peer act development sessions
Ran the first of several bimonthly WERK in Progress [free to attend peer to peer act development sessions] for drag kings and drag things attended by KINGcubator mentors. These sessions were part of the KINGcubator 2.0. program and took place in Edinburgh, Glasgow and on Zoom.
November 2023
Produced another King & Caboodle Cabaret
This King & Caboodle Cabaret had a ‘Kings Of Comedy’ theme and was co-produced and co-hosted by Wee Jambo and Phil Herrin.
December 2023
Produced another record-breaking drag king showcase
Produced the third ‘Scotland’s New Kings On The Block’ drag king showcase at Drygate hosted by LoUis CYfer and featuring the 10 KINGcubator 2.0 kings plus special guests — a record-breaking 20 drag kings performed that night
January 2024
WERK werk werk…
Ran another WERK in Progress session in-person in Glasgow and a special Burns Night King & Caboodle Cabaret collaboration.
February 2024
Drag kings performed at Scottish Parliament!
MaKING history as the first drag kings to perform at Scottish Parliament as part of a Creative Scotland showcase about the importance of funding arts and culture across the region.
March 2023
Ran a Show Producers Bootcamp and a lot more…
Ran a free [funded by Creative Scotland] Show Producer Bootcamp 1-day workshop with Dorian T. Fisk and Markee de Saw for budding show producers all about producing inclusive and accessible shows. Special guest speakers Mx Arrow Jackson and Himish Macbeth and Roxy Stardust.
Produced King & Caboodle Cabaret ‘MANarchy the Musical’ at The Glad Cafe, which included hosting mentorship with Markee de Saw.
Ran another WERK in Progress – this time online
April 2024
Ran a hybrid [online + in-person] Drag King 101 collab with Aberdeen’s Joy On Tap
Drag King 101 on Zoom with Dorian and Arrow with fully funded places for Aberdeen based people as collab with drag show Joy On Tap as well as subsidised places for people of colour.
May – June 2024
Wrapped up the KINGcubator 2.0 year-long program
Last WERK in Progress in person in Edinburgh
Last King & Caboodle Cabaret at the Glad Cafe ‘Queertures Of The Night’
Ran a free [funded] Hosting Masterclass with Markee de Saw and King Confuza and a free [funded] crafting skillshare session with Markee de Saw on Zoom
July 2024
Shut Up & King 4 year Anniversary show ‘LEGENDS’
Celebrating 4 years kinging the landscape of Scottish drag and a move to a new bigger venue for the King & Caboodle Cabaret – another sold-out drag king showcase!
Summer 2024
Began development of a fully online on-demand version of the ‘Free Your Inner King’ drag king course
An exciting transformation and upgrade to our flagship ‘Free Your Inner King’ drag king course got underway, co-designed with Mx. Arrow Jackson and made possible with the funding from Creative Scotland.
September 2024
Produced King & Caboodle Cabaret ‘DisabiliTease’
Produced a special edition of the King & Caboodle Cabaret in collaboration with Little Peaches – DisabiliTease – showcasing the diverse talents of disabled performers