A drag show star has been banned from a festival by the National Theater for making a sexually explicit joke about children, it has been revealed.
One performer said kids should be taught to “open their minds, open their hearts and open their legs” before drag acts strip down as part of the show in South London.
The drag performances were part of the National Theater’s River Stage Festival 2022 in July and August.
A drag show on June 16 on the South Bank in front of the National Theater – one of several performances on the day the controversial comments were made
(Archive image) The National Theater said the performer who made the comments will not return to the River Stage Festival
The National Theater said a performer’s comments “violated the festival’s content and performance guidelines” and the performer in question would be banned from River Stage going forward.
The festival was described by TimeOut as “a month of live music, dance, performances, workshops and outdoor family fun”.
The festival’s first weekend – July 15 – July 17 – was hosted by The Glory, an East London bar that bills itself as “London’s premier queer venue and performance mecca”.
The Glory performed a variety of shows outside of the National Theater including cabaret, line dancing and a disco.
A parent who expressed concerns about the performances said while they welcomed the show’s diversity, it was overly sexualized and unsuitable for children.
In a post on Mumsnet, they said they went to the show thinking it would entertain the whole family.
The parent added: “We were there from 6:30am and the drag act on stage promoted inclusion and had a great message.
“They said, ‘We must teach our children to open their hearts, teach our children to open their minds, and teach our children to open their legs.” The last line was said with the same tone as if it were a daring joke.’
They added both she and her partner were: “Just disgusted by what we saw. We couldn’t believe it.
“This nude was wearing a short dress and her bulge was everywhere. It was just weird.
“Good in a club, not at a festival that’s literally meant to be good for families.”
They added, “Every single drag king act got undressed … showing their scars from their mastectomy/gender-affirming surgery.
“I get that they’re proud and don’t need to hide, and I really agree with that, but it just felt weird that women who now identify as men still have to take their clothes off while the drag queens.” not a garment removed.’
Another viewer wrote on Twitter: “It felt inappropriate. Sunny early evening, lots of young families with kids running around and then loud, overtly sexualized drag costumes and performances.
“Hard to ignore when you are on the South Bank as the noise is widespread.”
Other parents reacted angrily to the show’s content, with one concerned parent saying: “Child sexual abuse is not something risqué to joke about, it’s a disgusting thing to poke fun at.”
Another said: “Whether it was family friendly or not, I find it disgusting to ‘joke’ about children in this way.
“There is no ‘right’ way to take this comment – it’s a sexual comment about children and I don’t think it’s anything to laugh about.”
One parent said on Twitter: “I would have gone if I had been there with my kids. On what planet is this normal?’
Some online visitors advised the visitor to make a formal complaint about the show to the National Theater.
However, some argued they should have seen that the drag show was not age appropriate for children.
One said: “I really have no idea how you thought this was suitable for children or family friendly.”
“I mean, the joke was gross and unacceptable, but nothing about the whole thing at all
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