Nightlife visionary and playwright extraordinare Xnthony comes to this year's First Fortnight Festival as writer and producer of the Big Gay Ball, a glamorous celebration of self-expression showcasing the cream of Irish alt-cabaret talent, set to light up Donegal's An Grianán Theatre on Saturday Jan 13th.
Below, Xnthony revisits his years in the cabaret trenches, and his journey to fabulousness...
I started out as a cabaret artist when Dublin was full of empty warehouses and drag artists making something from nothing. I would turn up to venues of old like The Twisted Pepper with a tub of ice cream (don’t ask) and a few songs in my back pocket (usually a poorly rehearsed show tune).
Because it was the crash I think venues were willing to fill their space with anything, so they would give me the basement and I could run amok. My biggest crash course in the art form was the last ever Alternative Miss Ireland in 2012, where I placed third. I have only ever placed third in anything I have entered which I hold as a badge of honour. My mediocrity keeps me grounded.
Once I got to London in 2013 I was welcomed with open arms by queer cabaret legends Jonny Woo and John Sizzle. They nurtured me and gave me space without any strings attached. As long as I could hold a room, fill the seats, it was mine. Soon I was presenting Bingo parties with Drag Race star Crystal and nightlife icon Barbs. It’s funny to see many of my friends go on to compete on Drag Race (some have won…) but the platform doesn’t appeal to me. Everything changed once Drag Race blew up. Suddenly our art is limited to just our 'lewks’.
I don't think my drinking habits were necessarily worse than others - alcohol is so deeply embedded in our society we don’t notice we have a problem.
Cabaret has brought me through challenging times. When opportunities in theatre (where I wanted to be) were nowhere to be seen, cabaret worked as a way to earn income and keep myself working. This means I have spent 10+ years honing my craft, jumping on tables, belting songs out in nightclubs and having a GREAT time. But don’t underestimate how easy it looks – picking up a mic and chatting to a room of people is harder than it looks. Cabaret is the art of vulnerability, which is what makes it so special.
I've done a lot, and I mean A LOT of silly things on stage. Performance artist Oozing Gloop once tattooed me live on stage while I sang. The result was a teeny tiny banana! It still lives on my right thigh and serves as a reminder of the power of live performance…or my addiction to adrenaline.
Addiction is a big, three-syllable word that strikes a chill in the heart of any cabaret performer. I haven’t drank in a year. After ten years of working on the scene, I became aware that alcohol was surrounding me at every turn. You’d turn up for a gig, feel the nerves, have a whiskey and do a spin. The problem starts when the one whiskey turns into four, five and then suddenly you're off your bike with a cracked rib, rubbing your head asking yourself… is this what I thought my thirties would be!?
I don’t think my drinking habits were necessarily worse than others - alcohol is so deeply embedded in our society we don’t notice we have a problem. I had had enough. I needed hydration and freedom from the guilt. Since giving up, I’m seeing a new-found clarity of purpose, and a healthier bank balance to boot.
Xnthony's Big Gay Ball is at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny on Saturday Jan 13th - find out more here, and find out more about this year's First Fortnight programme here.
