Drag Queens are heading to the National Theatre this weekend as The Glory pub, in the Colville Estate of the East End, has joined up with the theatre to bring an entertaining festival for the whole family packed full of alternative performances. 
Co-owner of the pub John Nolan, otherwise known as his alter-ego John Sizzle will be hosting some of the events including, Drag-e-oke, where he will try to break the world record for London’s biggest outdoor sing-a-long, It’s a royal knockout, which will see both drag queens and drag kings compete in a performance battle and Lipsync1000, where John will host the Glory’s notorious drag queen battle. 
The DJ and host reveals why he wanted to bring the charm of his pub to a new audience at the National Theatre.
He says: “It is a family festival. The brief is to be PG but drag is not offensive and we will be of course be using innuendos but it won’t be crude. The shows will be on a massive stage with great sound and lighting so it won’t just be an afterthought in the corner, it is a big thing.
“Anyone can stop and watch including grannies, tourists, children and even pets. A lot of people will just stumble across it, so hopefully we will get some newcomers for our pub too. 
“We didn’t know what to expect last year and thought we would just get a little DJ booth but it turned out to be this huge stage, which was quite daunting, so now we are well-prepared and have programmed the life out of it this year.
“There will be routines, storytelling and raunchy costumes so I will have to give the guys a good briefing that there will be children watching.”
John, who is from Highgate, has been practising his drag routine as Mr Sizzle for 15 years. The 48-year-old’s persona focuses on the joke that he is ageing and a bit deluded and always acting the fool with his many costumes. 
He explains: “John Sizzle is basically me in a wig. I’m one of the older drag performers and over the years I’ve realised the drag look isn’t always so polished and so traditional, as you might want flip flops sellotaped to your head or wear your dress on back to front. 
“I prefer character drag or creature drag as opposed to being a beautiful lady. I have never done ultra-feminine drag and have never tried to look like a real woman as I have a moustache. 
“I’m known for wearing ribbons all over my body. My thing is a hot, sexy, space vixen, like a female superhero or space warrior with one foot firmly in the '80s, as growing up, that was a very inspiring time of gender fluidity. As a young teenager, I watched Top of the Pops with all these amazing characters and also lots of sci-fi on television, which was quite escapist.”
John has always been interested in how people react to drag performers and feels the festival will be important for people to realise just how liberating dressing up can be.
He says: “As I’ve practised more and produced more work, I’ve noticed there is a power behind drag in that it is quite inclusive and celebratory and in society men and women tend to behave in very gender based codes of conduct with each other. 
“If you blur those lines and a person is dressed in front of you as a sexy guy or a sexy girl, it just ignites a sense of freedom for people. You get some aggression but nine times of 10 people do enjoy it and I believe it can lead to a happy life, especially in these conservative times. 
“It is a good message for young people who feel marginalised or the same as everyone else, as it is important for them to have references in society. The face of masculinity has changed so much.”
Glory Days, River Stage, The Royal National Theatre, Upper Ground, Waterloo, SE1 9PX, until July 31. Details: nationaltheatre.org.uk

By Rachel Russell