An exploration into the development of a drag character, using practitioners Stanislavski and Barry Humphries as stimuli to build developmental process.

Abstract

Drag is a celebrated art-form with a great history behind it and it continues to evolve everyday with many young artists putting their own personal stamp on the drag world. Female impersonation is a form of drag made popular by practitioners such as Australian comic Barry Humphries and his portrayal of Dame Edna Everage. This dissertation uses the performative styling's of Humphries along with Stanislavski's acting method as stimulus for developing a drag character in the style of female impersonation. The application and exploration of Stanislavski's acting method will be used as an attempt to find 'believability' in the character by applying The Magic If; the method of believing that you are a character and not simply performing a character. In understanding Stanislavski's method a period of developmental rehearsal will occur and this study examines the application of the method whilst developing a drag character. The character will be showcased in two performances, a scratch performance at the Edinburgh Students Arts Festival and a final performance; A Quizzical Afternoon with Yer Auntie Jambus! (2016) at Queen Margaret University. Throughout the process various elements of research and development will be recorded in a Creative Portfolio and DVD which form part of this submission. Through the practical and written elements of this study a reflection of practice will be formed detailing the process' in which the character was created. This study will create further possibilities for developing the formed drag character in performance.