Interview - Lydia L'Scabies
Starting this interview off what made you want to get into drag?
Initially I was playing around with it at university for my dissertation about the fabrication of performer persona. I had come to realise that a lot of my previous theatre work I liked exploring female characters, particularly in the horror maze I was working in at the time! I began creating Lydia as a satirical response to what was going on culturally with my peers, I wanted her to be this privileged hipster, very topshop/urban outfitters indie band groupie type. I then so happened to lose my passport, which encouraged me to go on nights out in drag as a means of not being questioned, and slowly but surely, accidentally earnt a night time name for myself!
How did you come up with your drag name?
Lydia was going to be my given name should I have been born female, “Scabies” because all drag queens are parasites, and L’ because I like alliteration! Lydia was also a nice hat tip to one of my character icons Lydia Deetz (our 90’s queen Winona Ryder) from Beetlejuice, (Tim Burton, 1988) her aloof apathetic spooky demeanour has always been quite relative to me personally.
How would you describe your drag aesthetic?
It’s changed a considerable amount over the years which has been really rewarding to look back on. Like any parasite I’ve adapted to surroundings and scenarios, from embodying a trashy 2000’s “Ladette”, to a vintage poster girl for venereal disease. I’d consider my signature look to be very much blonde vixen, nasty step mother vibes, always with too much blush, and sometimes with glittering sores and flies on my face.
What inspires your drag?
Lydia was initially inspired by the wonderful squawking and yacking ‘gals’ of West Street, Brighton. I’ve always considered drag to be a critical reflection on the current culture (depending when the act started) and I wanted to represent that. I’ve always been motivated to parody the expectations of women in today's culture, so making a female character expressing my ‘innermost’ in this satirical packaging really appealed to me. I also wanted to take all my “nasty-gal” character icons and bring them to life, from Jessica Rabbit, Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly), Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty), Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker) Meredith Blake (Elaine Hendrix) MOST of the cast of the 2007 St. Trinian’s (Tamsin Egerton) Esme Squalor (Lucy Punch) and even many others that don’t fit this description, such as Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon.)
“I’d like to think I sit on a margin of relative accessibility for most audiences, but some people may just box me in the “spooky” department just because of my scabby looks, which I’m so okay with! I would consider myself a spooky queen at heart but in a different threatening packaging.”
What emoji describes your drag?
🐜 Always
We had the pleasure of seeing you perform supporting Alaska a few years ago where you had us in stiches. For anyone who hasn’t seen you perform, what can audiences expect?
Oh my goodness I wonder what I did! I like to tell stories fundamentally, from character homages from films and musicals, and even some of my own. I have a few signature pieces exploring Lydia’s conception, which is where I like to push myself an see just how much I can ruin nice songs for people, and gross people out.
You have a very unique look –have you ever felt some audiences don’t always understand your drag style?
I’d like to think I sit on a margin of relative accessibility for most audiences, but some people may just box me in the “spooky” department just because of my scabby looks, which I’m so okay with! I would consider myself a spooky queen at heart but in a different threatening packaging.
RuPauls Drag Race has pushed drag into the mainstream however, there is more to drag. Why is supporting local drag important?
It's not just supporting but also understanding your local talent, so many find it easy and for some STRANGE reason complimentary to compare or associate entertainers to a Drag Race queen, hate to break it to some people but Trixie did not invent the colour pink and big hair. Of course, there is (some) amazing talent in the Drag Race alumni, and totally understandable that they are celebrated, but to find gold in your local bar or club is something locals should be treasuring and help elevating to ensure these entertainers are the best they can be. Like I always say, drag queens are parasites, they need bodies of supporters to survive!
What is the first thing you do after a show?
Depending if I’ve made a mess I’ll wipe up/get changed into something more slaggy that’s not soaking/covered in enema and red food dye*/baby food, etc. Besides that I’ll have a cigarette and a shot of gold tequila, no salt, no lime.
*Lydia L’Scabies - You Ruin Me, Youtube. Action shot available on The Powder Room ft. Pearl at Club Revenge Brighton.
What does the future hold for you?
I honestly don’t know! I’m hoping to upgrade, and teach myself more of the craft, she’s only just started doing wigs! I’m hoping that mine and Rococo Chanel’s baby CINEBRA (@wereallylikemovies on Instagram!) will get big one day and we’ll land the Netflix deal of our dreams, I’d love us to be the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost of drag! I really want to work out a solo show of my own one day as well when I’m not so neurotic about it and jus crack on with a strong idea, that and I would LOVE to do a tour of really crap towns in the UK like Newport, Grimsby, Hull, Huddersfield, Bognor Regis, etc.
Any last shout outs?
Please come to our shows! Brighton Fringe is going to be a mad one this year, and you have so many amazing shows to see! From Alfie Ordinary's “Help! I think I might be fabulous” to Joe Black’s “Decopunk”, “Gals Aloud”, and last but certainly not least, “CINEBRA: A History of Horror and “Glenda & Rita: LIVE at the Bosco!” OH and follow me on Instagram, I’m thoroughly insecure and shy and need constant approval 😉