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Ru Paul’s Drag Race superstar Etcetera Etcetera talks to Gary Nunn about why The Imperial Erskineville’s multilevel celebration of culture and queen diversity for WorldPride 2023 has something for everyone
What is it that you love about The Imperial?
Etcetera Etcetera: The Imperial encapsulates a lot of what’s special about Australian drag: it gets together the showgirls, the artsy freaks, the gender benders, the queer rebels and the activists.
It’s a meeting place for so many different kinds of queer people, where everyone is welcome.
I hear it was the first place you ever did drag!?
Yup! New Year’s Eve 2017. I was drawn to The Imperial because I felt like no matter how terrible I looked in drag, no one would judge me.
And I looked terrible! I went out in this chequered patterned dress, matted grey wig and the worst make up you’ve seen in your life! In my mind I was like: I’m locking this away as a special place. Since then, I haven’t been able to stay away.
So that was that before The Imperial had its amazing refit?
Yes, that was when The Imperial was still the old girl. Then I came back and actually joined the team after the refit.
You’re right, it looks amazing. People are always surprised by the stunning Mediterranean style rooftop terrace. They’re like: OMG, such a gorgeous rooftop bar for the Inner West!
I always love going up there on a Sunday after I’ve done drag all weekend and having a cocktail. It’s actually the perfect space to unwind off hours and I find myself ending up there many a night on a Sunday when they do an amateur night called Lip Sync Heroes where people can just get up and lip sync. I love encouraging the next generation to have a go.
The Imperial’s WorldPride billing looks awesome! What are your highlights?
I’d say definitely the takeover with Philmah Bocks bringing up her Priscilla girls. They’re going to do some incredible shows in the first week, the Mardi Gras week leading up to WorldPride.
They’re doing bingo and trivia and Priscilla tribute shows in the restaurants and it’s gonna be a beautiful taste for anyone who wants to get the classic Australian drag experience from out of town.
Then every Friday in the basement club, I’ve curated and will be hosting a ’90s-themed party called Party Party Party. It’s going to have a line-up of some of Sydney’s and interstate’s most exciting performers, drag burlesque and gogo dancers. It’s just a little bit of everything that can be a camp, fun and sexy down there.
It’s a place to go when people might not want to go to one of the massive circuit parties, but they want to go to something that’s still fun, and can listen to dance music and feel good about themselves and have a fun night out. I’ll be hosting and performing at all of those.
Another massive highlight would be the new brunches they’re doing upstairs on Saturdays and Sundays called Fancy Feast.
It’s the first time The Imperial is debuting a drag brunch show up there and we have interstate queens, kings, DJs and burlesque performers, cocktail packages and beautiful food to kick off your day or your night. It’s a really fresh option, especially for people who haven’t been to that beautiful space before.
The entertainment program features some of Australia’s best drag talent: Art Simone, Jojo Zaho, Pashion Couture, Jemima Handful, Vonni, Polly Filla, Freddie Merkin and, of course, me!
The thing that stands The Imperial apart is that you could be playing drag bingo or drag trivia at 8pm and then going down into the basement and dancing to some tunes with some hot sexy guys at midnight. Right? That’s what makes it different from other venues.
There’s something for everyone. I mean, I’ve taken my grandparents to the venue to see my shows! I’ve taken my younger brother to the venue. I’ve taken crazy friends from overseas, celebrities, visiting drag race queens. You actually never know what your night will end up like at The Imperial: you might end up with new friends or new lovers or just a fun time with good memories.
Since 1983, The Imperial has been an icon of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community. It’s the bar where Priscilla was born. What does that mean to people today?
It’s where it all started. For a lot of people, The Imperial holds a lot of history and a lot of memories. It features in those scenes where Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert leaves Sydney. From Mitzi McIntosh to Farren Heit, it’s an institution, and now with Ru-girls coming to perform here, we bring it full circle.
Any funny stories from your many nights performing and hosting at The Impy?
We have this fantastic tradition at The Imperial of performing on the bar top in the main bar.
There was one time that a performer fell into the ice well, and we all thought she was dead but she seemed fine, got up and kept performing! I’ve seen performers, sit down on the bar, do a shot, get back up and continue their number.
There are very high stakes, high danger. It’s the most dangerous drag can get. That’s why we love it.
WorldPride starts February 17 and runs through to March 5. Check out the full line-up at The Imperial and purchase tickets here.
