list.co.uk/festival Ginger Johnson | F E S T I VA L C A B A R E T
G O L D E N G O L D E N G I R L
Ginger Johnson’s gang of oddball puppets are gearing Ginger Johnson’s gang of oddball puppets are gearing up to take on their fi rst Fringe. Claire Sawers caught up to take on their fi rst Fringe. Claire Sawers caught up with the drag diva to talk Big Bird, crematorium up with the drag diva to talk Big Bird, crematorium gigs and the state of the world in general gigs and the state of the world in general
‘P uppets are really just drag queens with fewer bones,’ ‘P says Ginger Johnson, creator of the furry stars of Ginger Johnson’s Happy Place, her fi rst ever Fringe solo show. ‘They’ve got the funny faces, the big eyes and they don’t give a shit about the rules,’ she shrugs, sucking on a cigarette.
Ginger, the alter-ego of comedian and costume maker Donald Marshall, Ginger, the alter-ego of comedian and costume maker Donald Marshall, is celebrating one decade in drag, during which time she’s been hauling is celebrating one decade in drag, during which time she’s been hauling her waspish one liners and helium balloon curves around all kinds of her waspish one liners and helium balloon curves around all kinds of theatres and club nights, including shows at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, theatres and club nights, including shows at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Glastonbury, the basement of Selfridges and even, very recently, a Glastonbury, the basement of Selfridges and even, very recently, a gig at a crematorium. This marked a fi rst for Ginger, performing a gig at a crematorium. This marked a fi rst for Ginger, performing a special request eulogy for a mum who’d been a big fan and a huge special request eulogy for a mum who’d been a big fan and a huge
supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
‘I wasn’t sure I could do it, it was obviously so emotionally ‘I wasn’t sure I could do it, it was obviously so emotionally charged, but it turned out to be an amazing experience.’ That charged, but it turned out to be an amazing experience.’ That booking came shortly after the six-week smash hit booking came shortly after the six-week smash hit How to Catch a Krampus a Krampus at the London Pleasance over Christmas 2018, written, directed by and starring Ginger. This August, Ginger will be inviting Edinburgh audiences into a This August, Ginger will be inviting Edinburgh audiences into a wonderful world of delusion. ‘The world is really terrifying right wonderful world of delusion. ‘The world is really terrifying right now. For anyone other, or queer or weird . . . it’s a scary time. I now. For anyone other, or queer or weird . . . it’s a scary time. I want to ask, how far are we willing to take the absurd in order to want to ask, how far are we willing to take the absurd in order to escape? Ginger’s escape? Ginger’s Happy Place is a dissociative place, where I’m joined by a choir of sweaty sock puppets. It’s got a kid’s show joined by a choir of sweaty sock puppets. It’s got a kid’s show format, but is defi nitely not suitable for children.’
Ginger is part of East London queer collective Sink the Pink Ginger is part of East London queer collective Sink the Pink and often performs alongside drag icons Jonny Woo and Lavinia and often performs alongside drag icons Jonny Woo and Lavinia Co-Op (the 68 year-old radical drag legend, and member of 1970s Co-Op (the 68 year-old radical drag legend, and member of 1970s Bloolips comedy troupe), but will be joined onstage in Edinburgh Bloolips comedy troupe), but will be joined onstage in Edinburgh by her handmade puppets. ‘About fi ve years ago I was at home watching telly. ‘About fi ve years ago I was at home watching telly. Sesame Street, which I love, came on with this episode about Hurricane Katrina. Big Bird’s nest had been blown away and everything was Katrina. Big Bird’s nest had been blown away and everything was wrecked. They all pulled together to help one another, it was really wrecked. They all pulled together to help one another, it was really wonderful. I was having a bit of a crisis myself – not weather wonderful. I was having a bit of a crisis myself – not weather related, more mental health – and I got the idea to create my own related, more mental health – and I got the idea to create my own Happy Gang.’
She lives with about 25 puppets in London but is only bringing She lives with about 25 puppets in London but is only bringing a lucky handful on tour, including the cyclops Peek and Boo, very a lucky handful on tour, including the cyclops Peek and Boo, very serious Simon who’s in a rocky relationship with Philip Seymour serious Simon who’s in a rocky relationship with Philip Seymour Hoffman (not that one) and a lively baked potato. ‘Ginger tries to help Hoffman (not that one) and a lively baked potato. ‘Ginger tries to help them them all, but she’s not necessarily very good at it. Let’s just say them them all, but she’s not necessarily very good at it. Let’s just say it’s not long before the apocalypse arrives.’ She’s terrifi ed but also excited about the show, and concerned for her She’s terrifi ed but also excited about the show, and concerned for her dysfunctional puppet friends. ‘I’ve made a little fi rst aid kit for them, dysfunctional puppet friends. ‘I’ve made a little fi rst aid kit for them, with spare fur patches for everybody. They take a lot of punishment in with spare fur patches for everybody. They take a lot of punishment in the show and I’ll have to keep them nice. Plus sewing is a good way for the show and I’ll have to keep them nice. Plus sewing is a good way for
me to de-stress!’ With a discount for queer folk under 25, Ginger wants the show to be an With a discount for queer folk under 25, Ginger wants the show to be an oasis for anyone in the queer community fi nding things tough right now. ‘They oasis for anyone in the queer community fi nding things tough right now. ‘They say things are getting better, that’s just not true. The say things are getting better, that’s just not true. The Happy Place is a way of offering an absurdist hand to people who need it. It’s funny and practical too – offering an absurdist hand to people who need it. It’s funny and practical too – I’ve got a song about the top ten presents to buy for the lesbian therapist who I’ve got a song about the top ten presents to buy for the lesbian therapist who saved your life.’
Ginger Johnson’s Happy Place, Pleasance Dome, until 26 Aug (not 12), 9.40pm, £10–£12 (£9–£11).
7–14 Aug 2019 THE LIST FESTIVAL 45
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