“Ten years in the business”, Jonny Woo reminded us at his recent Soho Theatre show, ‘This Is Jonny Woo’. Emerging from the depths of London’s experimental arts scene, Hackney based performance artist Woo broke the mould subverting ‘drag’ into a questioning series of prose.
The beautiful bearded one looked at the bottom of his dressing-up box, slung on his aunty’s wigs and spewed out a controversial line of socially aware rhetoric. The House Of Egypt, Tranny Talent, A Night Of A 1,000 Jay Ashtons, Tranny Lypsynching and Gay Bingo are just a few of Woo’s entertaining gems which have seen him create extreme, reflective and provocative characters. ‘This Is Jonny Woo’ rounded up the best bits, characters that involved streams of spontaneous interjections, spoken word and tracks pounding out valuable insights on the world we inhabit. Flouncing his way through his 90 minute show dressed in lycra body con (detachable tassel included), sporting a cleavage made up of a pair of boxing gloves, wonder woman lycra, masks, wigs and heels to his infamous ‘pope’ sketch, duets with Batty Lashes and accompaniment on keys from Paul St Paul, Jonny’s Woo’s hysterical journey hit top notes of fabulousity and underlying tones of socially aware inquiry.
The next Gay Bingo takes place 4th December at Soho Theatre. Watch Jonny talk about his favourite ever i-D cover at i-D NOW here.
Text: Princess Julia
