Drag Kings take centre stage in The Gentlemen’s Club

We are sure the majority of our readers do have a special inclination towards entertainment and acting, for that matter. But let’s not forget how theatres have been the foundation stone for many actors! Well, the love and respect that one has for theatres is beyond just eternal.
Are we going back to the history of theatres? Well, certainly not. But the recent talk of the town was none other than the second season of The Gentlemen’s Club. The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) had presented the electrifying new version of their hit show. Following the exhilarating lives of the city’s drag kings, headlined by the enigmatic Rocky, also known as Shammsher. His act was a tribute to the legendary Shammi Kapoor and the golden era of Hindi cinema. Alongside Rocky, a diverse ensemble of women embraced the art of drag, delivering a cabaret-style performance that transported one to a gritty, hidden world where you can be anyone you desire. Featuring a dazzling mix of dance, music and projection, this show unfolded an exciting and provocative narrative celebrating women and their exploration of masculinity.
Following its run in India, the production made its way to London, where it showcased at Soho Theatre, marking its international debut. Guess what? As the weekend arrives, sit back with your morning cup of chai or coffee, because The Pioneer brings to you some behind-the-scenes of the second season of The Gentlemen’s Club.
As per the team of the production house,  “The Gentlemen’s Club has become a labour of love for all of us. We wanted to explore notions of gender and masculinity in performance, but the way in which it has been received over the years really spoke to how powerful these themes are for audiences as well. The name refers to a club that features a motley crew of drag kings, from a Shammi Kapoor stand-in to a hip pop icon to a Bengali intellectual-type and it is set in an imagined Mumbai that is inclusive and adventurous. It’s aspirational but still very real in terms of what we explore. And it has something for everyone—song and dance, dress-up and make-believe, playfulness and a hint of everyday revolution.”
The inspiration for this show came from various conversations. They were keen on exploring the creation of drag queen characters. Meanwhile, Vikram Phukan was in discussions with Gaysi Family, a queer organisation, to write a show about drag queens. When Vikram and Pooja (Soho Theatre) met for coffee one day, they decided to merge the two ideas and that’s how The Gentlemen’s Club was born.
“Gender is a construct and does not belong to anyone,” they affirm. “Nobody owns masculinity or femininity. Drag is about commenting on, celebrating, mocking and essentially playing with gender. Through drag, we can blur the lines between traditional ideas of gender, making the audience question what is ‘real’ and what is simply performance. The show is also about artists, inspiration and relevance. These are universal themes that we hope audiences will be able to find resonance with.”
While the first season took place in 2015, the second is now here after nine years. Reason? “There has been no gap! We have toured and performed this show from 2015 all the way till 2019. We took a break because of the pandemic and now finally we are ready to start touring again.”
In this season, Rocky’s character draws inspiration from Bollywood icon Shammi Kapoor, who was known for his flamboyant style and larger-than-life screen presence in the 50s and 60s. While drag kings weren’t a visible or popular phenomenon in India during that era, Rocky’s Shammi is a playful nod to the cultural moment Kapoor represented—one of charm, rebellion, and fluid masculinity—which makes Rocky’s character both nostalgic and subversive in a drag king context.
The previous year, they had also achieved a historic milestone by presenting Zakir Khan at the Royal Albert Hall and supporting Urooj Ashfaq’s win of ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Edinburgh Fringe. This time they had a different move: bringing India’s first show about Drag Kings to the UK! “Soho Theatre is London’s leading producer of Indian comedy and has supported and facilitated monumental moments in the comedy exchange between the UK and India. This co-presentation is the culmination of so many galvanising conversations with Indian theatre makers and playwrights and we hope it will pave the way for future artist development programmes and co-productions of audacious new theatre shows. I’ve not seen a show quite like this – neither in India nor the UK – and I know that it’s unique exploration of gender and drag will resonate with our audiences on Dean Street,” she enthuses.
Going ahead, we also get the chance to interact with Bruce Guthrie, Head, Theatre & Films, NCPA and he speaks of carving out a similar space for Indian theatre makers and their development of new writing.
“New writing in theatre and performance is a significant focus. We’re creating platforms to support and nurture Indian playwrights and theatre makers. Initiatives like Darpan, our Marathi new writing programme, and Connections India, where we’ve commissioned three new plays for young people, are just the beginning. Beyond this, we’ve commissioned various plays to offer diverse voices and stories on stage.”