About the Drag Performance

“D.R.A.G. – Gender, Queer and Drag as a Phenomenological Tool Towards Social Change” (Art of Drag Seminar – Drag Performance) is a drag show intended as an extension and deepening of The Art of Drag Seminar, an international drag seminar mentioned earlier. After the seminar, both participants and other audience members will be able to experience drag as an artistic expression and as a practical tool for social change—aiming to spark new thoughts, reflections, and aesthetic experiences based on what was discussed and presented during the seminar. At the same time, the performance stands as an independent project, meaning that audiences do not need to have attended the seminar to gain aesthetic, academic, and social value from it.

Structure
The performance will begin with a 40-minute panel discussion featuring speakers from The Art of Drag Seminar, followed by a 90-minute show with ten different drag artists from the Norwegian drag scene. After the show, there will be opportunities for further conversation with the artists and between attendees, where student reporters from OsloMet will collect experiences and reflections to be processed further.

Format
The show will combine a lineup format and epic dramaturgy. In a traditional lineup drag show, artists perform one number after another without much connection between them. The audience may not get the sense of a unified story, but rather an overall experience of drag as an entertaining and norm-challenging medium.
Epic dramaturgy, a model from theatre, presents several stories in parallel which may initially seem unrelated but are thematically connected, gradually weaving together to create a coherent experience and deeper understanding of the show’s message.

By combining the traditional drag lineup format with epic dramaturgy, the performance—through its various artists—seeks to explore, critique, highlight, and discuss gender norms, social structures, and identity. The aim is not to moralize, but to invite the audience to join the conversation on these themes and share their own thoughts and reflections.

Intention
The performance aims to create a space where audiences can reflect on queer identity and themes. Experiencing artists who express something norm-breaking and gender-transcending—through various aesthetic means (music, theatre, costumes, song, etc.) and their own real bodies—gives audiences insight into lives and themes they may relate to, or that may be completely different from their own. This reflective dialogue between drag as performing art and the audience is intended to spark perspectives and questions about the gender and social structures we live with. The goal is for audiences to experience a shift in perspective, gaining insight into the life of the artist or a queer life represented through drag. This is where drag approaches its role as a phenomenological tool for social change.

The performance will feature music, dance, puppetry, pole dance, singing, theatre, and more, including both solo and group numbers.

Venue, Queer Space, and Safety
The performance will take place at SALT Art & Music on their main stage, the Arctic Stage. Since 2021, SALT has been an important venue for queer performing arts, with Norwegian Drag Production maintaining a close, safe, and successful collaboration with them. Norwegian Drag Production established and produced the very first Oslo Drag Festival—Norway’s first and only festival dedicated to drag art—which has been held annually since 2021. In addition, we have staged dozens of drag shows, performances, and events on SALT’s various stages.

Our audience, the drag community, and the broader queer community know SALT Art & Music well as a queer-friendly venue, which is crucial for creating a safe and inclusive space. After the June 25, 2023 terrorist attack, SALT has taken queer safety very seriously—improving security guard training, safety procedures, and emergency services contact.

Another measure for creating a safer event is the use of OsloMet students as audience hosts. Easily identified by their Art of Drag Seminar t-shirts, they will serve as a link between show guests and the event, engaging with attendees and addressing any discomfort so that appropriate measures can be taken. They will also collect feedback and facilitate conversations about the performance and drag.

Accessibility
Offering a free or low-cost, high-quality drag performance is seen as an important step towards making drag art accessible to more people—especially those who might not otherwise attend a queer event, whether due to cost or hesitation. Drag should be a shared cultural asset, and through The Art of Drag Seminar – The Drag Performance, we aim to make that a reality.