The origins of drag in the UK go back at least as far as mummers’ plays in the Middle Ages, while female parts in Shakespeare’s day were all played by boys, with the Puritans believing that theatres were hotbeds of sodomy and other wanton liaisons. With rumours of an International All Stars season on the cards, it goes without saying that there are probably more drag queens on the planet now than ever before. With a slew of international spin-offs including shows in the UK, Thailand, Canada and Holland, and with Drag Race Down Under and Drag Race España coming soon, the drag juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down. RuPaul’s Drag Race is an award-winning global phenomenon that has made superstars of the queens who have appeared on the show since its premiere in 2009.
