I definitely felt, after the whole experience, that drag actually brings so many people together. It gave me a sense of sanity, that I was interacting with people that I would see on a weekly basis. 'I guess the virtual shows just kind of felt familiar. They wanted to go out and have their gay moment, and I think we were that little release that made people feel like life was normal even in an abnormal situation. 'I think especially in the gay community, people were missing that escapism. They lost out on a whole way of life, as Davina explains: 'Our job in nightlife is actually very connected to our social life. Many performers and artists in the city didn't just lose out on work when restrictions started. Vogue Williams on growing up in the Irish modelling industry and on hosting Virgin Media’s 'The Big Deal'.

Cecelia Ahern reveals that she initially had Ryan Tubridy written into her new book but took him out at the last minute.Breaking the restrictions and going to each other's houses just wasn't an option.' Read More Related Articles 'We were following the guidelines to a T. If you say something to a live audience that's a bit off-colour, there would be sound effects but to have no reaction was very strange for myself and Victoria. 'You don't know who's there, you're laughing at your own jokes and you're questioning everything. Some nights it's great and some nights it's really crap and that dictates how the show is. 'I thrive off a live audience and the energy in the room. To have to pivot to turn your house into a home studio wasn't ever on the cards. She explains: 'Performing virtually was like nothing I had ever done before, or ever expected I would be doing. Davina started doing Thursday night shows with her pal and fellow Dublin drag queen, Victoria Secret. You're already kind of on your toes figuring out what's going to happen next and then with this thrown in the mix, it's not ideal.'Īlthough it presented its challenges, the pandemic didn't stop Dublin drag from happening and like everything, it went virtual. 'In our line of work, for most people who are performers or in the arts, it's not a stable job. It's been really hard living in the unknown for like 19 months.

I'm ready for some kind of static feeling. 'I've been angry, sad, hopeful, I've literally felt everything. I think I've gone through every emotion I could humanly feel toward the pandemic, towards the government, everything. 'Like pubs, we were the first to close and the last to reopen. I honestly just thought it would be a couple of weeks and that would be it. 'But everything from that moment was down to 100 people in one venue. 'I was sort of like, 'Okay, but are we doing the show tonight and closing tomorrow?' 'I was recording a podcast and as soon as we wrapped, my phone rang and it was the manager of The George explaining that the government had just announced that everything was shutting down. You know one of those days when people say 'Where were you when this happened?' Being the first to close and the last to open, the pandemic presented a whole array of difficulties to the city's creatives, performers and good-time facilitators.Ī perfect example of that is Dublin's drag scene, an ever growing form of entertainment and comfort for the city's LGBTQ+ community and their allies alike.ĭavina Devine, perhaps one of the most well-known drag performers to come from the capital, has been hosting shows, providing laughs and killing lip-sync routines for years.ĭavina tells Dublin Live how it felt when the pandemic first reared its head. Pretty much every single aspect of life was affected in some way with the sudden arrival of the pandemic over a year ago.īut the fact is that some industries, professions and indeed individuals were more affected than others.įor those working in the nightlife industry, this was all too real.

Divine drag queen out of.drag