Adam All

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Adam All
Born
Jen Powell
OccupationDrag king, performer, host
Spouse(s)Eleanor Burke
Websitewww.adamall.co.uk

Adam All (born Jen Powell) is a British drag king, performer and host.

Early life and background[]

Powell was born and grew up in Winchester, and performs as a Drag King under the name Adam All.[1] Growing up, Powell was often mistaken for a boy and cites this as one of their earliest inspirations to dress in male clothing. Powell also cites novel Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters, which was adapted into a BBC Dramatization in 2000, as a key inspiration. Powell explains in their TEDX Talk that Drag has been integral to them exploring and finding their own gender identity. Powell identifies as Nonbinary.[2]

Powell studied contemporary arts at Manchester Metropolitan University and has an extensive background in music, taking lessons on seven instruments, eventually focussing on the saxophone and the ukulele. Singing is Powell and Adams primary form of musical expression, particularly 80s power ballads and stadium rock. Comedy is also integral to their art.[3]

Career[]

Powell began their drag career in 2008 in Southampton in England with their first show at local gay bar 'The London Hotel'. Adam All continued to perform across the UK Drag Circuit, where there were few Drag Kings. In 2009 Adam All was the first Drag King to get to the final of National Drag Competition 'Drag Idol'.[4] Adam All continued to work as a Drag King and in 2013 set up Drag King Cabaret night BOiBOX at legendary lesbian bar 'The Candy Bar' in Soho, London with his partner Apple Derrieres to provide a platform for other Drag Kings.[5] Adam All also co-hosts Europe's biggest Drag King Contest 'Man Up'.[6]

Adam All has been described as a pioneer for the modern UK Drag King Scene[7] by 'rewriting the rules of masculinity' and challenging gender stereotypes [8] and perspectives,[9]'redefining Drag'.[10] In 2019 Adam All won the award for Best Drag King at the QX Awards.[11]

Personal life[]

Powell identifies as nonbinary and is married to actor Eleanor Burke who performs alongside them as Drag Queen Apple Derrieres.[12]

References[]

[13]

  1. ^ LeCourt, Nina (March 28, 2019). "Drag King Adam All:'It's the air that I breathe'". Pink News. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Adam All: Using Drag to deconstruct, express and reclaim my gender identity". TED. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  3. ^ "Adam All Website". Adam All. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  4. ^ "All Hail The Drag Idols". QX Magazine. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  5. ^ "Meet the founders of Boi Box, London's vital drag king talent showcase". TimeOut. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  6. ^ "Man Up 2019: Meet this year's drag king competition finalists". Evening Standard. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  7. ^ Muyobo (2020-08-27). "Adam All is eradicating the gender boundaries of drag one pink suit at a time". Gay Times. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  8. ^ "New boys in town: the drag kings rewriting the rules of masculinity". Thomson Reuters Foundation News. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  9. ^ Franklin (2017-04-19). "meet 5 drag kings challenging gender expectations". ID Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  10. ^ Watson (2017-06-17). "We meet the queens and kings redefining drag". Wonderland Magazine.
  11. ^ "The QX Cabaret Award Winners 2019". QX Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  12. ^ "nonbinary awareness week". Pink News. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  13. ^ O'Brien (2018-06-22). "Meet the men who outdo the drag ladies in style and sex appeal". DGO Mag. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
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