Tonight at the second annual MEDEAs, drag entertainer Doug Lucas will receive the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
Now in its second year, the MEDEAs (Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards) take place tonight.
Celebrating the vibrant queer performing culture in Melbourne, with over thirty award categories, it’s set to be an evening of camp glamour.
Last month, it was announced that drag entertainer Doug Lucas would be this year’s recipient of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for their “decades of service to the drag industry.”
Doug Lucas was working for Sydney’s famous Les Girls cabaret in the 70 and established Melbourne’s legendary Pokeys in 1977, which ran until the early 90s.
“I never thought that I would end up doing shows,” Doug told QNews.
“It was just a novelty more than anything else.”
“I always loved old musicals, and I’d get up and do it my way.
“And then I realised that people were getting paid and wanted the weekend off.
“They asked me to perform, and the next thing you know, I got offered a job.
“People just seemed to like what I did, so I just kept doing it.”
Source: Australian QueerArchives
And then there was Pokeys.
Having performed predominantly to straight audiences across Australia, Doug was approached by pioneering gay and lesbian bar owner Jan Hillier.
“Jan approached me, she hadn’t done anything for a while, so I think she was missing it and suggested we do something together.”
“I figured, why not, we could make a cute, quiet night.” Doug laughed.
Doug was also running a gay bar at the Union Hotel in North Carlton.
Pokeys turned from a “cute little night” into a world-class stage show, attracting huge crowds with spectacular drag performances.
“I was at a party and was very rude because I said I had to pop out to do the opening number, but I’ll be back in half an hour.” Doug laughed.
“And over the years, it just kept getting bigger and bigger.”
“Because of those large audiences, we could spend more on the show and at one point had five girls and five dance partners onstage.
“And the shows would range from a Broadway production, a movie show or whatever.”
There wasn’t any drag production show on that level, nor is there today.
What’s in a drag name?
“I’m so glad that I was always Doug Lucas”
“I’m so glad I didn’t do my name like some other queens, because it worked so well in my career.”
“Straight folk wouldn’t be expecting us drag folks on stage and straight guys that have normally been homophobic would say ‘ great show mate'”.
“If my name were Christine or Allura or something like that wouldn’t have wanted photos with me.” Doug laughed.
Doug never had a separate drag identity from who he was.
“It was just like an extension of my character.”
“And I could jump from your sister to your brother and throw it back to the boys.”
‘It’s not like today.” Doug says, “It wasn’t political.”
“We weren’t making statements.
“It wasn’t like patriarchal or society roles or anything like that.
“It was just taking the piss and having a bit of camp fun.”
Source: FacebookTaking to the stage no matter your age.
In the past decade, Doug created an opportunity for older drag performers to get onstage.
Combining old broads in the northside doing their thing with Broadside.
“I haven’t been doing it for a while because I have a few things I need to do before my time’s up,” Doug says
“That’s the community of drag that I grew up in, and I was trying to plan a reunion.”
“The older community don’t have that social calendar that we used to anymore.
“There were balls and picnics, and I thought why not bring some campary to a Sunday afternoon.
“It was a good way for friends to catch up and gave the older girls a chance to have access to a stage.
“Because it’s really sad when you’ve got these skills and you don’t use them.”
Receiving the MEDEAs ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ is a lovely honour for Doug.
“Can I tell you I’m really quite honoured.” Doug shared.
“We never did drag with the ambition of becoming famous or expecting a reward.”
“But it’s really nice to be appreciated and valued.
“I know there are a lot of people out there who have a lot of respect and a lot of time for me.
“So I’m honoured, it’s nice to be remembered.”
We can’t wait to see you take to the MEDEAs stage tonight to be celebrated for all your worth, Doug Lucas.
Thank you for what you’ve given our community on and off the stage for many, many years.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
