We are living in a strange and unsettling time, especially for those in the arts. I’m usually at the theatre watching a show or two every week, but now I’ve switched to watching recorded versions on Youtube from my living room to get my fix. Drag performers across the world have had to adapt to working in their living rooms in a variety of ways from one-person shows, to virtual drag con’s, to even the finale of the latest series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race being performed from the homes of the drag queen involved. In this unique time one of the contestants from the first series of Drag Race UK, Scaredy Kat, has teamed up with their partner and fellow drag performer Pussy Cat to create a unique online show, the Bare and Klare show, which combines sketches, animation and…well you really need to watch to see for yourself! That sounds like a cliche but this really is a comedy show that needs to be seen to be understood, the joy and humour in its complete randomness really makes this show its own. After watching the first couple of shows on Youtube I spoke with Alex (aka Scaredy Kat) to find out more about how this show was created
Scaredy Cat, you’ve lived the unique experience of having one of your first ever drag performances be on a national stage when you were a contestant on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. After drag race, did you have enough time to get your head around the experience as a whole or has it been tour buses and adoring fans ever since?
Since the show, I haven’t had a minute to breathe. But aside from my asthma, it’s been mainly red carpet stuff, hotels, buses, fans, signatures, pugs, you know. I’m pregnant too, no idea how that happened – but it did. I’m joking. Most of the time we stay at home, make stuff, and prepare for mega fame. It will never be enough until Remi and I are the new Yoko and John. Bagsy Yoko.
Do you think starting off as a bedroom drag queen has given you an edge in the current climate where we see drag, on the whole, is currently being moved towards a more at home, DIY approach?
I think that, as technology advances, so much more can be done at home that could never be before – amateur movies, animations, songs, music videos. I think the same applies to drag, especially with the younger generation. Experience is great and you definitely need it but not everyone can get that at the beginning, especially if you’re from the middle of nowhere like me, so you learn new skills instead like how to do makeup and professionally edit and film at home. I know someone that made the new Star Wars film in their attic. Mental.
Did you find your experiences on the show helped you to develop your comedy and performance style as we see here in your new show?
For the five minutes I was there, I learnt many lessons – mainly that not every Premier Inn room comes with Lenny Henry. Who’d have known. Yes, we stayed at a Premier Inn – always helps me to keep perspective. As for my comedy style, drag race didn’t help me out too much – I spent half the time trying to deal with my anxiety and the other half thinking of how to slyly sabotage the other contestants (mental mind games turned out to be the most effective – I got close to putting laxatives in Blu’s drink once but it was bad timing so it never happened. But yeah, I stole my comedy style from a guy called Gabe that I know.
What made you decide to want to make a sketch show of all the formats to choose?
Well, honestly, it wasn’t me. It was god. I was standing on top of a very big hill, looking into some water and then I just heard this loud voice echo down from the sky, and it said “Alex. You have forgotten me. You have forgotten who you are and so forgotten me. Look inside yourself Alex. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life. Remember who you are.” And that’s when I knew what I had to do.
You two have obviously been supporting and working together for a number of years, what do you think makes your partnership so successful?
We are very similar and really bond over things that mean a lot to us such as animals, humour, hating everyone that isn’t us, art and creativity. We’ve been through very similar experiences and also make art together so we know how to communicate really well. You have to in order to execute ideas in the best way possible. We also had a furry child together, his name is Coco and he’s 12 years old & the light of my life. I’m not sure we would’ve made it this far without him, to be honest.
Is the show fully scripted or are there some improvisational elements?
For each episode, we have a rough plan of what we want to do and then we add, change, or make stuff up on the day of filming. Rouille (the immortal plaster creature) does his own bits mainly improvised; ‘candid acting’ he calls it. We tried to script it before but struggled as we both lost our memories in a fire.
What is the writing and collaboration process like for the show and how do you come up with your unique ideas?
Writing is always fun as we do it together and it’s fairly easy for this show as nothing gets too intensely scripted. As for ideas, some we’ve had for a long time but there has never been a good time to execute them until. Others just literally hit you in the face. Like, physically. That’s what happened with captain quack (the plastic duck) – he was actually thrown at us from a hot air balloon.
What inspired you to blend animation into the live-action comedy?
It was probably in my head from the kids shows I used to watch. We wanted to make naughty Art Attack. Like if Neil Buchanan (Art Attack host) was always in a state of drug-induced panic. Also, it’s a nice break away from the crippling shit-show that is life.
You’re both known for your offbeat style of comedy, who are your main sources of inspiration?
There are many people who have inspired us and broadened our minds to what comedy could be such as Amy Poeler, Sacha Baron Cohen, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Lilley, Bo Burnham, Tim Minchin and Aubrey Plaza. We have also cultivated a strange humour derived from having no friends and finding only each other and the cat funny – so we’re grateful that other people are also laughing.
Did you find it important to bring representation to people with more non-traditional queer relationships such as yours?
That’s interesting. Over representation, I think it’s more important for people to try not to care too much about things like that. I’m too obsessed with thinking about dying animals, and climate change, and how much I want a ferret. If we could do anything, both now and in the future, it would be cool if we made people care less about sexuality and gender.. and more about ferrets.
A strange question, but why bears?
Bears are the sexiest animals we could think of. They are also adorable and the staple figure in any good kids T.V. show. Like Winnie but without the annoying friends and honey addiction. They also are probably the animal to most likely take on the human world in 50000 years. I heard that on National Geographic. I know it’s crazy, let it sink in.
You’re currently making the show from home as we’re all currently on a nationwide lockdown, what are some of the most entertaining things you’ve watched during quarantine?
The most entertaining thing I’ve seen in the past couple of weeks was probably Klare coming to terms with the fact that Carl from The Walking Dead died. She was broken for days. But, a member of the team has to go every 5 or so episodes. I’ve told her this. Apart from that, we watch videos of animatronics being submerged in water, and also footage of culture rapidly coming to an end (TikTok.)
Catch the Bare and Klare Show over on the Scaredy Kat Youtube channel with new episodes every Saturday.
Special thanks to Kaycia Ainsworth for her journalistic help with this interview.
Whitney says
Such an interesting read I loved this!
Sheena says
Great interview! Will add the show to my watch list 🙂 XX
Rachel Calter says
Great interview, definitely a show for me to check out.