Hugo Grrrl is one busy creative.

A trailblazing drag king, comedian, and cabaret producer known for his cheeky, politically charged late-night theatre - and the being first drag king to feature in and win a televised reality competition with House of Drag. 

His accolades include headlining the Austin International Drag Festival 2019, multiple Wellington Comedy Awards, and recognition at the Wellington Theatre Awards for his solo show Princess Boy Wonder and the children’s drag musical The Glitter Garden. 

Just this month alone, he's all over Auckland stages with The Auckland Pun Battle Championships (as creator and host)on 13 December at Q Theatre and Naughty! The Christmas Drag Extravaganza  from 17-21 December at Basement Theatre.

Hugo Grrrl has beat his own path - and has this advice to his younger self and anyone else wanting to make their own mark.

Be weird

For young oddballs like myself, it can often feel like being different is a curse. 

But the world needs you to be who you are. 

Society literally needs diversity to function. And it’s absolutely required for good art. Drag in particular is such a cult of personality. It’s so often the unique, passionate little freaks who become fan favourites. 

As our lord and saviour Dolly Parton says - ‘find out who you are and do it on purpose’.

Be bad at it

Prepare to suck at it the first time. And the second time. And the sixteenth time. 

You have to be bad to get good. And in performing arts, you’ll have to be bad in front of a live audience too. 

Growth is humiliating. Embrace failure. Embrace discomfort. And protect every crap open mic and newbie night! Without shit shows, there’d never be good shows.

Find your people

Art is hard, drag is harder - find people who make it worthwhile. 

Find the people you’ll happily spend a thirteen hour work day with, cry in front of, share skills with, share a stage with. Find people you can constructively argue with. Find people whose opinion you trust. Find people who’ll tell you when you’re being a dick. 

And definitely find who your art is for - the people obsessed with it, who it affirms and empowers. The weirdo nerds who buy tickets to every gig every time are your employers! Learn their names, reserve them seats, make them art they’ll froth over.