Meet the Creatives Behind the Characters of Tokyo Closet Ball

Once a month, Tokyo's drag appreciators would descend upon GyoenROSSO198 to drink, be merry, and enjoy the most fabulous drag show in town: Tokyo Closet Ball. But with COVID-19 lurking the streets, the show has gone online in an effort to bring quality drag performance to its fanbase.

The artists providing the entertainment make it look effortless, but is it really as easy as it looks? What goes into creating a great drag performance? What inspires someone to get into drag? And what happens when you try a dramatic drop on an extremely confined stage? We find out the answer to all this and more as we interview some Closet Ball favourites.

Stefani St. Sl*t is a twisted fairytale. She’s the manifestation of childish fantasies, yet she can also spread doom and gloom with her eerie demonic persona. We asked her a few questions about her thought process and involvement with Tokyo Closet Ball. You can find out more about her on Instagram: phuc_slay.

What inspired you to get involved in Tokyo Closet Ball?

I first met Die Schwarze Frau at a Rupaul’s Drag Race Screening Party right after I moved to Tokyo. One thing led to another, she became my drag mother, and got me involved in Tokyo Closet Ball.

What inspired you to get into drag?

I have several hobbies including drawing, doing makeup, paper crafting, and sewing. Drag is a platform where I can fuse all my hobbies into one persona. Drawing and makeup are for creating a new face, sewing is for constructing outfits, and crafting is for producing stage props.

What is your routine on the day of a Tokyo Closet Ball show?

I always clear my schedule on a show day. Typically I start preparing for the show at least 6 hours beforehand. I wet my hair to curl using hair rollers, then I leave it for the whole day. After finishing putting all the rollers in place, I start doing my makeup, which takes about 3 hours. If I still have time, I carry on with my errands and keep retouching the makeup to keep it perfect until the show.

What makes Tokyo Closet Ball special?

Tokyo Closet Ball is a diverse platform for international performers regardless of nationality, background, or identity. The community is loving and supportive. The organisation of events is precise and professional. There is little to no conflict or frustration among the members. Even when there is, our organiser Tatianna handles it swiftly to ensure peace and comfort for all of us.

What has been most memorable Tokyo Closet Ball moment?

It was my drag debut. My first drag performance ever was with Tokyo Closet Ball. It was on a crammed stage with extremely limited space. When I did a dramatic drop to the floor, I accidentally dislocated a wooden panel on the stage. It almost fell on my face. Fortunately, Tatianna dashed out from backstage to stop it from falling. Without her, my face could have been smashed.

Thank you for this insight into your creative process and experience with Tokyo Closet Ball! Stefani St. Sl*t will be taking to the stage on Saturday at the first ever Tokyo Closet Ball livestream on Youtube!

Matthew Black has been volunteering at Tokyo Closet Ball for over a year. Pangolin Piano caught up with him to find out more about how he got involved and the process he undertakes before each show.

Hi Matthew! Tell us what inspired you to get involved in Tokyo Closet Ball

I have friends who are part of it and, before coming to Tokyo, I had been involved in stage shows. It was meant to be.

What inspired you to get into drag?

It's fun, I had watched Rocky horror picture show and it was amazing. Watched "To Wong Foo..." And Priscilla, and The Birdcage. They were part of my upbringing and culture. It's a wonderful form of performance.

How do you decide what to perform?

First, I like to do my own singing when able. Second, something with emotion and struggle of some sort.

How did you develop your character(s)?

Anxiety. And just letting all the feels out.

How did you get into drag?

I was doing theater. Naturally it led to awareness of drag and other forms of performing.

What is your routine on the day of a Tokyo Closet Ball show?

Wake up early. Spend time reviewing my outfit that I've already spent hours and hours going over. Have my song playing on repeat, which has been the case for the last two weeks. Eat medium sized meal with moderate hydration before shower. Arrive half an hour before call time. And then I'm in the zone till I leave the space.

What makes Tokyo Closet Ball special?

It's a family. Lots of care. Time. Support. Praise. Each of them knows the struggle. The feeling.

How did you feel the first time you performed drag?

The same as any time I did theater. I spent hours in the mindset. Practicing. And lots of anxiety and I let myself feel it. Use it. Channel it through the audience.

Thank you Matthew, for allowing us an insight into your creative process! We are looking forward to seeing you onstage in the near future!

Alexander Page has been performing in Tokyo Closet Ball since 2016, and he owns the very website you are reading this on! You can watch his Youtube videos or find out about the projects he is working on now!

What inspired you to take part in Tokyo Closet Ball?

I've loved performing ever since I was a child, but I've always needed a tonne of encouragement (and occasionally someone to shout 'look, Alex, stop moaning and just get on that stage NOW!') to do it! So when Tatianna first asked me to take part in Closet Ball, I sort of... looked for excuses not to! And basically, not enough came up. I said "I don't really do drag." Tatianna said, "Shut UP, drag isn't just CIS males lip-syncing while dressed as a women, it can be so much more than that." And that simple sentence really changed my perspective on the art form!

So I wrote a handful of funny songs, dragged my piano to Gamuso (our old venue back in the day), and debuted as Alex Ryder with Loving on the Yamanote Line. But yeah, if Tatianna hadn't badgered me for about six months ("There's a Closet Ball coming up, you could be in it, you know..."), I would never have done it! Tatianna has also really encouraged me to develop the look and style of my drag characters, too. She never gives up if she thinks something can be better.

Tell us about your drag character(s)

I started with Alex Ryder, who'd reached the age of 17 and then stopped aging, like a sort of Emo/punk rocker Peter Pan. I had dark eye make-up on that I would smudge to make it look like he was always crying because he was permanently getting dumped by various men. His lines had to be very scripted because the humour was in how serious he took himself (despite being utterly ridiculous) It was great for writing funny songs, not so great for audience banter. So I also created Indigo Soho, who is much more easy-going and happy to be onstage boasting about his disgraceful antics.

How do you prepare for a Closet Ball performance?

I have to start by writing the wretched songs, which takes an AGE, FFS why couldn't I have chosen something that DOESN'T involve hammering words AND music together WHILE ALSO making sure it's funny AND simple enough to play WHILE singing AND acting *goes off muttering angrily about 'parallel fifths' and 'suspensions and resolutions'*.

Then comes the rehearsing. My piano teacher always says, "When you make a mistake, go back and practise it until you can do it five times in a row without making a mistake." Time-consuming but worth it. I'd say it takes at least ten hours of rehearsal before I'm confident enough to do a three-minute song. Then I have to do it about six or seven times in front of an audience before I'm totally comfortable with it. Like drag in general, it looks easy when done right, but it actually takes a lot of work!

On the day of a performance, I rehearse two or three times at home, get to the venue for tech, sort out the keyboard, and warm up. I try to chat to other performers, but I'm usually too busy stressing over the lyrics in my head and they're busy doing make-up! If I get a lyric wrong onstage, the whole song can come crashing down, so I can't emphasize just how important the 'stressing about lyrics' part of the routine is. It's, like, essential.

What's the most challenging aspect of the performance?

Sitting through everyone else's performances. I DON'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!! Don't get all offended!! COME BACK!! I just mean I suffer from terrible nerves and I can't relax until I've done my bit. Like, AT ALL. It's sheer terror. If someone drops a glass, I scream "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!", rip off my clothes, and sprint out the door never to be seen again. Closet Ball is one of the scariest things I've ever done because there's only me up there. I even write the bloody songs (wretched, BLOODY songs!! *more angry muttering*), so I can't blame anyone else if nobody laughs!

Why is Tokyo Closet Ball special?

It's the most accepting place I've ever performed. When I started, I thought everyone would judge me because I wasn't doing "conventional" drag. But actually, there were other live singers with instruments. There were burlesque dancers. Hobbyists who had just started like me, and of course legends who had been doing it for ages like Die Scharz Frau and Belgium Solanas. I never felt like anyone was judging me. I'm not sure how many other drag events have that kind of freedom these days, what with Ru Paul taking over the television. You can do anything at Closet Ball - I've seen people doing really experimental stuff that doesn't really fit into any performance category. Experimentation is encouraged.

Also, Tatianna pays her performers! It's the only regular gig I've ever had where that's been the case. We do it for the love of performing, of course, but it means a lot to be able to think "Wow! I'm good enough at this to get paid! Are you sure?! Has there been some mistake? I can... I can actually keep this?!" *stashes money in underwear and sprints out, just in case Tatianna changes her mind* So that's nice!

Alex will be performing in the guise of Indigo Soho - socially distanced all the way in England - at the first ever Tokyo Closet Ball live streaming event on Youtube!