If you’ve attended any drag, burlesque or cabaret shows in Scotland, you’ve probably come across Tom Harlow. The multi-award winning boylesque star, singer, drag queen and merman(!) seems to pop up everywhere, performing a multitude of skills for a range of audiences. But the statuesque beauty is best known here in Glasgow for his residency at The Riding Room, where he sings, strips, and looks generally glamorous multiple nights a week.
Just fresh from a stint at the prestigious Berlin Burlesque Week, Tom is again teaming up with Kim Khaos to produce another exciting event here on their home turf, The Glitter and GAG Revue, featuring a variety of drag talent from Glasgow and beyond.
In anticipation of Saturday’s event, I spoke to Tom to find out more about his origins as a performer, the future of Glasgow’s variety scene and what can be expected from his latest production.
So how does one end up a cabaret star with such an array of specialities? Tom says his attraction to glitz and glam has been a part of him since childhood.
“I’ve always wanted to be a performer, ever since I was little. My original dream was to be in Musical Theatre but somehow I managed to slip into this career and 7.5 years later it’s still going.
“I’ve always admired the glamour and the power of the women that performed mainly and the fantasy and escapism mixed with beauty and talent.”
While Tom has an array of international awards under his belt, and regularly performs across the globe, he still calls Glasgow home. With the renowned Edinburgh festival approaching, bringing competition for Glasgow’s performance art scene, Tom explained how the city is faring in comparison to Scotland’s capital, and what can be expected from its future.
“I would say Glasgow has a bigger scene on the whole and has more regular events, more so than Edinburgh does. Glasgow is also my hometown and it’s where I started my performing career so it means a lot to me, and so do the people.
“The scene much like any community or society evolves over time naturally. I would like to see more performers train professionally and learn skills before jumping straight into the stage after one class. Learning is on going for everyone and to keep the scene alive performers should be upping their skill levels yearly and never getting complacent.”
Tom explained what else the crowd can expect from the night. “We have gag worthy moments, fierce femme fatales, comedy qweens and all together an amazing night. Joe Black is a cabaret legend who has performed for Rupaul, Eddie Izzard to name a few and been all over the globe.
“Rococo Chanel is Brighton’s finest queen with a host of celebrity impersonations under her hat and comedy skills unlike nymbers other. Not to mention Scottish drag royalty Alana Duvey, Dharma Geddon and Lacy Rain.”
Guests will also be treated to performances from the shows producers. Tom’s drag alter-ego Harlow will be her usual seductive self, and guests can expect stunning burlesque stylings from Kim Khaos. Tickets can be purchased at £10 in advance here, and will also be available on the door for £15.
As a prolific performer and producer, Tom helped launch and has co-organised a number of GnG Revue shows over the years. I asked what the ultimate GnG Revue would be like if unlimited funds were available and anything was possible.
“I think if we won the lottery, Kim and I would bring a lot of performers from outwith the UK – specifically Europe and the USA! We would hire the biggest theatre possible and have a 3 day weekend burlesque and cabaret bonanza!
“We would definitely have a few Burlesque Kings and Queens and most likely workshops galore too so the weekend would be like a massive burlesque convention in Scotland. That would be our dream, I think, for GnG Revue.”
Find out more about Saturday’s event and other GnG Revue events here.
