Filthy Gorgeous may only be a few hours a week on a Tuesday night HOWEVER..... the amount of planning and organising that goes behind it is crazy. The people that do all this are the Haus of Filth.
The real stars of the show (other than yourselves) are the faces you see entertaining you every week. The fabulous queens and DJ. The people you scream for every week before a performance.
So I think it's time... to make some noise.... for the.... HAUS.... OF.... FIIIILLLLTTTHHH
BEX
DJ
When did you start DJing?
I started DJing properly when I was 18. I moved to Manchester and during Freshers, I began teaching myself the principles of DJing in my Uni halls. An opportunity came up for me to DJ on a Tuesday at a venue in the Village. I made my Canal Street debut at KIKI, and I’ve been playing in that building ever since!
What inspires your DJing?
Getting people excited and hyped up is one of my favourite things to do, and I could really achieve that with music. I still love the feeling of hearing people “whoop whoop” to ‘We Found Love’, it never gets old and that feeling is so incomparable.
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
Day one baby! When I first started DJing at KIKI, some of you may remember, but Tuesday nights were called Switch. I was the DJ and Gisele was the host, and we had some iconic guests each week. But David (a manager at the venue) knew that we really needed to ‘Switch’ up the night, and that’s when Filthy Gorgeous was born!
Alice
queen
When did you start drag?
I started experimenting with drag when I was 18, but it was only after I moved to Manchester a few months later that I properly got into the clubkid scene. There was a night called Cha Cha Boudoir that I always wanted to attend. I used to look at the photos they’d post from the night back when I lived in Birmingham and I was in awe of these amazing looks people would turn out as well as the incredible performances. I even managed to perform there one time and from this night, I discovered how much more fun a night out was when I was dressed up and so I started doing it most big nights out.
Your drag inspirations?
Being a resident queen of Filthy has really given me the motivation and opportunity to improve my skills and creativity within makeup and costuming.
I am inspired by the transformative nature of drag; I often love looking alien-esque or incorporating LED lights and UV reactive materials to my looks.
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
From the beginning. During 2016 Pride, one of the managers asked if I could come meet him to have a chat. He told me about rebranding Tuesdays into a student night with different themes and a runway… aka Filthy Gorgeous. Of course I wanted to be part of it! Being a resident queen of Filthy has really given me the motivation and opportunity to improve my skills and creativity within makeup and costuming.
ELSA
QUEEN
When did you start drag?
I think the first time I ever did drag was around 2015 but it was maybe 6 months later that I got a gig doing a cabaret show where I met my “drag mum” and the rest is history.
What inspires your Drag?
So much of the inspiration for my drag comes from the countless incredible queens I’ve worked with over the years. I’m also heavily inspired by TV, Film and Fashion.
What is your favourite theme?
We’ve had some pretty iconic and incredible themes. I LOVE the themes where we get to be stupid, Karen’s, Cartoons, Tory Christmas Party but I’d be absolutely lying if I said my favourite theme was anything other than ABBA!
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
I’ve been there since day dot! I remember being sat on canal street with David before filthy had even begun, we were discussing names for the night and David pitched his (as usual) crazy ideas and I couldn’t have been more on board! Watching everyone’s hard work pay off and seeing the incredible growth over the years is honestly incredible and I couldn’t be prouder of us all.
Sapphire
queen
When did you start drag?
I started doing drag in 2016 but only started working in drag in 2018. My first drag gig was actually with Filthy Gorgeous at one of their Saturday night takeovers of KIKI as a fire performer. The theme was God's and goddesses and I wore a crown that set on fire. Start as you mean to go on!
Your drag inspirations?
My drag inspiration is Amanda Lepore meets Cirque du Soleil.
What is your favourite theme?
We have had some iconic themes in the past, I always love cartoons and the Rio carnival night but you can't top Filthy Airways for me!
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
I was a guest host for Filthy Gorgeous at a few of their bank holiday / pride events but wasn't an official member of the Haus until 2020! Right after winning the most prestigious (and elusive) title of 'Miss Filthy Gorgeous' at the one and only Filthy Gorgeous Pageant in 2019.
Taylor
QUEEN
When did you start drag?
I officially started doing drag in 2020 however I’ve been fluffing around since I was a 12/13 years old! I’ve been a working queen since just before Covid and when I came back from lockdown skinny sparks was no more! Hence my milf era was born!
What inspires your Drag?
My Drag is inspired by the women in my family (every single woman has a fringe!) and Taylor swift. Ms swift is also my name sake with sparks being lifted from my favourite Taylor song ‘Sparks Fly’, I do however, constantly draw inspiration from the queens around me and my friends!
What is your favourite theme?
My favourite themes are anything where I can be a cupcake! Ball gowns, sparkly dresses, pink and fluffy… I’m happy if I’m just throwing up my inner pretty princess all over the room!
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
I joined the Haus of Filth in June of 2021, I left my old job as a door queen for a venue on canal street that shan’t be named! My first theme was ELEGANZA! Big ball gown, thank you! Long live the big fluffy, puffy dress!
Venom
queen
When did you start drag?
I always loved playing around with makeup growing up, but got into drag makeup & putting together looks in 2017. Then I started working professionally in drag in 2019.
Your drag inspirations?
It’s all about the creativity for me. I love coming up with concepts and sketches and bringing them to life. I’ve always made everything myself including wigs, makeup, costumes etc! So having a new theme to work with every week at Filthy definitely is challenging, but is always fun and creatively stimulating.
What is your favourite theme?
I love themes where I get to be silly and come as people like Roger the Alien,
Lil' Poundcake, Dawn the Jockey etc. But my hands down favourite theme we’ve done was Fairytales/Mythical Creatures. We all spent so much time and effort on our looks and the runways were so much fun as well.
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
I joined the Haus at the very beginning of 2020 as Kiki became The Brewers. I’d been a customer for a few years and was always a huge fan of the night and the queens. So it was so devastating having just joined and pretty much going straight into the pandemic lockdown after a couple of weeks. But it’s been amazing to see Filthy grow and evolve after we came back in 2021, which is when I really started to feel part of the Haus of Filth!
Vinyl
QUEEN
When did you start drag?
Doing drag has always been second nature after falling in love with performing on stage during primary school. I started experimenting with my drag persona, originally Cherry Lambrini (choices…I know) around 2019 and then working professionally since 2021.
What inspires your Drag?
Being a drag queen has fuelled all the confidence you now see today. Surrounding myself with such incredible queer talent has inspired and continues to inspire me everyday to be unapologetically myself.
What is your favourite theme?
My favourite themes are always the more high energy choreographed shows (especially when I get a say in the music ) but I also love a silly theme when we get to remind everyone that drag doesn’t always have to be serious and we can have fun with the audience.
When did you join the Haus of Filth?
I joined the Haus of Filth in September of 2022 after rather shockingly being asked after dreaming of securing a guest spot since I started drag. Creating new looks and ideas for each theme has been difficult for me however I can finally say I’m starting to feel more comfortable and enjoy the challenge of pushing myself to be creative.