Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
A few weeks ago David Raven, aka Maisie Trollette, took to the stage of The Old Ship for a rare Q&A session with the East London audience.
This week, Jason Reid delved further into the life of one of the most revered and charming acts on the cabaret circuit. Here is what he found out about the Grand Dame of drag…
by Jason Reid
- Born in 1933, and with more than 55 years of performance under his belt, David (Maisie) is the longest performing drag artist in the country.
- Before he got into drag, David ran his family hotel and pub in Great Yarmouth, and often performed on the straight circuit with his band, The Cuckoo’s Nest, and in pantomimes.
- David also spent a short time working at a holiday camp alongside names such as Matt Munro and Max Bygraves.
- He won several samba and jive dance competitions in the early days of his performing career.
- David came out as gay in 1961 at the age of 28.
- Upon moving to London, David worked in Selfridges Food Halls – a place with many gay connections – and this led him to The Cricketers Arms in Battersea, where he met soon-to-be drag partner Jimmy Trollette.
- Forty-four years later, David and Jimmy remain close friends, and still, on the rare occasion, perform together.
- David’s breakthrough came when he and Jimmy were spotted performing and were asked to star as dames in a pantomime.
- During the 1990s, he also starred in the first ever pantomime in Dubai, of all places, describing the experience as “crazy.”
- David has always strictly referred to himself as a drag artist rather than a drag queen, explaining “a drag artist is someone who comes from a theatre or performance background, and is someone who you can tell is a man, like Stanley Baxter and Dick Emery, especially in pantomimes. A professional performer.”
- Maisie had her own cookery column in Men in Town magazine during the late 80’s. The Christmas special was called ‘Mincing with Maisie.’
- He loves Celia Imire, however he really doesn’t like Michael Bublé and his unorthodox performance style.
- Of the current batch of drag artists, Maisie talks highly of Myra DuBois even though her wig is ‘a bit severe’ and Topsie Redfern whose range and costumes be admires.
- Often during a song, David will mention his partner of twenty-one years, Don, who sadly passed away in 1997. They met in 1975 and in the early days of their relationship David would go all the way up to Scotland to see him.
- David’s favourite recent performance is when Lady Gaga sang the Sound of Music tribute at The Oscars with Julie Andrews. He’d love to duet with her too.
- He has lived in Brighton for 35 years and he counts himself as ‘very lucky to be known and respected by many there’.
- His favourite food is a nice steak and kidney pudding or a hearty homemade Shepherd’s Pie.
- David’s advice to new and aspiring artists: “Never be afraid of criticism and take notice of people who have been there. Always be willing to learn constantly.”
- John Nathan Turner, a Doctor Who director and panto impresario, advised David heavily throughout his career which aided him greatly.
- David was very good friends with the late, great Danny La Rue. He recalls: “We had a marvellous friendship. Danny was a completely different man away from his stage persona. He was quite besotted with my Don, too.”
- If you meet David be sure to ask about his ‘big nudger’ if he doesn’t mention it first…