Comedy / LGBT
‘Barbara Brownskirt is an act which represents queer and lesbian ideas’
Meet Barbara Brownskirt, the comic creation of award-winning Karen McLeod.
Barbara is an anarchic, cagoule-wearing, queer comedy character, and she’s coming to The Square Club next week to perform her poetry. Karen McLeod explains the character’s world ahead of the Bristol show.
“She’s an, unknowingly rubbish, lesbian poet,” says Karen. “She has written over 23 volumes of poetry and so far all the publishers have rejected her, but she shows no sign of slowing down.”
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As well as poetry, Barbara Brownskirt also loves Judi Dench
Created in the 1990s when Karen was at art college, Barbara combines Karen’s love of dressing up as a character and her writing. Through Barbara, she can “examine lesbian stereotypes and create thought-provoking and silly humour about them.”
This show is based on the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe production WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Barbara Brownskirt., which explored the character’s skewed view of the world and her loneliness and vulnerability as an unsuccessful poet.
The character identifies as LGBT+, and Karen says “Barbara Brownskirt is an act which represents queer and lesbian ideas.”
Karen loves showcasing her act in Bristol, saying “I have performed a few times as Barbara with local performance artist Tom Marshman.
“The atmosphere reminds me of when I was at art college in the 90s in Cardiff. It’s a very creative city with a good heart.”
The show is organised by Indigo Network. The Bristol-based network was started in 2010 and puts on social, networking & cultural events for queer women.
“Barbara will perform anywhere: libraries, cafes, sex shops or at her bus stop. She believes poetry is for the people. But, saying that, the queer audiences are always the most welcoming and fun to perform to.”
Barbara Brownskirt is as happy performing on stage as she is performing at a bus stop
Be welcomed into the poet’s bittersweet world and, in Barbara’s words, “join the poetry revolution!”.
Photos taken by Holly Revell.
Karen McCleod will perform as Barbara Brownskirt on Thursday, March 21 at The Square Club. Find out more at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/indigo-comedy-ft-barbara-brownskirt-tickets-54893081685
Read more: ‘Bristol’s LBT+ scene is better than ever”
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