Breaking the Fourth Wall: Engaging Audiences in Drag King Performances

One of the decisions that every performer needs to make is whether or not to acknowledge the audience. Do I stay in the fantasy world of my creation and let the audience be absorbed in that illusion? Or do I break the fourth wall?

What is this fourth wall you speak of kind sir?

The fourth wall is a term used in theatre to describe the imaginary barrier that exists between actors on stage and the audience. In most traditional performances, the fourth wall remains intact. Actors don’t acknowledge the audience - until the final curtain call. Similarly, actors don’t ‘break character’ but remain committed to the role they are playing.

And how does one break this wall?

Actors break the fourth wall when they directly address the audience, acknowledge their presence, or step outside the normal bounds of the story or character they are portraying.

Breaking this wall can create moments of humour, intimacy or surprise, often inviting the audience into the performance in a more active way.

A delightful example of this is in Gentleman Jack, when the famous 1830s lesbian diarist Anne Lister played by Suranne Jones, looks into the camera and raises her eyebrows or says something directly to the viewer.

Do I have to be an actor to be a Drag King?

No. In fact, some trained actors may find their training can get in the way of connecting with their Drag King persona. Being so used to ‘playing a character’ or putting on a mask, it can be confronting - and exhilarating - to dig deep into parts of one’s gender, sexuality and being in new ways.

What’s the difference between a persona and a character?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings, especially in performance and identity exploration.

Character

A character is a specific role created for storytelling, with distinct traits, motivations and backstory. It’s more defined and consistent within the context of a narrative, such as in a play, movie or performance. A character usually has a clear personality, goals and behaviours that serve the story.

A character is a fictional role with a predetermined set of attributes and goals tied to a story or performance.

Persona

A persona is a version of oneself that one chooses to show the world. Drag Kings adopt a persona that expresses a particular aspect of masculinity (or other genders), blending their personal identity with their creative expression. Personas are flexible and can evolve over time.

A persona is an identity someone chooses to embody in a performance context, often reflecting a larger-than-life version of themselves.

Why I coach Drag Kings to invent a persona

At Kings of Joy, I coach Kings to create a persona - a larger-than-life version of themselves to express on the stage. I steer clear of character work so that people stay in their own lane culturally and avoid cultural appropriation.

I’ve found that putting on a character takes someone further away from their authentic self. The transformational journey of Kings of Joy is designed to empower LBTQIA+ people to break free from constraints around gender, sexuality and self-expression so that we can be fully at home in our skin.

Being a persona allows Drag Kings to express a version of their authentic selves. Performance is the vehicle for self-expression, not the goal. Seeing someone on stage, who may not be a professional, but who is a human being just like you is intriguing.

Watching a Drag King permit themselves to become unleashed in front of you leaves you feeling connected to them. And a little in awe. Some of that permission spills over to you - do you mean I might be allowed to be that fully self-expressed too?

And this is the impact we can have on our audience. So consider the fourth wall for your next performance. Decide whether to keep it and take your audience on a fantastical journey. Or whether to break it and invite the audience into an intimate and connected experience with you.

Enjoy!

Xx Danica Lani

The King Coach

P.S. Wanna be a Drag King? Click here to join the Kings of Joy community

Hello handsome, 🌈 I'm Danica Lani, also known as The King Coach. I'm here to empower you in your exploration of gender, sexuality, and performance. I have proudly mentored and choreographed 117 first-time Drag Kings since December 2020. Welcome to the joyous community of Kings of Joy, where we uplift and celebrate each other every step of the way! 🎉🤩 Let's embark on this Drag King journey together! 🤗💖 #KingsOfJoy

Photo credit: 📸 Sarah Malone