Feminem and John McAllister.
Camera IconFeminem and John McAllister. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Feminem and Divas All Male Revue at new Comedy Lounge Perth City

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

IT has been a long time in the pipeline but John McAllister has finally made his dream a reality with the opening of Perth’s first purpose-built live comedy venue, Comedy Lounge Perth City, upstairs at 413 Murray Street.

The $3 million venue is open Thursdays to Saturdays from 5pm with a line-up of local, national and international comedy acts, including Peter Rowsthorn making a return to the club circuit with several shows scheduled before Christmas.

Friday nights from 10.30pm will belong to Divas All Male Revue hosted by drag performer Feminem, aka Dean Misdale, who had a moment in the Subiaco Oval spotlight alongside Adele earlier this year.

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“Because of that, I was just in Hong Kong last month performing as Adele,” Misdale said.

“It’s a pinch yourself moment and still doesn’t feel real. Every now and then I’ll see a picture or I’ll watch the video and think ‘Was that really me? Did that really happen?’. It was all such a blur.”

McAllister approached Misdale after his Divas All Male Revue performance at Fringe World and invited him on board the Comedy Lounge train.

“I’ve been performing all over the country for the past couple of years, touring my solo cabaret show,” he said.

“Here in Perth I’m a resident performer at The Court and Connections. I worked at Devilles Pad for a long time and at Luxe Bar for many years.”

Misdale grew up in Sydney and moved to Perth 10 years ago when he “was young and wanted to live somewhere else for a little while”.

He had already begun his drag career, which started during his DJ days when someone suggested he DJ in drag.

“I started DJing in drag as a bit of a gimmick,” he said.

“I grew up singing and doing music theatre, so once I started performing in drag it took on a whole life of its own.

“I love a good diva ballad. I love the old school drag where everything is over the top and fabulous and being at the Comedy Lounge, we’re going to be doing a lot of comedy too which drag lends itself perfectly.”

Divas All Male Revue will rotate shows every four weeks, beginning with a Priscilla Queen of the Desert-inspired performance.

“In amongst the big songs from the film we’ll slot in comedy numbers,” Misdale said.

“It’ll be a bit of a mixed bag but in the long run you’ll see everything from disco to celebrity impersonations to comedy and burlesque. It’ll be glamorous and fabulous.

“I think Comedy Lounge is going to be incredible and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”

Visit www.comedylounge.com.au for more.