INTERVIEW: Say hiiii to Brighton’s own drag prince and the UK’s no.1 gay Tinky Winky impersonator, Alfie Ordinary!

Welcome to the Brighton & Hove residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists and boundary breaking performers. I wanted to create a series that goes beyond the glam with our legendary and local queer performers so we can all get to know the real people behind the personas because erm, why not?!

This week, we’re joined by award winning, Brighton based drag prince Alfie Ordinary aka the UK's no.1 gay Tinky Winky impersonator. He's also a DJ, producer and Porn Idol judge at Heaven in London. If this is the first interview of the series that you've stumbled across don't worry, you can catch up with more juicy convos and Q&As HERE and next week we'll be joined by one of the UK's top stand up drag queen comedians Davina Sparkle.✨

For our readers that don't know you yet, can you introduce yourself oh and what pronouns do you prefer in and out of drag?

Hello! I’m Alfie and, before you ask, I have no idea what it’s all about and people keep asking me! I’m the local fruit in the Clair Balding wig, usually found facilitating sort of party, whether there’s an occasion or not. He/him in and out of drag, thanks for asking.

What got you into drag and how long have you been doing it?

I’ve been in drag for just over ten years now. In my early 20s I discovered cabaret, burlesque and drag and fell in love. Ginger Johnson took me to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to see David Hoyle and it was a life changing experience. I fell in love with the way David held the room, his was of expressing his views and putting the world to rights. I moved to Brighton as soon as I could because I knew it was the place to be if I wanted to get stuck into drag. I spent as much time as I could bouncing between the Queens Arms, Legends, Bar Broadway and anywhere with a drag show on, watching the masters at work.

I watched the likes of Dave Lynn and Miss Jason and chance I could, and was in love with what they did. We’re so lucky to have had some of the best drag acts in the UK in this town and, as a newer act, I learnt so much from just enjoying their shows. 

How’d you come up with your drag name?

Well I wanted something out of the ordinary, so when Alfie Ordinary was suggested to me, it felt right. I firmly believe that your drag name finds you, in a “the universe is guiding you” sort of way. 

Some folks feel weird or nervous around drag, what would you say to help them see it differently?

Gosh what a question! I have always found drag so welcoming, but I can imagine being intimidated by it if you haven’t experienced a good drag show before. If I’m travelling, wherever I go I try and find a local drag show to go and watch. Even when I’m on my own, it’s a place that you can go, because it feels much less weird to be on your own in a bar watching a drag show. If the queen is good, she’ll work the room and within a few minutes you’ll feel like you’re part of a community.

I’ve always related drag to church with the way it brings people together, except we drink skittle bombs not communion wine and worship deities like Shirley Bassey and Tina Turner. 

I’m saying this of course from a place of privilege, as I know that historically, drag has had a reputation for being less welcoming to women, with lesbians being the butt of many jokes, and dodgy humour from the 70s.

What I have seen during my time on the Brighton scene is a lot of learning and a lot of change, in a really positive way. Venues and acts are working hard to make sure that everybody is treated with respect and are guaranteeing that drag is always the best night out you can have in this town. 

Brighton’s drag scene is iconic, what do you think gives it that extra sparkle compared to other places you’ve been?

Brighton itself is iconic. The history, the residents, the tourists, the pier, the laines, pride, the bird whistle man and of course the drag scene. Where else can you find a drag show every single night of the week for free?

Brighton and drag go hand in hand, and you can spot a Brighton drag queen from a mile off. Maybe it’s that cheeky, end of the pier, wink wink, nudge nudge twinkle in the eye that a good Brighton queen has that does it. 

In all seriousness, Brighton venues not only look after but cherish the older queens on the scene. The ones that have been doing drag for decades who really know what they’re doing, the masters of their craft. Some scenes focus a lot on the new, the up and coming and what’s trendy right now, but Brighton excels at the traditional, the cabaret, the patter, and everything that makes a great drag show. And the younger acts see that and learn from it, with the guidance of the older queens, and the scene and art form continues to grow and thrive. 

Would you say drag in Brighton leans more toward activism, entertainment, or a delicious blend of both?

It’s a delicious blend of both. I think all drag is political because it is presenting an alternative reality to the state we live in now. A lot of drag pokes fun at current affairs, politics, and culture, some drag dismantles it and some drag goes at it head on.

There are certain queens in our community that use their platform to make change, whether that’s Panti Bliss’ Noble Call speech or a fundraiser on World AIDS Day. We’re a community and we’re a community that knows how to pull together in the face of adversity. 

What motivated you to portray Tinky Winky through a queer lens?

People ask me why I do Tinky Winky's as a drag character, and it’s more than just dressing up as my favourite member of the Teletubbies. I remember the outrage about Tinky Winky’s handbag as a child and the hysteria over a purple alien wearing a skirt especially the article in the National Liberty Journal published by evangelical pastor Jerry Falwell in February 1999...."He is purple-the gay pride colour; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle-the gay pride symbol… As a Christian I feel that role modelling the gay lifestyle is damaging to the moral lives of children."

The homophobia was blatant and the message “not around the children” taught me that queerness was dirty, dangerous, shameful and should be hidden from public view.

For a time, Tinky Winky was the face of “The Gay Agenda”, a phrase that is still used today. 20 years later I can still feel the damaging effects of this type of homophobia and it fills me with sadness and rage. My Tinky Winky holds a handbag with pride along with matching heels, nails and lipstick. I wanted to take this homophobic outrage and make a Tinky Winky that was truly outrageous.

My version of Tinky Winky is loud, proud and holding two manicured fingers up to the patriarchy, living their best and queerest life.

Do you have any favourite venues or events in Brighton that feel like your spiritual home on stage? Oh and which Brighton queens do you really vibe with or look up to?

I’m very fond of the Queens Arms. It feels so authentically Brighton drag in the way that it’s unapologetically camp, and always ready for a good time. You can see stand up comedy, vocalists, game shows or an absolutely bat shit show that leaves you wondering where you are and how you got there all on the same night. It has the ability to feel like you’re in a show bar and someone’s cosy living room at the same time. The lineup is ever changing, so no two nights out there are ever the same, but it’s a guaranteed good time if you’re down to clown. 

I’ve also been working with Brighton Open Air Theatre on a show called Drag In The Park which has just been renewed for another season!

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We take over the gorgeous amphitheatre and bring the best drag talent from Brighton and beyond! It’s funny, but because the show is outside, there’s no smoke and mirrors, no spotlight, and drag queens are on literal astroturf in their heels. Somehow the stripped back nature of the venue brings out the best show in everyone that’s played there. The audience is eager, attentive, loud and ready for a show and the acts we have feel that from the moment they walk out onto the greenery. It’s the most fun you can have on a picnic blanket in town!

And despite it only existing for one month each year, Brighton Spiegeltent is definitely a spiritual home for me. I started off with my solo show Help! I Think I Might Be Fabulous in their Bosco Theatre and have since hosted Brighton’s Big Drag Pageant, Now That’s What I Call Bingo and my annual celebration of high camp, low brow entertainment Alfie Ordinary’s House of Fun on their opening night. And the team are incredible.

Whether you’re a performer, front of house, technician or even the people in charge of the entire operation, it’s a real family affair, and a shining example of Brighton at its best. It’s the highlight of my year and I can’t wait for its highly anticipated return.

Got any tips for someone just starting out in drag?

Watch and learn, then try and try again. Be bold, be brave and be you. 

Who inspires your fashion and performance style?

I’ve always drawn a comparison between drag queens and clowns and love existing on the fine line between the two. If anything, it’s very important to me that my outfit says please don’t take any of this seriously. 

Who's your crush of the day?

The Brighton bird whistle man.

Where can our readers catch your next performance and what can they expect from an Alfie Ordinary show?

I post on my Facebook and Instagram stories where I’ll be each week, so a follow or friend request will keep us connected. I’m also currently in talks for a very exciting but top secret, delicious project. I can’t reveal any more than that at this time but if it happens, you’ll be the first to know.