#20 - Karen From Finance (AKA Richard Chadwick)

Geraldine Quinn

Richard Chadwick has only been performing as Karen From Finance in the drag/cabaret/burlesque scenes for three and a half years and already he's made sparkling waves across the globe. From his viral mash up of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's misogyny speech at Midsumma Festival to a very public stoush with Foxtel over the need to fast-track RuPaul's Drag Race to Australia, none of Karen's controversies should detract from the fact the Richard is one of the best and most tireless performance makers in Melbourne, nay, Australia. We talk about the post-US-election funk, faux queens (aka bio queens), the heady rise (and problems) in the local drag and burlesque scenes, RuPaul's Drag Race and that fight with Foxtel, Dolly Parton's wigs, Dandenong, Facebook algorithms, Richard's fabulous poodle (not a euphemism) and plaster animals. And make sure you stick around until after the closing 'Fang It (To Tony's Place)' credits for an extra surprise revelation...