2020
KAREN
FISCH
about
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ACTIVIST, ARCHIVIST, ARTIST, ICON are just a few words to describe Karen Fisch.
You can also add
SINGER, MEDIOCRE GUITARIST, COMPERE, PRODUCER and COMEDIAN.
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From being in the kick -arse Award Winning documentary Rebel Dykes to hosting South London’s first dedicated drag king night Kings of Clubs as King Frankie Sinatra this is one fun loving dyke. Kings of Clubs just celebrated their sixth birthday at London’s legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Over 170 Kings from established acts to open mic beginners have graced the stage with lots more to come in 2024. See below for dates.
King Frankie Sinatra has been a judge at Pride’s got Talent, London , Man Up (Europe’s largest DK competition) and recently took the first ever Drag King Special to Five Star Hotel, The Ned.
She has appeared in Ripley’s Like a Sturgeon show, hosted a Winter Legends Party at the BFI Southbank and produced and hosted the King’s Coronation Party at Bishopsgate Institute in May 2023.
She ran a sold out six week College for Kings at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for up and coming performers in May 2023 and plans to run another in 2024.
In May 2023 she started performing with pianist Al Dente. Like his name, Al is not too soft, not too hard, still a good mouthful. He’s been playing piano since he could twirl spaghetti round a fork. As a teenager outside Providence, Al began serenading guests of the local Italian-American restaurants. When he came of age, his repertoire broadened to include cocktail bars and jazz combos up and down Rhode Island’s coast. He recently entered the drag world when King Frankie Sinatra noticed his exquisite fingering.
The Frankie ’N’ Al show will be premiering around Christmas 2023. Keep your eyes open for news on Insta.
This King started performing as Georgie Micheal in the 90’s and King Frankie Sinatra was born in 2015 at a Bar Wotever open mic slot.
karen regularly hosts
kings of clubs
at
the royal vauxhall tavern
Karen Fisch hosts Kings of Clubs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Karen Fisch hosts Kings of Clubs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Karen Fisch hosts Kings of Clubs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Karen Fisch hosts Kings of Clubs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Upcoming dates ~
Nov 15th
Jan 31st
Mar 27th
May 27th
Sept 25th
Nov 20th
DIVA MAG REVIEW
"Frankie Sinatra’s drag king night Kings of Clubs has become a well-established must-attend cabaret night on the scene. Borne from inspiration at the emergence of drag king talent, Frankie has created a welcome, inclusive event that showcases the best of the acts from around the world, old and new.
Starting with banging queer favourite tunes from Stav B, Frankie steps suavely onto the stage to offer a warm welcome to the acts and audience alike..."
REVIEWS
King of Clubs: Fears, Phobias and F**k Ups
by
@theatreandotherthingsldn
“King of Clubs: Fears, Phobias and F**k Ups” is a drag king show hosted by King Frankie Sinatra (Karen Fischer), directed by Helen Oakleigh, starring some of London’s best and brightest King talent. It is a night of drag centred around the title's themes “Fears, Phobias and F**k Ups”. It includes performances from 4 Kings (including Frankie Himself) intertwined with quizzes and humour, ultimately leaving the audience asking themselves, “What are these things we call phobias and why are acts of discrimination and malice classed in the same realm as the fear of a snake or spider?”
This show is a brilliant display of the sheer range of drag kings London has to offer. King Frankie Sinatra exudes confidence with his hosting style, and it is clear that he is at home on stage with his quick one-liners, humour and beautiful voice. Richard Melanin III is pure joy in drag/clown form and had the audience giggling like schoolchildren.
He was followed by Sweet F.A. (or Father Adams), who is the Catholic priest ally any queer who grew up in a religious household deserves. From the first moment you see Father Adams, purely from the “School Teacher” smile he has on his face, you know you’re in for a good show, and he did not disappoint. Then came Prinx Silver. Wow. Pure sex in drag form all whilst telling a story through their act, taking the audience on a journey/whole rollercoaster of emotions throughout. All this was jam-packed into an hour of exceptional entertainment, and all we can say is that we hope this isn’t the last time we see this show.
Overall this show was righteous, captivating and gleefully funny, with a powerful, poignant message. Although “King of Clubs: Fears, Phobias and F**k Ups” has finished its run at Vault Festival, you can catch “King of Clubs” with King Frankie Sinatra at their monthly residency at Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
DIVA MAG
"Frankie Sinatra’s drag king night Kings of Clubs has become a well-established must-attend cabaret night on the scene. Borne from inspiration at the emergence of drag king talent, Frankie has created a welcome, inclusive event that showcases the best of the acts from around the world, old and new.
Starting with banging queer favourite tunes from Stav B, Frankie steps suavely onto the stage to offer a warm welcome to the acts and audience alike..."
REBEL DYKES
OUT NOW
Karen Fisch, often known as Fisch, is one of the stars of the new kick-arse punk film Rebel Dykes. The Rebel Dykes is a group of tight-knit friends who met at Greenham Common peace camp and went on to become artists, performers, musicians, and activists in London.
Directed by Harri Shanahan and Siân A. Williams, and produced by Riot Productions’ Siobhan Fahey, Rebel Dykes tells the unheard story of a community of dykes who met doing art, music, politics, and sex, and how they went on to change their world. Rebel Dykes screened on Channel 4.
The film picked up several awards including the Iris Prize and Best Documentary at the Berlin Porn Film Festival.
WATCH ~ REBEL DYKES is currently is available on Amazon Prime and YouTube
media
In this podcast for Narativ London ORIGINALS,
Karen talks about her origin story & her participation in the documentary REBEL DYKES which opened at the BFI FLARE Film Festival.
All Videos
Meet the Drag Kings! | This Morning
Frankie N Al at Kings of Clubs 6th Birthday
Kicking Frankie opens Kings of Clubs September 2022 with a surprise song
King Frankie Sinatra
Karen Fisher aka Fisch is part of the Rebel Dyke Project, a group of, mainly, lesbian outsiders from the 1980’s.
Fisch has been a significant member of this lived legacy since going to her first Gay Pride march in 1978. She lived at Greenham Common USAF base (Main Gate) for over a year and went on to have a raunchy affair with the leader of the all women biker gang The Black Widows during her time riding with them.
She co-promoted Chain Reaction (the UK’s first SM dyke club) and for ten years ran her own club nights Kiss, Come and Come North in London.
Eight years ago she began performing in drag as King Frankie Sinatra and has produced and hosted South London’s first drag king night - Kings of Clubs at the legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern since 2017. Frankie has graced many stages with the biggest highlights being London and Amsterdam Pride.
Fisch has finally written a one-woman show, also called Rebel Dyke Live: From Prejudice to Pride, which encompasses all of this personal sistory in a one -hour jukebox musical.
Rebel Dyke Live premiered at L Fest 2018, the UK’s largest women’s festival, where it was nominated for two awards: Best New Act and Best Arts Event.
The show recently attracted the attention of top Acting Coach Barbara Houseman www.barbarahouseman.com who has come on board as Director.
The show was accepted into Camden Peoples Theatre ‘Calm Down Dear ’programme of one woman shows in March 2020. Then Covid shut everything.
This hiatus meant that she could get on writing and producing other events but Rebel Dyke Live still called out to be seen. So it is coming back to your stages in Spring 2024.
Both funny and moving, the Bad Boy with the Golden Voice will enthrall and entertain you in this one-hour rampage through her riotous past.
Audience Comments ....
Helen Sandler, freelance journalist, ex sub-editor of Diva Magazine, Programmer of Aberation Festival Wales
‘When we saw Rebel Dyke at L Fest, all three Aberration programmers (aged 30, 50 and 70) were blown away. We immediately knew we wanted Fisch (aka Karen Fisher) to bring the show to Aberration. The way she brings together personal and lesbian community history against the backdrop of British politics is brilliant. On a personal note, I found it very moving because it was like seeing a wilder version of my own life on- stage put to music! It brought tears to my eyes. The show has amazing energy and is very high quality. We have booked the show for our History Month event at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 9 February 2019.’
Zoe Smith ‘Really fantastic performance of ‘Rebel Dyke’ by Frankie Sinatra at L Fest 2018. Clever, funny, sad, thoughtful and a powerful reminder of how hard-won our LGBT rights are and how tightly we need to hold onto them. The standing ovation was very well deserved.”
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