‘I’m a clown so I’m definitely into being amusing and owning a perception of humour with everything I do’
In a little upstairs studio in downtown Victoria, a phase after vibrant with underground reveals holds the glittery accoutrements of a remarkably regarded drag queen.
With vibrant wigs lining cabinets, racks of dazzling and intriguing costumes, and a make-up station lit by a glowing ring mild, the home however retains that early strength.
It hints at the ten years of function effectively-regarded Canadian drag queen Jimbo (also regarded as James Insell) has invested in costume and established structure in equally movie and theatre, building up to her hottest grand undertaking – Jimbo’s Drag Circus.
Her little house town options a fringe neighborhood of Diy artists who make matters materialize. Backed by that and an unbelievably supportive audience foundation, she felt the ability to investigate, be herself – even if a tiny strange – and make individuals chuckle.
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“Drag is all about uniqueness. It is all about who we are as folks, and definitely about diving in, bringing it to the outdoors and sharing it with individuals. Drag genuinely must be fuelling by yourself, your very own imaginative enjoyment, fuelling the curiosity and it ought to also be about sharing it outward with individuals, inspiring individuals.
“Drag and drag queens are about inspiring leisure,” she said.
A drag clown steeped in theatre, this 1-queen demonstrate is Jimbo’s longtime aspiration arrive accurate.
“I’m a clown so I’m definitely into getting amusing and possessing a perception of humour with all the things I do,” she mentioned from the glowing upstairs studio in Chinatown. A lover of improv and character get the job done, the most up-to-date present functions 6 original characters centered on historic figures this kind of as Shirley Temple and Joan Rivers.
“It’s all seriously stunning. It retains you guessing, it retains you seeking far more and it retains you laughing.”
Decked out in towering footwear and introducing a last contact of make-up for pictures, she’s property for just a stint among the U.S. and Canadian legs of Jimbo’s Drag Circus Entire world Tour.

The very last four decades are a blur of travel, competition and just one important crown – twinkling from its unique stand in a corner – attained by successful RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars period 8. Jimbo previously competed in the initially period of Canada’s Drag Race and was in the to start with collection of RuPaul’s Drag Race: United kingdom vs. the Globe. She spent the final yr travelling and performing in 17 countries.
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Jimbo’s Drag Circus is her largest tour to date, with two buses packed with sets, 6 fast costume variations and a entire crew of 20. Time was the largest challenge – from crafting the story and producing costumes to organizing logistics in shorter purchase.
“It’s this incredible mixture of decades of work.”
Jimbo’s Drag Circus hit the road Could 16 with shows in communities large and compact, which include areas with LGBTQ2IA+ communities, but not a lot of occasions or areas for queerness.
She’s fired up to deliver that prospect for people today to be on their own, sharing that fortune and support she’s uncovered in audiences around the world. “It’s really important for me to go into more compact communities the place they don’t get reveals like this generally,” she mentioned. “People can occur and be their genuine odd selves, which they it’s possible really do not have the possibility to do for the reason that of exactly where they are.”
Canada’s topped clown provides her acclaimed circus tour to Victoria with two displays June 12 (offered out) and 13.
Take a look at houseofjimbo.com for information.
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