Cabaret Workshops with Crayola

Join Crayola x Double Okay for a 3-week Cabaret course at South Street Arts Centre in Reading! 

Who is the workshop for? 

• Anyone 18+ looking to develop a performance for a cabaret setting! Performance experience is not necessary, but the session is designed for people who already have an idea of a performance, or an existing work that they want to develop.
• These workshops are a queer centred space, where allies are welcome. If you are an ally and financially able, please consider donating to support our work in the future.
• We'd love to see you if you're Reading based 😊 People living outside of Reading are also welcome and encouraged to join the workshops.

What will the workshops cover?

This series of 3 in-person workshops will help you to develop a cabaret act. The act can be anything that can be found in cabaret - for example; singing, drag, dance, performance art, poetry - and the session will focus on developing your characterisation within the act.

• Session 1: Sharing ideas
• Session 2: Developing work
• Session 3: Polishing and refining!!

The workshops are structured across the 3 weeks, so ideally you would join in all 3 sessions. We understand that life happens and things come up, in case we’d be grateful if you dropped us an email if you can no longer make a session.

Where:

The studio space in South Street Arts Centre, 21 South Street, Reading, Berks, RG1 4QU, United Kingdom

When:

• Sat April 12, 2-4:30PM
• Sat April 19, 12-2:30PM
• Sun April 27, 2-4:30PM

How much does it cost?

The workshops are completely free! You just need to book your free place on Outsavvy. If you’d like to make a donation, please feel free to add this onto your ticket via Outsavvy. Please note, there are a limited number of tickets for these workshops.

Who will run the workshops?

Gigi Zahir will host these workshops, with facilitation support from Double Okay. 

Gigi is a multi-disciplinary drag artist, actor, singer, cabaret performer, theatre maker, and educator, perhaps better known as Crayola the Queen. Classically trained at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC, they've since found a home within musical comedy and the London cabaret scene, and have a passion for collaboration, new writing, and bold interpretations of traditional texts. In 2024, they originated the role of Shona in the first UK tour of "Frankie Goes To Bollywood”, and in 2025 originated the role of Ria Listic in “Acid’s Reign” at The Pleasance Theatre. They have had the privilege of opening for Chappell Roan three times, and are named as being the person who helped her realise she was a drag queen. As a teacher, Gigi has self-produced several rounds of their own drag courses, and have been a guest lecturer at the London College of Music since 2024.

Praise for Gigi:

“Riotously funny” - The Independent

"A captivating artist" - The Stage

“They have the audience eating out of the palm of their hand” - What’s On Stage

Double Okay are a queer and trans arts collective based in Reading. They work with queer people and artists, and create safer spaces for the queer community. Double Okay have been running workshops, exhibitions, performance events and digital streams since 2018. For more information, check out our instagram page here ✨

Access information

Access to the studio space is available via flat or ramped access. The front doors are powered for disabled access - please press the button to the left of the entrance. South Street is only serviced by on street parking, which is free to blue badge holders. Although there are no designated spaces there is usually plentiful parking. The sessions are relaxed, and breaks will be scheduled throughout.

For more general information about South Street's access, see here: https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/access-information

Covid Guidelines:

- Please do not attend if you have Covid-19. We strongly encourage you to do a lateral flow test before attending if possible.

- Please do not attend if you are unwell or display Covid-19 or flu-like symptoms. We ask you to consider people who are immunocompromised, sick and/or disabled when making a decision as to whether to attend.

If you have any questions or need any help, including access support, please let us know by emailing doubleokaygroup@gmail.com

This project is funded by Arts Council England and these sessions are in collaboration with South Street Arts Centre.

Please note, this workshop is for ages 18+