85-year-old former ‘mobster’ to perform as drag queen for the first time
Stan alongside his coach Fagulous (Fagulous)
An 85-year-old pensioner will be making waves onstage this month as he performs as a drag queen for the very first time.
Stan Doran, who was born in 1933, has lived a rich life, experiencing times as a gay man before partial decriminalisation in 1967.
At the age of 18 he became a professional boxer, and he acted as a deliveryman for the mob.
And now, Mr Doran will be realising a lifelong dream: performing as drag queen for the first time.
“I’ve always dreamt of doing it, but never thought I could. But if you want to do something, give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose,” he said to Ham and High.
Stan alongside his coach Fagulous (Fagulous)
Coached by drag supremo Fagulous, aka Niall Hunt, who reached out to the gentleman when he participated in an outreach programme. the pair sparked up a bond.
The pair struck up a bond, leading Hunt to ask Mr Doran to perform as persona Simply Shirley at a drag night that he comperes.
“We transformed him from an 85-year-old man into the drag queen diva he is. He’s a natural who knows how to make an audience laugh. I’ve got so much confidence in him,” Fagulous wrote on his blog.
“We used to be treated like criminals. It was tough,” said the star.
“I’ve always dreamt of doing it, but never thought I could. But if you want to do something, give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
Stan will perform as Simply Shirley on 21 March at Her Upstairs in London.
