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Ginger Johnson (drag queen)

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Not to be confused with Nigerian percussionist and bandleader Ginger Johnson.
Ginger Johnson
Born
Donald Marshall

1988 or 1989 (age 35–36)[1]
Lanchester, County Durham, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5)
Websitegingerjohnson.co.uk

Ginger Johnson is the stage name of Donald Marshall,[2] an English drag queen and winner of series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Drag career

[edit]

Marshall began performing in drag at university in the late 2000s. As part of his degree, he wrote a radio play about a woman with whom he had grown up. Without the budget to pay an actress to record it, Marshall “put on a voice and did it myself”. He would soon perform the character for live audiences.[3] Marshall also created a child star character called Little Jimmy Johnson,[4] who he described as “a little s**t who’s nine-and-three-quarter years old.”[5]

Early in his drag career Marshall made costumes for the performance artist Scottee. When someone dropped out of one of Scottee’s pageants, Marshall stepped in. Scottee was “so impressed with my clothes that they said they would pay me £100 a week to make outfits. Three days later, I packed up and moved to London.”[6]

Marshall’s drag alter ego Ginger Johnson was inspired by the “amazing, fiery redheaded women from the Golden Age of Hollywood”, including Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, Carol Channing and Kay Thompson. As the character has evolved, Marshall thinks of Johnson as a “time traveller” saying “she’s this character that can exist anywhere that I dare drop her.”[7] Other influences include David Hoyle, Dina Martina and Danny La Rue plus Drag Race alumni Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCreme and Tammie Brown.[8] In 2014 Johnson joined the “defunct but game-changing queer nightlife collective Sink the Pink[9] for which she wrote, directed and co-produced six “surreal spins” on panto including: Down the Rabbit Hole, The Queen's Head (for Selfridges), How to Catch a Krampus and Escape from Planet Trash.[10] Johnson also performs at and hosts various club events.[11] Johnson appeared at the UKs first ever drag karaoke bar, The Karaoke Hole in Dalston, London which opened in May 2018.[12] Johnson is a London Associate Artist of the Pleasance Islington, London.[13] In 2020, Johnson co-presented the online breakfast show Wakey! alongside Love Island contestant Chris Taylor.[14] Johnson has written children’s stories, including Glamourous Gran and Other Tall Stories which she has performed at the Southbank Centre.[15] Johnson has also created a puppet video series.[16]

In 2023, Ginger Johnson won the fifth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. She has described herself as "a helium balloon in the shape of a woman" and her drag as "silly" and "camp".[17] During her time on the show, she impersonated Barbara Cartland for the Snatch Game challenge.[18] In preparation for the show, she prepared "roast" jokes in advance for all the queens on the "rumour lists" which circulated before filming started.[19] As at December 2023, Johnson is one of only a few queens who have won three challenges in a row in any of the Drag Race franchises, alongside Lawrence Chaney, Chad Michaels, Envy Peru and Manila Luzon.[20]

Shows

[edit]
Year Show Venue
2014 Some Mothers[21]
2014-2018 Little Jimmy Johnson Various
2015 Suddenly, Last Summer[22] The Glory
2016-2018 Awful
2016 Down the Rabbit Hole[23] Selfridges, London
2017 The Queen’s Head[24] Selfridges, London
2018 How to Catch a Krampus[25] Pleasance Theatre, London
2019 Ginger Johnson’s Happy Place[26] Edinburgh Festival
2019 Escape from Planet Trash[27] Pleasance Theatre, London
2020 Ginger Johnson’s Christmas Egg[28] Pleasance Theatre, London
2021 Dog Show[29] Pleasance Theatre, London
2021 Ginger Johnson and Pals[30] Pleasance Theatre, London
2022 Good Clean Fun[31] Pleasance Theatre, London
2022 The Ginger and Jonbers Show[32] The Glory, London
2022 Ginger Johnson’s Festive Spread[33] Pleasance Theatre, London
2023 David Hoyle and Ginger Johnson[34] Hebden Bridge
2023 Ginger All The Way![35] Soho Theatre, London
2024 (scheduled) Angels of the North[36] Newcastle, London, Liverpool and Birmingham

Discography

[edit]
[edit]
Title Year Album
Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version)[37]
(RuPaul featuring Banksie, Kate Butch, & Miss Naomi Carter) 		2023 non-album single
Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical[38] 2023 Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical Album

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race UK Herself Winner (Series 5) [39]
2023 Lorraine Herself Guest [40]

Personal life

[edit]

Marshall was born in Lanchester, County Durham. He attended a Catholic secondary school and studied scriptwriting[41] at university in Newcastle.[42] As a child, Marshall wanted to be a pantomime dame, considering Chris Hayward of the Theatre Royal, Newcastle one of the “all-time greats”.[43] Marshall’s first memory of making people laugh as a child was doing “magic shows in my local library”.[44]

Marshall played for the Newcastle Falcons rugby team. In 2017 he said, “I often joke that being a drag queen and being a rugby player are very similar: they involve a lot of physical pain, and it’s quite aggressive.”[45] The flat where Marshall lives with his partner featured in an IKEA article, with design by Ashlyn Gibson.[46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Meet RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 Queens". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  2. ^ "Home & interiors writer – small space living". ELLIE FAZAN. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  3. ^ Ginger Johnson (17 December 2023). "My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  4. ^ Princess Julia (22 July 2015). "JuliaSays". qxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  5. ^ Jordan Bassett (5 April 2017). "I transformed into a drag queen with Sink The Pink and performed to 2000 drunk students". nme.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  6. ^ Ginger Johnson (30 November 2023). "Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  7. ^ Marah Eakin (4 December 2023). "Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson Didn't Sneak Up on Anyone". vulture.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  8. ^ Alistair James (December 2023). "Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson on her win, off-camera chats with RuPaul and her Roman Empire". attitude.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  9. ^ Alice Savile (14 December 2023). "Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage"". timeout.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  10. ^ "Ginger Johnson – About". Ginger Johnson. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  11. ^ Damshenas, Sam (September 6, 2022). "LGBTQ+ stars celebrate the launch of Nancy's, Feel It's new "den of debauchery"". Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Steve Brown (3 May 2018). "UK's first ever drag karaoke bar to open this month". attitude.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  13. ^ "London Associate Artists and Companies". pleasance.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  14. ^ "Durham drag queen Ginger Johnson becomes breakfast TV star". Chronicle Live. May 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Ginger Johnson (17 December 2023). "My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  16. ^ Marah Eakin (4 December 2023). "Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson Didn't Sneak Up on Anyone". vulture.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  17. ^ James, Alastair (September 11, 2023). "Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season five". Attitude. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  18. ^ Wratten, Marcus (2023-11-03). "Drag Race UK fans divided over Snatch Game winner: 'They are rigging'". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  19. ^ Mathew Rodrigues (December 2023). "How Ginger Johnson Used Old Hollywood Glamour to Win Drag Race U.K." them.us. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  20. ^ Mathew Rodrigues (December 2023). "How Ginger Johnson Used Old Hollywood Glamour to Win Drag Race U.K." them.us. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  21. ^ Alice Savile (14 December 2023). "Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage"". timeout.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  22. ^ Princess Julia (22 July 2015). "JuliaSays". qxmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  23. ^ Miriam Bouteba (21 November 2016). "Sink the Pink: Down the Rabbit Hole". timeout.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  24. ^ Paul Vale. "The Queen's Head". thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  25. ^ Will Stroude (12 December 2018). "Drag Generations: Lavinia Co-Op in conversation with Ginger Johnson". attitude.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  26. ^ Alice Savile (14 December 2023). "Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage"". timeout.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  27. ^ Kate Wyver (28 November 2019). "Escape from Planet Trash review a Christmas B musical misadventure lost". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  28. ^ Damien Russell (9 December 2020). "Ginger Johnson presents Ginger Johnson's Christmas Egg". londontheatre1.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  29. ^ Ella Braidwood (6 December 2021). "Happy queer Christmas! Drag kings and queens' festive spectaculars". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  30. ^ "Ginger Johnson and Pals". whatsonstage.com. 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  31. ^ "Ginger Johnson – Ginger Johnson's Festive Spread". whatsonstage.com. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  32. ^ "The Ginger and Jonbers Show". theglory.co. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  33. ^ "Ginger Johnson – Good Clean Fun". whatsonstage.com. 9 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  34. ^ "David Hoyle and Ginger Johnson". happyvalleypride.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  35. ^ Alice Savile (14 December 2023). "Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage"". timeout.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  36. ^ SAM DAMSHENAS (December 2023). "Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson: 'I'm gonna take over the world'". gaytimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  37. ^ "Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version) - Single". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  38. ^ "Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  39. ^ Spencer, Samuel (September 11, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  40. ^ "So lovely of @lorraine to join us on our show this morning. You're welcome to come back any time, pet! #DragRaceUK". Twitter.com. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  41. ^ Ginger Johnson (30 November 2023). "Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  42. ^ Ginger Johnson (17 December 2023). "My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  43. ^ Si Hawkins (5 December 2023). "Ginger Johnson". comedy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  44. ^ Ginger Johnson (30 November 2023). "Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  45. ^ Jordan Bassett (5 April 2017). "I transformed into a drag queen with Sink The Pink and performed to 2000 drunk students". nme.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  46. ^ Ashlyn Gibson. "Home visit: one room to live, work and play". ikea.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
[edit]
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Preceded by Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK
UK series 5 		Succeeded by
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