My first drag turn? As Karen Carpenter in hotpants!' La Voix on swinger cruises, Strictly and blazing into musicals

Chris Dennis performs under the alter ego La Voix, a northern showtune powerhouse known for sharp quips, a bright crimson look, and a belting voice. La Voix has appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Strictly, and Eurovision, and is preparing for a first musical role as Miss Hannigan in Annie. The persona blends traits from women Dennis knew growing up in Stockton-on-Tees, including quick wit, warmth, and a sparkly style. Dennis cites comic influences such as Ken Dodd, Barry Humphries’ Dame Edna, and Paul O’Grady’s Lily Savage. He aims for mainstream, family-friendly fun on swinger cruises, avoids swearing, and credits advice from David Emanuel to keep the language clean.

"You won't find Dennis's name on any billing, though, and most of the thousands of people who have seen him perform won't know it either. But they will know his alter ego, La Voix, a northern powerhouse of show tunes, sharp quips and bright crimson coiffure. Perhaps you've seen her slaying the runway on RuPaul's Drag Race, dancing a pasodoble to Beethoven's Fifth on Strictly, or appearing as a spokesqueen on the recent Eurovision."

"And now she's about to sashay into her first role in a musical as Miss Hannigan in Annie. La Voix is an amalgam of the women Dennis knew growing up in Stockton-on-Tees: quick wit, warm heart, belter of a voice, and always in possession of a sparkly top for a night out. After 17 years of Drag Race on TV, we've seen the vast range of what drag can be, from high fashion to political to performance art."

"Who, I ask Dennis, are your comic influences? Ken Dodd, he says without a beat. The terrible jokes that just make you laugh. Bang, bang, bang, joke, joke, joke. Barry Humphries' Dame Edna and Paul O'Grady's Lily Savage are big influences, too. And when TV's Loose Women asked La Voix about dancing with Strictly partner Aljaz Skorjanec, her reply To be flung round the room by a muscular Slovenian, you're not going to say no, are you? was pure Victoria Wood."

"During swinger cruises, they put black tarpaulin over the windows of certain bars I wanted the ethos to be mainstream, family-friendly fun, says Dennis. I wanted it to make people feel good. He even tries not to swear. In fact, it was David Emanuel Princess Diana's wedding dress designer and maker of a few frocks for La Voix who told him to turn down the potty mouth. Dennis took the advice."

Read at www.theguardian.com