Any David Hoyle show is provocative, enlightening and bitingly funny. As a general rule, he’ll suggest that politicians should be put “head first into the wood chipper”, though he may add the caveat that some can go in “toupée first” because “I’m a humanitarian after all”. Hoyle is one of our greatest performance artists because he’s capable of blending the serious and the sardonic in thrillingly subversive ways. He doesn’t really think politicians should be pulped – or does he? – but he definitely does care about humanity, which is why he uses his stinging wit to call out callous and complacent authority figures.
Hoyle’s fascinating, multi-faceted career is now being celebrated with a three-week takeover at Manchester’s Aviva Studios. Titled David Hoyle: Please Free to Ignore My Work – something you do to your own detriment – it’s billed as “part retrospective”, “part residency” and kicks off on April 10. Among the highlights are a huge Saturday night variety show, “a radically alternative pub quiz” and the chance to watch Hoyle paint a large canvas outside the building’s undercroft in real time. He’ll also sit down for a Q&A about his varied film and TV work, which includes two offbeat comedy series for Channel 4 (1998’s The Divine David Presents and 2000’s The Divine David Heals) and a recurring role in the cult 2005 sitcom Nathan Barley.
Born in Blackpool in 1962, Hoyle cut his razor-sharp teeth on Manchester’s LGBTQ+ performance scene in the early 90s. He first made a splash with his “anti-drag” character The Divine David, whom he spectacularly killed off in a surreal 2000 live show called The Divine David on Ice. Since 2006, he has performed as his lavishly made-up self, David Hoyle, at venues including London’s iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern. In a way, it seems a shame to ask him only 50 questions, especially as he predicts his answers will “hopefully be quite succinct”. They’re also, as you’d expect, full of compassion, righteous indignation and deliciously dry ironic asides.
1. Where are you right now? The Travelodge at Tower Bridge. I feel a bit like Alan Partridge.
2. What can we expect from your residency-meets-retrospective Please Feel Free to Ignore My Work? It’s where I’m up to now – I think it’s important to look forward as well as back because we’re living in such difficult times. But I’m going to be hosting a quiz, which is a nice nod to how I started as The Divine David, and Greg Thorpe will be interviewing me about my film and TV work. And it’s great that it’s happening in Manchester.
3. How tongue-in-cheek is its title? There’s a bit of a sting to it. Like a lot of people, I can feel a bit marginalised or taken for granted. But I think it’s a good title because if you consciously ignore something, then it means you’re still aware of it.
4. How strict will you be at the quiz? Oh, very strict. I almost feel like having mobile phones confiscated on entry.
5. How do you deal with hecklers? I say something to them. It’s not about scaring them; it’s about letting them know that their interjection isn’t necessary – no matter how generously motivated it might have been.
6. When do you feel most creative? Before bedtime, when I’ve been out for a few beers.
7. When do you feel most iconic? I don’t know whether I do feel iconic. I feel like a human being who’s just going about their business, really. I mean, if I’m iconic, then we’re all icons.
8. Where is your happy place? In Manchester, on the 192 bus into town to see my friend Lee Baxter who I collaborate with. I’m not on my phone – I like looking out the window to see what’s going on.
9. What did you learn growing up in Blackpool? A good training in tourism and entertainment – in the summer you couldn’t move for people. As a child, to see people vomiting on the pavement at 10.30am is quite an eye-opener.
10. What did you learn when you moved to Manchester? To appreciate art galleries and cultural spaces. We have so many wonderful ones like The Lowry and Aviva Studios.
11. What have you learned from your many appearances at the RVT? How much I love every brick of that building. It brings back memories because when I lived in London in the early 80s, I’d go to Lily Savage’s show Stars of the Future. I was terrified of Lily, obviously, so I’d sit as far from the stage as possible. I had no idea that eventually I’d be on that stage myself.
12. When did you last change your mind? Probably yesterday, when I was wondering what to eat because obviously you can’t lead a world revolution on an empty stomach. I thought, “I know, I’ll have a veggie burger.” And then I changed my mind and thought, “How about a cheese and tomato baguette?” But then I went back to the veggie burger.
13. Did you make the right decision? Looking back over my life, I have no regrets.
14. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Just keep going.
15. What gets you up in the morning? The need to go to the bathroom. It could be age-related, I don’t know, but that’s the motivation, really.
16. Where does your urge to perform come from? When I was younger, I was expected to keep my mouth shut and be invisible, so I think it was a reaction against that. It’s a prolonged act of rebellion.
17. Who – if anyone – do you consider your peers? Christeene, obviously, because we’re married. Plus Justin Vivian Bond, Banksie, Cheddar Gorgeous and Ginger Johnson. And I absolutely adore Travis Alabanza.
18. What do you want to see in the Labour Party’s election party manifesto? At the very least a permanent ceasefire for Gaza. I really think they’ve been appalling in encouraging people to abstain from a vote that could potentially save children’s lives. The way they’re creeping around pro-genocidal people is very hurtful to various communities in our country. So I don’t think they deserve to be voted for now.
19. Do you think the Tories are finally done for? Possibly. I think they’ve become two separate parties masquerading as one, but it’s becoming very difficult to pull off. You’ve got those mad, wild Tories that want to pack people off to Rwanda. And then you’ve got others who are perhaps a little more intelligent and understanding.
20. What would The Divine David make of 2024? From the perspective of where we were in the 90s, there would be a lot of disappointment. With the lack of social housing, the current situation with food banks, and the demonisation of people on benefits when multi-millionaires are out there having a laugh.
What do you want to see in the Labour Party’s election party manifesto? “At the very least a permanent ceasefire for Gaza. I really think they’ve been appalling in encouraging people to abstain from a vote that could potentially save children’s lives” – David Hoyle
21. How do you measure success? Oh, just getting through the day without too much self-harm or injury.
22. What is your most prized possession? The ability to communicate and connect with people.
23. Do you believe in God? I do, but I don’t believe it’s a male energy. It’s a consciousness which has transcended gender.
24. Do you believe in the concept of a guilty pleasure? Yes. Probably when I have a Turkish delight.
25. Do you believe people can really change? Yes, but self-awareness is key. If you’re caught up in a narcissistic way of thinking, it’s not going to happen.
26. Is there anything you would never talk about on stage? I can’t think of anything, really. It can all go in the salad bowl and we’ll give it a toss.
27. How can we best protect queer spaces? Obviously by supporting them, but a lot of us are stretched at the moment. People are thinking twice about going out, which is why we need to barrack the government so we’ve got enough money to keep everything ticking over.
28. What makes someone an artist? A need to articulate things that perhaps you don’t feel are given enough attention. To put the spotlight on those things, that’s a power.
29. How would you describe the concept of gender to an alien who just landed on Earth? I’d say there are as many genders as there are people on this planet. We’ve all got our own gender and it’s not based on genitals. I’d also tell the alien that it’s a subject that gets people’s knickers in a twist unnecessarily, but not to worry about gender because, at the end of the day, we’re all going to die.
30. How do we end heteronormativity? Stop promoting it. I think heteronormativity is sort of a fetish, actually. People should work out whether they’re worshipping god or worshipping heterosexual sexual activity.
31. What is the purpose of drag? It’s a passport that gives you permission to talk about things that might seem rather pedantic or serious if you were out of costume. In drag, you can talk about things without appearing professorial.
32. What is the enemy of drag? Banality, but also people who are suspicious of colour and camp and movement and laughter. Gay people who are trying to assimilate and be very heteronormative see people like me as a bit of an embarrassment.
33. What keeps you awake at night? Climate change. I was brought up at the seaside and my father was in the merchant navy, so I’ve always been aware of what water is capable of.
34. Do you like social media? I do. We can all fall into a rabbit hole and think, “God, I’ll never get that time back.” But if you’re interested in fashion, theatre or anything visual, you’re well served on social media.
35. Are you good at saying no? I’m a bit of a soft touch, actually, so thank god I’ve got a manager.
36. Are you good at saying sorry? You’ve got to be. Life is all about energy and what you do with it. It doesn’t make sense to waste energy by not saying sorry or holding a grudge.
37. What do you believe is the hallmark of a true friendship? Consistency, reliability and love. To me, a friendship is an ideal relationship because you’ve got love, but you don’t have to scamper on top of each other naked with the potential of getting a cramp.
38. Who do you call when you need a laugh? Lee Baxter. We’ve known each other since before decimalisation.
39. Should you meet your heroes? Yes, but don’t be surprised if they’re like the boy, girl or non-binary person next door. They might not be ’on’ all the time. If you knew somebody who did the trapeze, you wouldn’t expect them to be on the trapeze 24/7.
40. Do you ever feel misunderstood? I do. And it can be fleetingly frustrating. But if you feel misunderstood, perhaps you have to do something to address it and make yourself more comprehensible. It could be the bit of grit in the oyster that makes the pearl.
What is the purpose of drag? “It’s a passport that gives you permission to talk about things that might seem rather pedantic or serious if you were out of costume. In drag, you can talk about things without appearing professorial” – David Hoyle
41. What new skill would you like to learn? I’m a bit analogue but I’m going to learn to use an iPad because it interests me artistically. What David Hockney has done on an iPad is very inspiring.
42. What is the rudest word you know? “Eff off”. Because when it gets to that stage, it suggests there’s been a communication breakdown.
43. What was the last film or TV show to make you cry? All of Us Strangers. The idea was genius: that you could go back in time to when you were a child learning you were different and find out why your parents were cold and distant with you. I can see why it really connected with the LGBTQ+ community.
44. What book(s) are you reading at the moment? When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin. I don’t want it to end.
45. What song do you put on when you want to feel powerful? Don’t Drop Bombs by Liza Minnelli or The Girl From Tiger Bay by Shirley Bassey: a wonderful song she did with the Manic Street Preachers.
46. When did you last tell a lie? A lie that a lot of us tell. When somebody asks how you are, part of you might feel like you want to throw yourself off a tall building. And part of you might want to answer the question comprehensively, but you might not have the time. So you gloss over it and say: “I’m fine.”
47. Who would play you in a film of your life? Tilda Swinton. I don’t see George Clooney being able to pull it off.
48. What do you do straight after a performance? If I’m in the mood, it’s very nice to go for something to eat, but you end up just having a few drinks.
49. What are you most proud of in your career? Probably the longevity.
50. Finally, have you enjoyed this interview? I did. I think it’s a two-way street, an interview, and you’re the sort of person I could go for a cup of tea or coffee with.
David Hoyle: Please Feel Free to Ignore My Work is on show at Aviva Studios in Manchester from 10 – 28 April 2024.