A master at transforming grim reality into surreal comedy, since the early 1990s David Hoyle has been inviting LGBT audiences to peer into their own hearts to search for essential, existential truths, while making them roar with laughter at the same time

He first came to prominence as anti-drag queen, The Divine David, with his own show on Channel 4. He killed The Divine David off in 2000, and retreated from the public eye, suffering from a mental breakdown that lasted several years.

In 2005 he returned to television, appearing in Channel 4 sitcom Nathan Barley, and the next year he returned to the stage, carving out a new niche for himself, mostly at London’s legendary gay pub, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

In 2010 he also released his own feature film, Uncle David, which he both directed and starred in, and since then he’s been performing sell out shows to adoring audiences.

Next for David is a performance in the Liberties Festival, and you could win tickets to see him in The Tivoli on Friday 22 July at 8pm! Keep reading to find out how.

David Hoyle on… Pride

I was lucky many years ago to see Panti in full flight at a Pride in Dublin, and I’ve never seen anything like it. It seemed to have all the community components that make Pride worthwhile. I think in some cases internationally it’s become so inclusive that it’s including things that are a little contentious. Pride can be an opportunity for some big companies to advertise.

… growing up gay

It’s like I experienced insanity when I was a child, because when you see adults and children unified in an unspoken way and it’s sort of against you, it’s enough to make you paranoid. I think a lot of us had quite a lonely journey in childhood  We were kind of left on our own. Our elders wouldn’t have been able to help us because that would have been seen as condoning homosexuality.

… being gay in the ’80s

You were naturally affiliated with the left wing if you were gay in the early 80’s, you didn’t really twice think about it. If you went on a Pride march, of course you would go on an anti-aparthied march. If you were involved in gay and lesbian rights, of course you’d be involved in other rights. As gay people we tried to reach out and say we are part of the struggle, we can be helpful. I think some good came of it, actually.

… the trans community

The wonderful thing about LGBTQI rights is that they are human rights, and ultimately they can liberate all of us. What’s happening within the trans community is quite exciting – the increased visibility and all these very brave people coming to the fore now. To me that indicates a healthier, holistic spirit that is more discernible.

… gender

A lot of young people seem to be saying that they feel quite gender fluid within themselves. That’s the wonderful thing about the trans expression; ultimately it will set everybody free. Hopefully in our own lifetime the tyranny of gender will turn to dust and blow away. It’s been a straitjacket for so many people, and it’s not on, because it’s saying, based on whatever your genitals might or might not look like, what your behaviour should be.

The full interview where David Hoyle talks marriage referendum, having children, today’s gays and more is available in GCN. Pick up a copy of GCN or read GCN on iOS or online here.

To be in with a chance to win tickets to see David Hoyle perform, simply answer the following question:

If you went on a Pride march in the 80s, you were also likely to go on what kind of march according to David Hoyle?

(Image: Pete Reddy)