There’s a fabulous new drag night about to hit Dublin. In advance of BLACKLIGHT taking over Dún Laoghaire, we caught up with its unstoppable organiser, Nikkie Stones, to get the lowdown on what to expect.

Hey Nikkie! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hey hey, I’m Nikkie Stones! I’m a high-energy queen born and bred in Greystones, Co Wicklow… hence where the “Stones” in my name comes from! I’ve been doing Drag for around four and a half years now, but I’ve been performing for two and a half. Since winning Trudy’s Drag Race in July 2018, I’ve performed all over Ireland and as of most recently, I’ve regularly been making my way over to Scotland and joining the queens of Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh!

You’ll be the host of BLACKLIGHT, how did this come about?

It was very much part chance, and part pure ambition taking over. At the start of the year I had said to myself that I would have my own show by December, and when I make a goal for myself like that I ALWAYS make it happen… I guess it’s just the Capricorn in me coming out!

I had performed a charity show in the bar back in May where we raised over €1000 for St. Joseph’s Centre for Dementia Care, and after that the management contacted me and asked me to host their event for Pride. I asked about my own show, they said yeah, and then after the success of the Pride show (we completely filled out the venue!) I was offered the monthly slot!

What can we expect from the night?

BLACKLIGHT is an amalgamation of everything that drag and queer Performance has to offer. Throw in a bunch of mad games (with prizes of course!), general buffoonery and raw talent of all types – and you’ll find exactly what the show will be! Every show is different, but I guarantee that you’ll enjoy each one and be eager to come back for more!

What makes BLACKLIGHT different to other drag events in Dublin?

The main issue that regularly is brought up is that the scene in Ireland is EXTREMELY small, and I’ve seen that it’s very hard for many types of drag to be showcased due to the lack of venues and different shows! When the concept for BLACKLIGHT was being created, I wanted to be able to bring a different idea for each show – and the only way to do this was to not have a recurring cast. Every month there will be different special guests, all showcasing different styles of performance and aesthetic.

When promoting the show, the phrase “bring drag to the masses” was used and will continue to be used, and the more I’m able to do that and showcase the talents that Ireland and the UK have, the happier I am!

Another thing that BLACKLIGHT incorporates which no other Dublin Show (that I’m aware of) does is the use of a tip jar.

Drag is not cheap, and as it’s a free event, show-goers are encouraged to tip the performers to acknowledge their efforts and excellence. These tips are all put into a jar and at the end of the night are evenly distributed between the Special Guests! It’s a system that is extremely popular in Scotland, which I feel is a great way to show appreciation for the work that each performer puts into their Drag.

You announce a new special guest each week, which includes some of Dublin’s best home grown drag talent such as Stagnant Waters, Shakeira Knightly, Lilly Kendall and DYLATRIX- if you could have anyone as a guest performer who would it be and why?

Honestly, there are so many performers all over Ireland and the UK that I would love to have that I can’t say just one! Some performers that are extremely high on my list would definitely be Ann Phetamine (Glasgow), Kiko (Glasgow), Frans Gender (Glasgow), Anziety (Dublin), Regina George (Dublin), Luna Lestrange (Canterbury) and Paul Aleksandr (Birmingham). Every single one of them has such a distinct style and have greatly helped push the acceptance and appreciation of many different types of Drag – the way it should be!

What do you see in the future for BLACKLIGHT?

Every club or show promoter says the same thing: that they see their event growing in the next year. As I said before, when I set a goal for myself I will ALWAYS make it a reality, and I will do everything in my power to grow BLACKLIGHT to the best it can be!

To be honest, my biggest Goal for the show is to be able to bring it to a festival stage, the same way Mockie Ah has been brought to Knockan Stockan. That would do exactly what I want BLACKLIGHT to do, and that is showcase the many types of Drag and Queer Talent to an extremely Large Audience.

How can people purchase tickets for the event and keep up to date?

Just show up on the day! The event is free in all night. We offer the opportunity to book seats in the bar by visiting their website and clicking ‘Book Now’ which will guarantee a seat close to the stage area.

To keep up to date with this event and future ones, you can follow us on Instagram (@Blacklight_Drag_Show) and click “going” on Facebook! 

BLACKLIGHT takes place August 10 in Lighthouse Bar, Dún Laoghaire with doors opening at 8pm before the show starts at 9pm. Entry is free so why not go check out some of Dublin’s freshest drag talent? BLACKLIGHT is an 18+ event. and ID will be required for entry.