Hi everyone,
I'm Matthew Linley and I'm incredibly excited to share news about our latest project in development: Shuff & Byng. Shuff & Byng is about two pioneering drag queens / female impersonators - Douglas Byng and Mrs Shuffelwick (Rex Jameson). To follow our progress do
subscribe to this substack where we will be posting updates from the project, research materials and much, much more.
So who were Shuff and Byng….
Here is Douglas back in 1934
Given the project is spending some time in Colchester we should mention one of his ballads - Boadicea (have a listen!) . Despite the fact he was regularly banned by the BBC - here he is celebrated as one of the 100 faces of the BBC
And here is Mrs Shufflewick in full flow - be warned this link is 15+ for both language and content!
Mrs. Shufflewick was the creation of Rex Jameson (who was left as a baby on the steps of Trinity College Hospital in Greenwich, and then brought up in Southend). His Shuff was a working-class char lady ‘weak-willed and easily led’ who became a beloved character on variety shows, radio, and television. Jameson's comedic timing brought Shuff to life, influencing generations of drag performers.
“a comic genius. Even in his cups Rex was gloriously funny” the late Roy Hudd
Here’s our project lead Tony Lidington of Promenade Promotions …
…. (who actually knew Douglas Byng in his later years and adapted his memoirs for a BBC Radio 4 series starring Julian Clary (link here but not currently available on I player):-
“Mrs Shufflewick and Dougie Byng represent two very different drag personas with contrasting, yet equally brilliant, careers. Between them, they provide a proud, complex, lineage of male cross-dressing that predates Rupaul’s Dragrace by a century! , whilst Shuff’s earthy humour and sozzled character remains an enduring influence on many more recent drag artistes such as Lily Savage.”
Joining Tony and me on this journey are Kinny Gardner (Lindsay Kemp Company, Rocky Horror Show) shown here in Blanche and Butch by the wonderful Birds of Paradise)…
…as Douglas Byng and Billie Bottle
as Musical Director. We'll be announcing more casting news soon!
Dates for diaries
We will be offering a sneak peek into the development process with two work in progress sharings:
Eastern Angles, Ipswich: June 19th at 7:30 pm (ticket link to follow)
Harwich Electric Picture Palace (in association with Harwich Arts Festival): June 20th at 3:00 pm (ticket link to follow)
Keep Up-to-date
Want to stay updated on the progress of Shuff & Byng? Subscribe to this Substack for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and more! We can't wait to share this exciting journey with you all.
And finally a huge thank you…
This project is made possible through the generous support of the Noel Coward Foundation and with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. We're also grateful for the support of our partners: Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre, Eastern Angles, the Electric Picture Palace (Harwich), and Colchester Arts Centre.
