Claiming banners, colored wigs, outlandish costumes and glitter, lots of glitter. This is just a small sample of what was seen last night on the dance floor of Sala Apolo. A dedicated and faithful audience that, despite being Easter, did not want to miss the fifth anniversary of Futuroa Sarao Drag, "the most popular drag contest right now on the Barcelona scene", as defined by Kalva Klain, the artistic name of the guitarist Marcel Molina, from Ruïnosa and the Strippers from Rahola.
The band, which embodies the perfect balance between music and theatre, was proclaimed the winner in the last edition and, for this reason, was in charge of kicking off the party with songs like Puta Renfe or I'm Catalan, chanted at the top of their lungs. for the presents
There was also no shortage of the already habitual presenters Licorka Fey and Conxxa Vitoy, great claims of the show judging by the repeated ovations of the public, who recalled the obligatory anti-harassment protocol as a ritual. Minutes before, while they had finished putting on makeup in the dressing room, they explained to La Vanguardia that "this is a party where two things prevail: freedom and respect." A motto that was fulfilled, since the laughter and applause were the soundtrack of a night in which there was time to blow out candles, to dance to the rhythm of punk, rock and even Lina Morgan.
Despite the fact that it is a contest, there are no rivals, and that is something that becomes evident in every gesture and complicit look. “It doesn't matter who wins. Here you come to have a good time and give your all. Neither the public nor the Barcelona night deserve less”, says Madame Hiroshima, winner of the fourth competition, behind the scenes. In this eleventh edition she participates again. Something exceptional because, as a rule, the winners cannot aspire to new candidacies. "But we are celebrating our anniversary and we like to break the rules," she says.
Simón García, a member of the Futuroa collective, encourages her and agrees with her. "To be a part of this party, you don't need experience, you just earn. Do you want to be part of a queer and inclusive show and don't even know where to start? This is your place." And it is that, although the contest was inspired by its first editions in the popular reality television show RuPaul: Drag Race, "ours is a much more inclusive proposal," he assures this newspaper.
Attendees celebrate that more and more shows of these characteristics are coming to the Catalan capital to stay. "The drag scene has changed a lot since the pandemic," reflects a young man who chooses to watch the performances with his friends from the bar. It is not the first time he has come. He has been around since the first party, in March 2018, which took place in the smoking room of the nightclub. Now, the show fills the main room and the success is such that who knows if the organizers will have to look for a bigger venue.
For now, the idea is "that the sarao continues to grow, to the point of being able to move it to other places. For now, we have already replicated it in Malaga but we would like it to travel more. One lives on dreams, but we are going to achieve this ", concludes Licorka Fey resolutely.
It only takes time to see if the wish comes true. The fans already have them and the strength and power, too.
