Probing Juno Birch about her show

Written by: Kat Mokrynski
Published: Tuesday 5th November 2024

Juno Birch's new show, Probed, is now running at Soho Theatre. It takes us into the world of the "hilariously outlandish blue alien" drag queen, who is giving audiences a peek into her world. Here we discuss with Birch how she came up with the concept of an alien drag queen, what it is like to combine drag and stand-up comedy and what she hopes audiences will take away from the show.

How did you first get started in the world of drag?

Well, I was a sculptor and an artist before I was a drag queen. I started doing these alien women characters and I was just so obsessed with this image that I started putting it on myself! And then I eventually ended up performing in that same costume - very camp, very ridiculous numbers and stuff like that. And that's how it started! It went from a drawing to a sculpture to on me, really.

And what was it like moving from a sculpture to actually becoming the character?

In all honesty, when I'm creating sculptures, that's a completely different person! I struggle to do art and drag at the same time, because it's very big energy, stand-comedy and that sort of thing, and then sculpture is like, "Nobody talk to me, shut the doors". It's more of a private thing. I've tried to balance those two things. So it's quite a different person I need to tap into.

So can you tell us a bit about your show, Probed?

Yes! It's going to be between the 4th and 16th November in Soho Theatre. It's a full stand-up comedy show. I just want to speak to the manager of Earth, because I've been on this planet for many years now and there's a lot of things I've got to say!

It's also quite different from the shows that I've done in the past - Attack of the Stunning, The Juno Show... It's more of a personal show. I talk a lot about growing up as a transgender person and things like that, but the way I talk about my life is always a big, massive joke, so there's going to be a lot of laughs.

And what has the creative process been like for the show?

It's been great! Honestly, I feel like it's probably been the longest I've spent writing the show because it's all stand-up comedy, whereas the shows in the past, there's a lot of music, there's a lot of lip-syncing, choreography and dancing - this is just pure me spilling my guts on stage. And I've been writing this since probably April, May, but I love writing comedy because you think of something and you just start writing it. I just don't shut the hell up! [Laughs]

And what made you choose to make Probed a bit more personal than your previous shows?

Everyone knows Juno the alien, but not many people know much about my personal life and how I grew up when I was a little alien child. How being an alien is a metaphor of being a transgender woman. So it's a lot different from the other shows!

What is it like to mix comedy and drag to create a show like Probed?

It's great! The thing I've realised is, when I do stand-up comedy, it's so much more natural for me to write it in a personal way. For so many years, I tried to write stand-up comedy as a character alien, and it often just didn't feel real and raw. So I'd say this show is very raw.

And what is it like to be performing the show at the Soho Theatre?

Amazing. I can't wait! I can't wait to make it my home, because as soon as I go in on Monday, I'm going to be like, "Right, get the kettle on!" It's great. The thing with residencies is that the show sometimes develops as you go along as well, it gets more ridiculous. So I'm excited for that!

You're known for doing videos on YouTube as well as your live shows. What is it like creating content specifically for online platforms versus in-person performances?

It's very different because I connect with the audiences when I perform. I like to see how the audience reacts, and then that sometimes depends on how I react and I love that relationship. But with YouTube, you talk to yourself for hours! Especially in lockdown, I was religiously making these Sims videos and I just got so sucked into it - I think I was on camera on YouTube more than I was not on camera. But I still do love making YouTube videos because I've always wanted to have my own TV show, so that's a way to do it. Because I've not got the option to go on television, I can do it myself. I really love it.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to get into drag, stand-up comedy or both?

Don't! There's too many drag queens, we don't need anymore! [Laughs] The thing is, a lot of people start drag with a very specific idea. And sometimes people think that that's what I did. I was like, "This is going to be specifically me". But in a way, it just gradually subconsciously happened. Outside of drag, I'm not that different at all, really! I think stand-up comedy is a great thing. It's not as easy as it looks, as well. So my advice would be, just don't give a shit what anyone thinks about you.

What do you hope audiences take away from Probed?

I hope they come out pissing themselves laughing and learn not to take life so seriously. I talk about a lot of serious things in my life in the show, but the way I deal with it is just through humour.

And how would you describe Probed in one word?

Chaos!

Probed runs until 17th November at Soho Theatre. More information and tickets