Ginger Johnson (drag queen) explained

Ginger Johnson
Birth Name:Donald Marshall
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Lanchester, County Durham, England
Nationality:British
Occupation:Drag queen
Television:RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5)

Ginger Johnson is the stage name of Donald Marshall,[2] an English drag queen and winner of series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Drag career

Marshall began performing in drag at university in the late 2000s. As part of his degree, he wrote a radio play about a woman with whom he had grown up. Without the budget to pay an actress to record it, Marshall “put on a voice and did it myself”. He would soon perform the character for live audiences.[3] Marshall also created a child star character called Little Jimmy Johnson,[4] who he described as “a little s**t who’s nine-and-three-quarter years old.”[5]

Early in his drag career Marshall made costumes for the performance artist Scottee. When someone dropped out of one of Scottee’s pageants, Marshall stepped in. Scottee was “so impressed with my clothes that they said they would pay me £100 a week to make outfits. Three days later, I packed up and moved to London.”[6]

Marshall’s drag alter ego Ginger Johnson was inspired by the “amazing, fiery redheaded women from the Golden Age of Hollywood”, including Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, Carol Channing and Kay Thompson. As the character has evolved, Marshall thinks of Johnson as a “time traveller” saying “she’s this character that can exist anywhere that I dare drop her.”[7] Other influences include David Hoyle, Dina Martina and Danny La Rue plus Drag Race alumni Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCreme and Tammie Brown.[8] In 2014 Johnson joined the “defunct but game-changing queer nightlife collective Sink the Pink[9] for which she wrote, directed and co-produced six “surreal spins” on panto including: Down the Rabbit Hole, The Queen's Head (for Selfridges), How to Catch a Krampus and Escape from Planet Trash.[10] Johnson also performs at and hosts various club events.[11] Johnson appeared at the UKs first ever drag karaoke bar, The Karaoke Hole in Dalston, London which opened in May 2018.[12] Johnson is a London Associate Artist of the Pleasance Islington, London.[13] In 2020, Johnson co-presented the online breakfast show Wakey! alongside Love Island contestant Chris Taylor.[14] Johnson has written children’s stories, including Glamourous Gran and Other Tall Stories which she has performed at the Southbank Centre.[15] Johnson has also created a puppet video series.[16]

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Season 5

In 2023, Ginger Johnson won the fifth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. She has described herself as "a helium balloon in the shape of a woman" and her drag as "silly" and "camp".[17] During her time on the show, she impersonated Barbara Cartland for the Snatch Game challenge.[18] In preparation for the show, she prepared “roast” jokes in advance for all the queens on the “rumour lists” which circulated before filming started. “I got my hands on one of those lists from the internet and I wrote a load of roast jokes. And not one of them was there.”[19] As at December 2023, Johnson is one of only a few queens who have won three challenges in a row in any of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises, alongside Lawrence Chaney, Chad Michaels and Manila Luzon.[20]

Shows

YearShowVenue
2014Some Mothers[21]
2014-2018Little Jimmy JohnsonVarious
2015Suddenly, Last Summer[22] The Glory
2016-2018Awful
2016Down the Rabbit Hole[23] Selfridges, London
2017The Queen’s Head[24] Selfridges, London
2018How to Catch a Krampus[25] Pleasance Theatre, London
2019Ginger Johnson’s Happy Place[26] Edinburgh Festival
2019Escape from Planet Trash[27] Pleasance Theatre, London
2020Ginger Johnson’s Christmas Egg[28] Pleasance Theatre, London
2021Dog Show[29] Pleasance Theatre, London
2021Ginger Johnson and Pals[30] Pleasance Theatre, London
2022Good Clean Fun[31] Pleasance Theatre, London
2022The Ginger and Jonbers Show[32] The Glory, London
2022Ginger Johnson’s Festive Spread[33] Pleasance Theatre, London
2023David Hoyle and Ginger Johnson[34] Hebden Bridge
2023Ginger All The Way![35] Soho Theatre, London
2024 (scheduled)Angels of the North[36] Newcastle, London, Liverpool and Birmingham

Discography

Featured singles

TitleYearAlbum
Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version)[37]
(RuPaul featuring Banksie, Kate Butch, & Miss Naomi Carter)
2023
Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical[38] 2023Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical Album

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023RuPaul's Drag Race UKHerselfWinner (Series 5)[39]
2023LorraineHerselfGuest[40]

Personal life

Marshall was born in Lanchester, County Durham. He attended a catholic secondary school and studied scriptwriting[41] at university in Newcastle.[42] As a child, Marshall wanted to be a pantomime dame, considering Chris Hayward of the Theatre Royal, Newcastle one of the “all-time greats”.[43] Marshall’s first memory of making people laugh as a child was doing “magic shows in my local library”.[44]

Marshall played for the Newcastle Falcons rugby team. In 2017 he said, “I often joke that being a drag queen and being a rugby player are very similar: they involve a lot of physical pain, and it’s quite aggressive.”[45] The flat where Marshall lives with his partner featured in an IKEA article, with design by Ashlyn Gibson.[46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 Queens. www.bbc.co.uk. 2023-09-30. 2023-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925175518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/meet-the-queens-ru-pauls-drag-race-uk-series-5. live.
  2. Web site: Home & interiors writer – small space living. ELLIE FAZAN. 2023-10-23. 2023-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20231023040138/https://www.elliefazan.com/journal/come-over-here. live.
  3. News: My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost . Ginger Johnson . The Guardian . 17 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223063505/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/17/my-drag-persona-helped-me-rebuild-my-life . live .
  4. Web site: JuliaSays . Princess Julia . qxmagazine.com . 22 July 2015 . 2023-12-23.
  5. Web site: I transformed into a drag queen with Sink The Pink and performed to 2000 drunk students . Jordan Bassett . nme.com . 5 April 2017 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.nme.com/features/sink-the-pink-drag-jordan-bassett-swansea-1554734 . live .
  6. Web site: Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner . Ginger Johnson . bbc.co.uk . 30 November 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220180441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f60730b8-854e-4779-bca1-39a94c825e2e . live .
  7. Web site: Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson Didn't Sneak Up on Anyone . Marah Eakin . vulture.com . 4 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216043600/https://www.vulture.com/article/drag-race-uk-ginger-johnson-winner-interview.html . live .
  8. Web site: Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson on her win, off-camera chats with RuPaul and her Roman Empire . Alistair James . attitude.co.uk . December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204133938/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/drag-race-uk-ginger-johnson-winner-454063/ . live .
  9. Web site: Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage" . Alice Savile . timeout.com . 14 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220160321/https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/ginger-johnson-drag-doesnt-need-to-be-serious-sometimes-its-just-about-being-a-silly-sausage . live .
  10. Web site: Ginger Johnson – About . Ginger Johnson . 23 October 2023 . 23 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023060143/https://www.gingerjohnson.co.uk/about . live .
  11. Web site: LGBTQ+ stars celebrate the launch of Nancy's, Feel It's new "den of debauchery". Sam. Damshenas. September 6, 2022. October 23, 2023. May 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509052424/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/lgbtq-stars-celebrate-the-launch-of-nancys-feel-its-new-den-of-debauchery/. live.
  12. Web site: UK's first ever drag karaoke bar to open this month . Steve Brown . attitude.co.uk . 3 May 2018 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/uks-first-ever-drag-karaoke-bar-to-open-this-month-295743/ . live .
  13. Web site: London Associate Artists and Companies . . pleasance.co.uk . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208060325/https://trust.pleasance.co.uk/londonassociates . live .
  14. Web site: Durham drag queen Ginger Johnson becomes breakfast TV star. May 25, 2020. Chronicle Live. October 23, 2023. October 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231023040137/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/ginger-johnson-chris-taylor-wakey-18308031. live.
  15. News: My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost . Ginger Johnson . The Guardian . 17 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223063505/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/17/my-drag-persona-helped-me-rebuild-my-life . live .
  16. Web site: Drag Race UK's Ginger Johnson Didn't Sneak Up on Anyone . Marah Eakin . vulture.com . 4 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216043600/https://www.vulture.com/article/drag-race-uk-ginger-johnson-winner-interview.html . live .
  17. Web site: Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season five. Alastair. James. September 11, 2023. Attitude. October 23, 2023. September 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230929143833/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/meet-the-queens-of-rupauls-drag-race-uk-season-five-446268/. live.
  18. Web site: Wratten . Marcus . 2023-11-03 . Drag Race UK fans divided over Snatch Game winner: 'They are rigging' . 2023-11-04 . PinkNews . en-US . 2023-11-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104050928/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/03/drag-race-uk-fans-divided-snatch-game-kate-butch-ginger-johnson/ . live .
  19. Web site: How Ginger Johnson Used Old Hollywood Glamour to Win Drag Race U.K. . Mathew Rodrigues . them.us . December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227212629/https://www.them.us/story/ginger-johnson-rupauls-drag-race-uk-interview . live .
  20. Web site: How Ginger Johnson Used Old Hollywood Glamour to Win Drag Race U.K. . Mathew Rodrigues . them.us . December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227212629/https://www.them.us/story/ginger-johnson-rupauls-drag-race-uk-interview . live .
  21. Web site: Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage" . Alice Savile . timeout.com . 14 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220160321/https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/ginger-johnson-drag-doesnt-need-to-be-serious-sometimes-its-just-about-being-a-silly-sausage . live .
  22. Web site: JuliaSays . Princess Julia . qxmagazine.com . 22 July 2015 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130534/https://www.qxmagazine.com/2015/07/juliasays-2/ . live .
  23. Web site: Sink the Pink: Down the Rabbit Hole . Miriam Bouteba . timeout.com . 21 November 2016 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130534/https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/sink-the-pink-down-the-rabbit-hole . live .
  24. Web site: The Queen's Head . Paul Vale . thestage.co.uk . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318143546/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-queens-head-review-at-selfridges-london--anarchy-and-nostalgia . live .
  25. Web site: Drag Generations: Lavinia Co-Op in conversation with Ginger Johnson . Will Stroude . attitude.co.uk . 12 December 2018 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-10-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023074326/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/sexuality/drag-generations-lavinia-co-op-in-conversation-with-ginger-johnson-297822/ . live .
  26. Web site: Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage" . Alice Savile . timeout.com . 14 December 2023 . 2023-12-23.
  27. News: Escape from Planet Trash review a Christmas B musical misadventure lost . Kate Wyver . The Guardian . 28 November 2019 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/nov/28/escape-from-planet-trash-review-a-christmas-b-musical-misadventure . live .
  28. Web site: Ginger Johnson presents Ginger Johnson's Christmas Egg . Damien Russell . londontheatre1.com . 9 December 2020 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.londontheatre1.com/reviews/ginger-johnson-presents-ginger-johnsons-christmas-egg-review/ . live .
  29. News: Happy queer Christmas! Drag kings and queens' festive spectaculars . Ella Braidwood . The Guardian . 6 December 2021 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-10-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023063641/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/dec/06/drag-kings-and-queens-festive-spectaculars . live .
  30. Web site: Ginger Johnson and Pals . . whatsonstage.com . 16 June 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130534/https://www.whatsonstage.com/shows/london-theatre/off-west-end-theatre/ginger-johnson-and-pals_244675/ . live .
  31. Web site: Ginger Johnson – Ginger Johnson's Festive Spread . . whatsonstage.com . 24 May 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.whatsonstage.com/shows/london-theatre/off-west-end-theatre/ginger-johnson-ginger-johnsons-festive-spread_285958/ . live .
  32. Web site: The Ginger and Jonbers Show . . theglory.co . 2023-12-23 . 2023-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128123845/https://www.theglory.co/event/jonbersginger/ . live .
  33. Web site: Ginger Johnson – Good Clean Fun . . whatsonstage.com . 9 June 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.whatsonstage.com/shows/london-theatre/off-west-end-theatre/ginger-johnson-good-clean-fun-wip_271164/ . live .
  34. Web site: David Hoyle and Ginger Johnson . . happyvalleypride.co.uk . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130534/https://www.happyvalleypride.co.uk/whats-on/64/david-hoyle-ginger-johnson . live .
  35. Web site: Ginger Johnson "Drag doesn't need to be serious – sometimes it's just about being a silly sausage" . Alice Savile . timeout.com . 14 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220160321/https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/ginger-johnson-drag-doesnt-need-to-be-serious-sometimes-its-just-about-being-a-silly-sausage . live .
  36. Web site: Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson: 'I'm gonna take over the world' . SAM DAMSHENAS . gaytimes.co.uk . December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103174754/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/drag-race-uk-ginger-johnson-winners-interview/ . live .
  37. Web site: Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version) - Single. music.apple.com. 2023-11-26. 2023-12-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20231229144253/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/dont-ick-my-yum-the-m-52s-version-single/1711643527. live.
  38. Web site: Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical. music.apple.com. 2023-11-26. 2023-11-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20231129221816/https://music.apple.com/us/album/pant-oh-she-better-dont-the-rusical/1713763130. live.
  39. Web site: RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown. Samuel. Spencer. September 11, 2023. BBC Three. September 30, 2023. September 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925132618/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/7e067af1-455f-4ad7-85d8-8d56679e45c6. live.
  40. Web site: So lovely of @lorraine to join us on our show this morning. You're welcome to come back any time, pet! #DragRaceUK. November 29, 2023. Twitter.com. November 29, 2023.
  41. Web site: Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner . Ginger Johnson . bbc.co.uk . 30 November 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220180441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f60730b8-854e-4779-bca1-39a94c825e2e . live .
  42. News: My drag persona gave me a way to exist in the world – and a route back to the family I lost . Ginger Johnson . The Guardian . 17 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223063505/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/17/my-drag-persona-helped-me-rebuild-my-life . live .
  43. Web site: Ginger Johnson . Si Hawkins . comedy.co.uk . 5 December 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005352/https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/random8/ginger-johnson/ . live .
  44. Web site: Ginger Johnson: From panto-obsessed child to RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner . Ginger Johnson . bbc.co.uk . 30 November 2023 . 2023-12-23 . 2023-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220180441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f60730b8-854e-4779-bca1-39a94c825e2e . live .
  45. Web site: I transformed into a drag queen with Sink The Pink and performed to 2000 drunk students . Jordan Bassett . nme.com . 5 April 2017 . 2023-12-23 . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318130533/https://www.nme.com/features/sink-the-pink-drag-jordan-bassett-swansea-1554734 . live .
  46. Web site: Home visit: one room to live, work and play . Ashlyn Gibson . ikea.com . 2023-12-23 . 2023-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231024000636/https://www.ikea.com/ma/en/ideas/home-visit-one-room-to-live-work-and-play-pub7b000381 . live .