Bailey to Aubrey: Drag queen prepares for first ever show in hometown of Timaru

From busking on the main street of his small home town, to beaming from television screens across Australasia for RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Bailey Dunnage says he owes much of his success to Timaru.

Now Dunnage, 26, is preparing to bring his “one-woman show’’ to the South Canterbury town – his first ever solo show as his drag character Aubrey Haive, born out of the Covid-19 lockdowns in Melbourne, and a persona inspired by a favourite family movie.

“I am really excited to be performing in Timaru,’’ Dunnage said.

“Timaru has given me a great grounding. Growing up there doing all the shows I did it really sparked my love for theatre.’’

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Dunnage left Timaru as an 18-year-old, and studied a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth.

The community got behind Dunnage, helping him fundraise to attend the academy through his shows, and his regular spots busking on Stafford St.

“Through uni I had a few friends who did drag, and I would go to their shows, and I loved the queer scene.

“But because I was friends with people who performed drag, I knew how hard it was.’’

While he had enjoyed the idea of doing drag, Dunnage felt he never had the “time, money or energy’’ to explore it.

However, after graduating and moving to Melbourne, he began auditioning for shows and other jobs, and then Covid-19 hit Australia’s shores.

”Being in lockdown, now all I had the time and the energy.’’

And so began his journey into the world of Aubrey Haive, perfecting his makeup, outfits, and persona, for the character inspired by the movie Austin Powers – a family favourite with the catchphrase “Oh Behave”.

“When I first started in lockdown, someone I knew from the theatre world was doing the same thing, so we would do Zoom makeup sessions together.’’

In February 2021, Aubrey was introduced to the world when Dunnage decided to go out in public for the first time in drag.

“It was wild, I was so nervous.

“I was very shy and didn’t know how to walk in heels and didn’t know how to talk to people.’’

While many people told Aubrey how good she looked, Dunnage said he did not know how take the compliments, but it solidified a desire to keep doing it.

Aubrey soon got over her shyness, and with a bit of courage auditioned for the New Zealand and Australia spin-off of the American show RuPaul’s Drag Race, in its second season, with drag queens competing for the crown and the chance of winning $100,000.

She was eliminated in the second show, but the experience gained was something Dunnage would never forget.

“It was a crazy experience.

“You don’t have your phone and were very isolated – reality TV is a whole other battleground and it can be quite taxing.

“But it was amazing.’’

“We all got along really well and while there were some clashes of personalities everyone was really supportive.’’

After her appearance on the show doors began opening up for Aubrey.

“She has opened doors that I had been trying to get into for a long time.’’

And while Dunnage was enjoying performing as Aubrey, he said he had still felt nervous about performing in drag in Timaru at the Caroline Bay Carnival.

He travelled to Timaru before Christmas to spend time in his hometown and perform at the Bay, but he got Covid on Christmas Day and the show was cancelled.

“I was worried about how people would take Aubrey [at the carnival].

“Growing up in Timaru, times have changed since I was there…’’

Dunnage encouraged anyone living in small towns, that were feeling curious, or had questions about their identity, to find “their people’’.

“There are more people out there going through the same things.

“Safely find others like you. It’s such a connected world – just know there are going to be people to support you.’’

He encouraged people to “come and have a chat’’ after his Timaru and Christchurch shows.

“I love going back to Timaru – it gave me a lot, but growing up as a closeted queer person, it is nice to know people can be themselves.’’

He hoped his shows would also teach people about the art of drag, and the community behind it.

“I want people to love it and understand it.

“Drag is an escape from reality.’’

Dunnage has also been performing in Rent at the Christchurch Court Theatre while he is back in New Zealand.

He will perform his one-woman show Cabar-aive with Aubrey Haive at Timaru’s Playhouse Theatre on January 27, followed by a Christchurch show on February 3.

Tickets are available via his website aubreyhaive.com.