Fridae

If you live in KL, then you’ve probably heard of SHELAH: The fierce, fabulous, 7-foot-tall drag queen who’s been lip-syncing her way into everyone’s hearts over the past three years.

For the clueless among you, Shelah’s the drag name ofEdwin Sumun, a thoroughly respectable and accomplished theatre artiste. The 38-year-old actor has played Hamlet and Macbeth in Germany, was a key player in groups like Instant Café Theatre Company, Five Arts Company and The Actors’ Studio, and heads his own theatre company, Sumunda.

Edwin first created Shelah in the shoulder-padded, disco-ball-lit days of the 1980s. He describes this alter ego then as “the original IT girl of KL. A lover, a fierce dancefloor sweeper, a vision of youthful exuberance.” Sadly, this incarnation of the lady didn’t last long – back then, he believed drag queening wasn’t compatible with a serious dramatic career.

Then, in 2008, Seksualiti Merdeka was founded: an international sexuality rights festival that spoke out against the religiously conservative politics of 21st century mainstream Malaysia. Edwin got involved in the activism, and the following year, he decided to revive his legendary persona as part of the festival’s closing event, Rainbow Massacre.

When Shelah appeared in front a new generation of KL-ites, she was an immediate hit – so much so that Edwin decided to stage regular Massacre revues throughout the year, inviting talented friends like Aaron Khaled and Vernon Adrian Emuang to show off their pipes together with him on the stage. I had the chance to see an episode in 2010: the theatre space at the Annexe was full to the brim with fans and every one of us was blown away by the over-the-top costumes and passionate renditions of “All the Lovers” and “Your Disco Needs You”.

Soon, Shelah couldn’t be confined to the stage. The big-haired lady began hitting the airwaves as on a BFM89.9 radio show-cum-podcast called “Shelah Talks”, and even penned a column in Time Out KL called “Like That Lah”. But such fame came with its perils too. One critic even labeled the queen as “the Antichrist” – an honour which Edwin boasted of on his Facebook page.

Fridae was all set to interview Edwin/Shelah last year to publicise Seksualiti Merdeka 2011. In addition to the show, Edwin was due to lead a forum on sexuality rights in the workplace, while Shelah would be staging a drag workshop, titled “Fierce and fabulous: Shelah’s Finishing School for Drag Queens”.

Tragically, that was the very year the Malaysian authorities clamped down on the festival, even calling it “a threat to national security”. Not to worry – the drag workshop was held on another occasion, and public discussions on sexuality continue to be held as part of a greater dialogue on society and politics at the Annexe.

But, after a splendid four-year run, Shelah’s decided to retire. A three-part farewell was originally planned, titled “The Heart Trilogy”.

Part One was “SHELAH Says LOVE Hurtz”, was performed on 12 October as a fundraiser for the PT Foundation, a non-profit group committed to providing sexuality awareness and empowerment programs, as well as HIV prevention, care and support. Part Two, “SHELAH Sings” takes place on 23 November: a celebration of songs dear to the diva’s heart. Due to logistics problems with the venue, Part Three has been cancelled, and its material has been fused into Part Two.

Shelah’s final public appearance will be on 25 November, at the all-weekend multidisciplinary arts festival Urbanscapes. Try and catch her if you’ve never seen her before: she is awesomeness incarnate. And if you can’t – just pray that Edwin has a change of heart another thirty years down the road, and brings the Glamazonian Princess back from the dead once more.

Edwin Sumun as Shelah.
All photos courtesy Edwin Sumun (http://shelah.tumblr.com).

æ: Age, sex, occupation, location?

Edwin: 38 and ageless, not recently, actor/director/drag queen, Kuala Lumpur.

æ: Why are you killing off Shelah? And will she survive in any form?

Edwin: Who said I'm killing anyone? I prefer to say retirement from public service. Like all good elected politicians, I did my term (four years) to the best of my abilities, kept to as many promises as humanly possible and realize it's time to move on.

Shelah will survive, I hope, in the minds and hearts of everyone who has had the chance of meeting her. I've met some amazing people who have said how I've changed they way they feel and think. Of course, she's still a gun for hire. I ain't gonna turn down paying corporate gigs, you know. I may also make an appearance at the Kakiseni/Cameronian Arts Awards in 2013.

æ: Could you describe your closing shows for us?

Edwin: My plan for the "The Heart Trilogy" was to end Shelah doing all the things we both loved hence 'Heart' and what a heart it is. The first show was for PT Foundation, an organisation that I've helped out every now and then over the past 15 years. I know that PT has it's problems but I thought it'd be nice to be able to raise some funds for the people who worked there.

The second show is for my love of music. Putting together some of KL's young and fresh musicians and performing songs that have kinda been the soundtrack to my life.

The final part was supposed to be the full Shelah experience similar to the big shows I did in 2011. Like Anita Baker sang, giving you the best that I got. I also planned it to coincide with the impending end of the world. The world and Shelah ends, now go better your lives in the new world.

æ: How long have you been doing drag? Why did you begin?

Edwin: All my life. But SHELAH!!! officially reemerged in 2009. I had been playing her in my work with the Instant Café Theatre Company for years. It was never something I thought would be of any real worth to anyone.

Again, it took an ignorant politician to set me off. At the time, I wasn't in a good place physically and mentally. Work was beginning to wear me out and I was questioning my place in the greater scheme of things. An article appeared in the papers. Said politician said that pondans, mak nyahs (transgender women), effete men did not exist in Malaysia and if they did, should not be allowed to exist.

I woke up. Then she and me became this united energy. I knew what I wanted to do. That's when I got a call to host the Massacre show. They wanted Edwin. I said no, I'm bringing Shelah instead. There were doubters. Not anymore. The timing of Shelah appearing was pure universal magic.

æ: When did you start the massacre series? Why? What’s the response been like?

Edwin: I joined the Massacre series in its second edition. I think it was a little show bringing talented performers together under the name of love. I joined it and am not shy to say I made it what it is today. Fabulous, joyous, irreverent, and these are verbs used by people who watched the show. I only wanted to entertain the best way I knew and show that drag was much more than just being a bitch. I like to shatter narrow perceptions of life and I think I have. I must thank the Massacrerists for giving me this space. We have had such a great time together and the response has been amazing. It was the social event of the year.

Edwin Sumun, an accomplished theatre artiste who 
heads his own theatre company, Sumunda

æ: What's your most treasured memory from these four years of doing drag?

Edwin: Apart from working with and meeting some fabulous people, it's the expression on people's faces when I appear. In that very moment I see joy and amazement replace the stresses and problems on the faces. And for an hour or two, they have no worries and go home a little lighter. They remember their youth again and when it's done I walk backstage with such an immense sense of joy. I have so many problems of my own and I know sometimes I need something or someone to help me alleviate my burdened senses. I'm happy that I can do that for you even if's just for a short period of time. I have an elephant's memory and I treasure every moment from every show. And the relationships that have grown from them. A really silly fun giggly one was when a truck driver in the US wrote to tell me how amazing my radio show was. (“Shelah Talks”, podcast on iTunes)

æ: Who have been your inspirations?

Edwin: I'd be lying if I didn't say RuPaul. I mean which queen isn't inspired by what RuPaul has done these past four years? ‘Supermodel’ was my theme song in college, y'know. However, the biggest of my inspirations is Kylie Minogue. The way she reinvents and evolves yet remaining true to her essence. It's never about oneupmanship, it's about taking what you have and what you know and striving to make it better. And children, ‘cos they really are the future. I've worked with so many that have reminded me to always see things differently. Children are so inspirational and look at how we're raising them in today's world. Shocking.

æ: Could you tell us about your work in activism?

Edwin: I am an advocate. I promote. I never thought I'd ever be considered an activist. I am always ready to lend a helping hand. But if you insist on calling me an activist, then fine. I'll accept that label just like i have graciously accepted all the other labels you've given me. My primary stand is to encourage people to move towards a better sense of self, self-worth, of knowing who you are, of the power you have been gifted and how you can channel that power. I never see myself as merely an advocate for the LGBT community alone. I believe in the inherent good in humanity as a whole regardless of the labels put on us. I am continuous in my advocacy of everyone of us living the best of our lives filled with compassion, empathy, understanding, respect... and all the other verbs associated with being good and fabulous.

æ: Who would you say will succeed you as Malaysia's favourite drag queen?

Edwin: Was there one before me? I know there are a few fabulous queens in Malaysia. I'm hoping they would continue blazing the trails I've left. I mean, how favourite was I? This is Malaysia. I'm not supposed to exist, right?

æ: What does your future hold?

Edwin: The future holds my balls in its hand. I'm still not entirely sure. I may get back to theatre or reinvent Shelah or a whole new character. Let's see how the world ends first. I have ideas but I'm not in any rush.

æ: Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?

Edwin: Shelah says, "Go. Be fabulous. Be gracious. Be who you need to be. Oh you already are. Brilliant!"

Shelah Sings is taking place on Friday 23 November, 9:30pm, at the Venue, at the Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. Find out more on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/322354887872733/ Urbanscapes takes place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November, with Shelah’s act at the Green Stage on Sunday. More information at urbanscapes.com.my. You can listen to “Shelah Talks” on BFM89.9 Every Saturday 2:30pm. Podcasts can be downloaded from www.bfm.my and iTunes. Follow Shelah on Twitter at @shelahtweets or on Facebook, or Tumblr at http://shelah.tumblr.com