Ever wondered what Vancouver’s Drag King scene looked like? Did you know there is a long history of drag kings before you?
Long Live Kings, a web series that was created and stars some of the local artists themselves. Watch three on the big screen at the Museum of Vancouver where history becomes queer.
We will have a lively panel hosted by Romi Kim/SKIM with legendary Kings Edward Malaprop, Buster Cherry, Luke Wolf, and Theo Rhetical, sharing stories, insights, and reflections on the city’s drag scene.
The program wraps up with performances by the starring kings themselves Theo Rhetical, Jeff Garbage, Percy Pegg, and Velvet Ryder.
Presented in partnership with Long Live Kings, with special thanks to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.
Date: Sunday, October 19th, 2025
Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm.
Location: Museum of Vancouver, Auditorium
Tickets:
$18 Indigenous
$20 General Admission
(plus, fees and taxes)
If tickets are sold out and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email programs@museumofvancouver.ca
About the Moderator
Romi Kim/SKIM
김새로미, Romi Kim or SKIM in drag is a nonbinary, trans masc, second-generation Korean interdisciplinary artist, drag king, filmmaker, and founder of King Sized, Vancouver's largest Drag King-focused show. Kim challenges the mainstream narratives through giving space and visibility to trans and racialized identities. Kim holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia (2022). They have screened their video work at Seoul Indie-Ani Festival (2019), Vancouver's Queer Film Festival (2023) Polygon Art Gallery, SUM gallery and Vines Festival. Their work aims to think through affective belonging and placemaking as potential avenues for creating meaningful connections.
About the Speakers
Edward Malaprop
Born out of the Drag King Vancouver competition at Club 23 West, and an alumnus of groups Kings of Vancouver, DKUnited, S&S Queer Femme Burlesque, and Boyfriends, he has performed on stages across the city, as well as jaunts to Chicago, Washington DC, and Winnipeg. Edward was board chair of Bent Umbrella, the group that brought the Drag King Community Extravaganza (IDKE) academic conference and performance showcase to so-called-Vancouver in 2007, and was a founding member of Vancouver’s longest running drag event, Man Up.
Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry has been on the drag scene for a few decades now. Probably one of the oldest kings still performing and loving every minute of it. Buster's career took off in Vancouver around 1993 taking the title of Mr. WESA for a softball fundraiser. He later teamed up the drag king troupe $3Bill and performed with T and Luke Wolf at different venues in and around Vancouver. Places such as Celebrities, The Junction, The Jupiter Lounge, The Lotus, Milk The Odyssey and also graced the Toronto and Vancouver Pride festival stages. After being elected as Emperor #32 of the Dogwood Monarchist Society in 2005, Buster broadened his horizons as his tour took him to many Canadian and US cities with his Empress Vivian Von Brokenhymen.
The drag community embraced Buster who never turned down any performance he was asked to do and performed mostly for fundraisers. Music for Buster was mostly Pop, Soul, Rap and R&B and was sometimes a convenient political vehicle or just a shout out to the peeps. Buster has emulated president Barack Obama on many occasions also Bruno Mars, Usher and Neyo have never failed to entertain people.
Buster, still going after all these years still looks forward to any opportunity to perform. The thrill of stepping on to any stage has never waned and hopefully will still bolster him through the rest of his career.
Luke Wolf
Wolf first did drag in 1989 in Toronto and then on a dare again in 2002 and fell in love. He was a part of $3 Bill in 2003 with Buster Cherry, T, Kyle and Ryan Coke. Through performing he realized he never felt more himself than on stage in "Drag" and strongly believes it saved his life.
During heavy COVID lockdown is where he took the time and steps in transitioning and at 50! scary shit!
Still learning, he embraces and accepts being called a “Drag Thing" and still hopes he has something to offer moving forward as a performer.
He has become the man he always wanted to be and has become the father he never had for his son.
About the Performers
Theo Rhetical
Theo Rhetical is an ethereal Two-Spirit drag king of Peepeekisis Cree and Mètis ancestry. Since his debut at Pantry Drag in July of 2023, Theo’s magic has dazzled many stages in so-called “Vancouver” and beyond. He is the son of drag kings Heathen and Genesis, and together they make up the Haus of Eden, the only all-king house in the city. Theo is delighted to be able to share his art, stories and sparkle thanks to the love of queer community and his found family.
He is also one of the speakers for this event.
Jeff Garbage
Employee of the month for 17 consecutive months, Jeff Garbage (he/they) is up for a promotion! He's a father figure and unhinged (non-threatening) salaryman with a passion for early 2000s dad rock and giving positive reinforcement.
Percy Pegg
Percy Pegg is the non-binary, sapphic approved, friendly neighbourhood drag himbo. They’re the wholesome boy-next-door that hardworking moms and baby gays alike will fall in love with. Their drag embodies non-toxic masculinity, combining gyrating dance moves with physical comedy to make you laugh and swoon.
Velvet Ryder
Velvet Ryder is your favourite drag queen’s favourite drag king! He is the current reigning High King Supreme of Seattle's Emerald City Kings Ball and the 1st drag king to win the Sing for the ring championship belt. Tantalizing and turning on audiences across the province and the border with his unbeatable charm and smooth moves he’s captivating crowds across the country and beyond, proving that kings reign just as fiercely as queens. Recently joining the Long Live Kings Collective Velvet co produces bingo nights and KING SIZED an all drag king and thing drag show. Always looking for ways to showcase black excellence and have a hell of a good time/