Chatti Patti

Look who's calling! It's Ginger Johnson... That’s right! This week, Patti’s chatting to award (and Drag Race) winning artist, writer, performer, and fellow redhead Ginger Johnson. Ginger discusses how she came to leave the North East through an unusual act of theft, what it's like coming back to a changed drag scene and working with Royal Northern Sinfonia. You’ll hear about the time she made a sh...

Look who's calling! It's Azula Bandit... This week Patti sits down with the multitalented dancer, musician, DJ and fellow libra to answer the eternal question: can anyone twerk? Should they? Azula gives Patti tips from behind the DJ booth and shares their dream of adding 'mermaid' to their already impressive portfolio. Tangents include astrology, Disney villains, cutting people out (we support it)...

Look who's calling...  It's Sally™!  This week, Patti is on the horn with South Shields’ own Sally™. Freshly anticipating her turn on RuPaul's Drag Race UK; topics include cowboy boots, Cartoon Network, Claire’s Accessories, and beauty secrets - including the troubles of real and synthetic hair. Sally talks expectations going into Drag Race, and gives her future self some advice. Patti attempts an...

Look who's calling! It's Joanie Crump... This week, Patti’s sipping spicy margaritas with the impeccably dressed Joanie Crump, multimedia visual artist and founder of Hartlepool Folk Festival. Topics include the radical roots of folk and country music, the truth about banjos, Beyoncé, the Jersey Devil, and foods that look like butts. Along the way, Joanie tells Patti about working with iconic Nort...

Look who's calling! It's Chai Tea... This week, Patti spills the chai with Newcastle’s own South-Asian Sensation. Hailing from Manchester, Chai discusses growing up with a traditional Muslim background and discovering drag. Since competing in the long running competition series ‘Drag Idol Newcastle’ in 2025, Chai has gone from strength to strength. Topics include backstage shenanigans, the realnes...

Look who's calling! It's Elijah Young... This week, Patti chats to playwright, actor, and former freelance sandwich artist Elijah Young (The Cold Buffet, Smoggie Queens) about the necessary power of laughter. Topics include regency lesbians, Cole Escola, Bratz, stunt doubles, and theft. Also, is it possible to risk assess a dip in the River Tees? And listen: we forgive you if you can’t come to the...

Look who's calling! It's Laurie Ward... In this first ever LIVE recording, Patti sits down with Laurie Ward (Ugly Sisters, 52 Monologues for Young Transexuals) on the stage of Newcastle’s Live Theatre to close out the Trans Performance Now festival. Topics include Madonna, Kate Bush, I Saw the TV Glow, trans tragedy (because let’s face it, trans joy doesn’t make for great drama), and dads. Also, l...

Look who's calling! It's Jo Clifford... This week Patti chats to playwright, performer, translator, father, grandmother and SAINT Jo Clifford about her storied and prolific career. Topics include Jo’s flagship show ‘The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven,’ how to write five plays a year, standing up to rightwing backlash, and boys' boarding school (it’s worse than you think). Along the way...

Look who's calling!  It's Rhian Jade...  This week Patti chats to performance artist and director Rhian Jade (Rhian Jade Theatre, SoreSlap Theatre, ‘Saoirse Self’, ‘Fresh Air’, and more) about being a nonbinary artist and putting trans bodies on stage. Other topics include Shakespeare, Graham Norton, Kristin Stewart, dream roles, religious trauma, and why Northern Irish accents are so sexy (we fig...

Look who's calling!  It's Emma Frankland...  This week Patti chats to writer, performer, and theatre-maker Emma Frankland (No Apologies, Hollyoaks, We Dig, Rituals for Change, Welcome to Nightvale, None Of Us Is Yet A Robot, and many more) about making good messes and staying in the fight. Other topics include Nirvana, kids these days (don’t even know what a phone is), fire onstage, the role of ar...

Look who's calling!  It's Finn Warman.... This week Patti goes behind the scenes with the founding director of Andro and Eve to chat all things Sheffield, community arts, and werking conditions for artists. Along the way, Finn lets Patti in on the simple pleasure of a spreadsheets and a Yorkshire cuppa. You can also find the video version of this episode on the Curious Arts YouTube channel: www.yo...

Look who's calling!  It's Audrey Cook.... This week Patti chats to Audrey about vampire fanfic, the Twilight Zone, Teeside mythology, and their sexy/scary Trans Performance Now commission: 'Payton.' Audrey also shares their unique insights into community arts, going blonde after being ginger (should we??), and the joy of drinking ale from a short little glass. You can also find the video version o...

Look who's calling!  It's Ophelia Balls.... In the season 1 finale of Chatti Patti, Gary... aka Ophelia Balls talks about all things drag! From her humble beginnings at Rockshots, ordering wigs from newspapers and runninng a guest house visited by Lady Bunny! To recent years, hosting Pride Radio and DREAMBOYS, as well as many local pride events, and touring with drag icons Alaska, Baga Chips and T...

Look who's calling!  It's Dami Fawehinmi.... This week Dami and Patti chat about visiting family in Texas, what drink reminds Dami of home, and the importance of renewing your web domain! As well as creating Journals of Dami and Navii Media - providing an alternative platform and creating spaces for global majority people, LGBTQIA+, disabled and people from low income. Find out more of what Dami i...

Look who's calling!  It's Catrina McHugh.... Catrina chats to Patti about her work at Open Clasp, working with women to tell their stories and change the world one play at a time. She also shares some lovely thoughts on her wife Huffty, being part of Camp Vamp and what type of drink she identifies with most. You can find out more about Open Clasp on their website: https://www.openclasp.org.uk/abou...

Look who's calling!  It's Mea T. Cleaver.... This week Mea chats to Patti about all things drag, how she started and her journey as a trans woman. She also shares what her ideal Glamlite collaboration would be and shares a secret! You can donate to Mea's gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/recover-meas-transition-fund You can also find the video version of this episode on the Curious Arts Vi...

Look who's calling!  It's Aaron Bowman.... Aaron talks to Patti this week about what it means to be a Creative Producer, what kind of beverage they would be and their recent work with Ruth Flowers on Nana's House in Peterlee, as well as what grinds their gears and what they're looking forward to! Find out more about Aaron's work on their website: https://www.aaronbowman.co.uk You can find the vide...

Look who's calling!  It's Yve Anthea Ngoo.... This week Yve talks to Patti about her work with Mr Gay Great Britain: Andrew Gardiner, all things costuming and dance, plasticine flowers and her ghost story based on research into the history of black lives in the North East. She also reminisces about Rockshots - Newcastle's former premiere gay nightclub and shares a confession! You can find the vide...