ABSTRACT
Why is it that many ‘lesbian playwrights’ are unwilling to define themselves as such? “Drama Queens: Ruling with a Rod of Irony” attempts to answer this question and to discover what the term ‘lesbian playwright’ means within contemporary culture. It dissects the dominant homophobic and misogynist mythologies that have outlawed ‘queer’ girl writers to the underskirts of British theatre, and ultimately denied them either artistic or commercial currency. It examines the history of the label in the context of feminism, gay liberation and positive representation, and queries its aesthetic and economic viability in a climate where the ‘lesbian playwright’ is not even supported by her own community. Finally, it is an exploration into radical forms, working methodologies and new genres stimulated by being neither semantic Man nor Woman. It is a piece about cultural terrorism—and how to avoid capture. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworthpressinc.com]
