When I saw Dina Martina at the Soho Theatre in 2008 I was expecting a fairly generic drag/cabaret act. That’ll teach me to judge a book by it’s garishly bewigged cover. Martina straddles all sorts of genres and styles, from performance art to multi-media to outrageous costumes and back again. But what I particularly enjoyed was the unhinged absurdist humour, tinkering about with language, prop humour and downright daftness that had distinct echoes of Reeves and Mortimer, even though I doubt if Martina, aka American performer Grady West, had come across them. I certainly hadn’t expected that at all. Fans include John Waters and Whoopi Goldberg and I would advise you to become a fan too. As filmmaker Waters said: “Dina Martina goes way beyond drag into some new kind of twisted art!”  I couldn’t have put it better myself and believe me I've tried. Dina Martina is at the Soho Theatre from Oct 13 to 24. Tickets here.

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage?

I've always taken Coco Chanel's advice: "Right before you go out, look in the mirror and take everything off".

2. What irritates you?

Scabies.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Mix bleach and ammonia.

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Mix bleach and ammonia.

5. What has surprised you the most during your career?

When people jump out and scare me.

6. What does your daughter think of your job?

Not much. She just turned eleven, so she thinks everything I do is uncool. Even my recent one-woman production of A Raisin in the Sun.

7. What’s the worst thing about being a singer?

I think my legs are underappreciated. People tend to look away from me when I sing, so they don't notice my legs as much.

Interview continues here.