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Chris Shaw (born as Roger Wyatt 30th March 1936 in Meddlesex, England, United Kingdom) is an International Tenor, an English Drag Queen, and Female Impersonator.
Died 28th July, 2010 at Murrurundi, New South Wales, Australia.
Served in the Army RAMC
Partner: Alex Morris, 1958 – 1994 ( Deceased )
Changed name to “Chris Shaw” 1959

Categories: Living People; British Entertainers; Drag Queens

Born in London, the eldest of a large family with eleven sisters, and one brothers. He always wanted to sing. After leaving school he worked at many jobs. One as an Elephant Groom with Bertram Mills Circus.

He went to many auditions, but his Tenor voice had not yet full developed.

After leaving the Army, RAMC, Chris started working the Pubs and Workingman's Clubs, performing a Drag and Singing Acts. At the same time going to Max Rivers Studios for singing and tap lessons.

About this time, he met Peter King, a Piano Accompanist. Their double act was a huge success. So much so that by 1959 they had started “King Shaw Productions” with an office in Bond Street, putting out Road Shows, Music Halls, All-male Pantomimes, and Drag Shows engaging all the top Drag Acts of the day. Most shows starred Chris. The agent Keith Salberg was a great help in these years.

About this time Chris and Peter performed on stage with Dorothy Ward at the discovery of the Hoxton Music Hall.

In 1965 Chris did his first West End Show, called “The It Girl” for impressario Don Ross. It ran for 6 months.

“King Shaw Productions" should also be credited with starting the now Famous “Vauxhall Tavern”, Floss and Jim the Publicans paid them £3 each. They later held the lease on the “Playhouse Theatre”, Jersey, and presented “Holiday Showboat" there for three years, and about this time they started to present “Drag Balls” around the London Town Halls. These went on until 1969, with the last one at the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand with the “Joe Loss” Orchestra. “King Shaw Productions" donated over $2,000.00 to Cancer Research.

Back in 1967 Chris went on a tour of South Africa and Rhodesia with his Revue “Boys Will Be Girls”. He fell in love with Rhodesia, sold up the Agency and his home in the U.K. And moved to Africa.

He opened his own NightClub in Salisbury “The Celebrity”, bringing out top cabaret acts from the U.K..

Chris moved to Capetown and for six months appeared at the famous “Crazy Horse” Night Club as Resident Compere.

In 1973 he moved to Sydney, Australia and a whole new career started.

Chris was Top of the Bill at St George League Club, followed by long running revues. One “Cinderfella” at the famouse “Bull & Bush” ran for over a year. Also, “The Godmother” , and “Tropical Heatwave” .

Chris also started to do his act on Cruise Ships and was a big success, working for Sitmar and P&O lines over the last 30 years.

Chris often returned to the U.K. To appear in Pantomime as Dame most years, second on the Bill to top Stars such as Lynda Barron. His favourite part being Sarah the Cook.

In the late 1990's he starred as Al Jolson in the Australian Tour of the “Black & White Minstrels”. Also about this time he formed a new partnership with Piano Accompanist Frank Summers. They toured all over Australia with a concert style show “Down Memory Lane”, with Music Hall and Light Opera songs ( no Drag at this time ).

In 2009 Chris was still on Tour. This time in a Revue “The Two Queens”

( with Jacque Stocks & Co). Chris is Mae West in the first half, and Pavarotti in the second.
August 2010

Bibliography:

• “The Art of Female Impersonation” by Chris Shaw ( Introduction by Ray Mackender Founder of the “British Music Hall Society )
• “Drag” by Roger Baker ( Chris on Cover, also with contribution )
• “The London Drag Scene” ( Chris as centrefold )