Jonny Woo’s London

Jonny Woo’s long list of credits includes an eight year residency at Bistroteque where he compered the Tranny Lip Synching competition, appearances at fashion events for Louis Vuitton, performing on the main stage at Lovebox and the NYC Downlow stage at Glastonbury, and hosting the hilarious Gay Bingo at Bestival and the ICA. London’s drag and cabaret scene would be barren without him, but what does he get up to when he’s not impersonating Mary Portas?


Favourite route...

If I was standing by Centre Point on Tottenham Court Road I’d probably be going straight along to Oxford Street, then I’d probably do a left into Soho, and always land up walking along Old Compton Street as you do for a gay man in London. Then I’ll wander up through Berwick Street, round Carnaby Street and make my way across to Oxford Street that way, missing out Oxford Street and then I’ll be at Oxford Circus, and then I’ll probably go to John Lewis and buy a seam for my gown or something.

I will go into So High Soho which is where I buy my sunglasses because they’re really cheap and everyone thinks they’re really expensive. I quite like popping into Bang Bang, it’s like a designer second hand shop. I love to pop into Patisserie Valerie for a mille feuille, and I love the French House, it’s very nice for a pint. And nipping into Soho House, if I’ve got work to do in the middle of the day I’ll go and find myself a little spot. That’s what a wander through Soho would usually be like.

My favourite neighbourhood is Hackney. I live here, I’ve been living here for 20 years, this is where I do a lot of my work and this is where all my friends are. It’s an area I feel I’ve contributed to. This is an area that I’ve seen change and develop, that I think is incredibly inspiring and exciting. There are loads of places to eat round here now, and bars, and there’s the shopping building up around here too. It’s always been a creative area. And London Fields is beautiful on a quiet day during the week.


Venues...

I performed my first gig at The George and Dragon, on a barrel in the corner. For my first performances I was often very drunk. It was on a Sunday at a party we did called Radio Egypt, and it was very improvised and I’d often be trying out new material. I think for that one I was doing a piece I’d written in America so I did know it. It wasn’t super busy, but once I started it got very busy.

I like small intimate venues but sometimes bigger venues are easier, weirdly. When I did the Royal Festival Hall it felt easy, and doing Lovebox feels easy. There’s something about a big audience that sometimes feels easier. I don’t know why that is, maybe it’s because you can project and really get into the performance, and sometimes in a small venue people are very attentive to everything that’s happening, and what goes wrong is magnified.

Where in London would I never want to set foot ever again? There’s a horrible Mexican restaurant on Brick Lane, where the food is terrible. It was awful, I couldn’t believe it!

I don’t like Elephant & Castle, I can’t get my head around it. There’s nothing particularly exciting going on there, it’s one big council estate isn’t it? I find Camden a bit annoying as well. Maybe it’s because I don’t think the markets are as good as they used to be. I used to really like it.

At 3 am on a Sunday morning I would probably be in either Dalston Superstore or East Bloc. What am I doing? Drinking, dancing.


If I ruled London...

I wish London would sort out ongoing arguments between cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians. Ban all cyclists. I can’t stand them! I’m a pedestrian and they’re the bane of my life. I tell you what the worst thing is, pedestrians, cyclists and joggers on canal towpaths. Oh my god, what is going on?! Get off my f****** pavement!

If I had to persuade tourists to visit London I would tell them that it is the cultural capital of the world! I would just say get involved, don’t be afraid of Londoners, their scowl is much worse than anything they can do. It’s friendly, go to the theatres, and get involved in the artistic side of London. It’s the most diverse place in the whole world.


Jonny’s loves and hates...

Barbican Centre
I don’t really go there very often. I actually do love it inside, I think it’s an amazing architectural building. I like the Brutalist architecture.

Café de Paris
I don’t love it, but I think hate is too strong a word. I don’t think I’ve really been to that many nights that are that fantastic there. I’ve been to the Wig party which is a fun event but apart from that I don’t think I’ve been to anything particularly good there.

The Shard
I love the Shard. I haven’t been in or up it yet, I’ve just wandered around, although they’ve just put a new building in front of it so from the street the view is obscured.

Shoreditch House
I love Shoreditch House during the daytime. In the evening I tend not to go there because it’s just not my crowd. Generally Shoreditch House will get a ‘love’ from me.