Drag performance has a long and varied history, stretching from ancient theatre traditions to contemporary stages and screens.Drag performance has a long and varied history, stretching from ancient theatre traditions to contemporary stages and screens. This book, written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, offers an accessible introduction to that history, tracing how performers have used costume, character, and stagecraft to explore and express identity across different cultures and eras. In these pages you will find an overview of the social and artistic contexts that shaped drag, the communities that sustained it, and the individuals who defined its most recognisable styles. The book also examines how attitudes toward gender and performance have shifted over time, and what role drag has played in broader conversations about identity and self-expression. Whether you are new to the subject or looking to deepen your understanding, this volume provides a grounded starting point for exploring a rich and ongoing cultural tradition.Drag performance has a long and varied history, stretching from ancient theatre traditions to contemporary stages and screens. This book, written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, offers an accessible introduction to that history, tracing how performers have used costume, character, and stagecraft to explore and express identity across different cultures and eras. In these pages you will find an overview of the social and artistic contexts that shaped drag, the communities that sustained it, and the individuals who defined its most recognisable styles. The book also examines how attitudes toward gender and performance have shifted over time, and what role drag has played in broader conversations about identity and self-expression. Whether you are new to the subject or looking to deepen your understanding, this volume provides a grounded starting point for exploring a rich and ongoing cultural tradition.