Dyke Systems Ltd Dismantles Corporate Feminism One Drag King at a Time

Set in the 1990s, DYKE Systems Ltd is a darkly comic drag infused satire watching two business women attempt to climb the corporate ladder. Looking at how modern technology and finance weapons repressed queerness and corporate feminism, this two-hander has been created by the award winning cabaret, theatre and drag double act, Fag Packet.

Ahead of the show’s run at Edinburgh Festival fringe, we spoke to the writers, performers and names behind Fag Packet, Kheski Kobler and Holly Wilson-Guy.

What inspired you both to create DYKE Systems Ltd and explore the world of 90s multi-level marketing through a queer lens?

The idea actually began as a cabaret where our guest acts were ‘inspirational speakers’ from our fictional Multi Level Marketing Scheme. We realised we were really enjoying it and that there was a whole world to explore beyond the initial idea. We’re fascinated by the messy intersection of feminism and capitalism — particularly choice feminism, and how that often gets packaged and sold. There’s something so camp, fun, and morally murky about it all that just clicked for us.

Can you share a bit about the collaboration process between you two? What do things look like when creating work together?

We met in a beautifully chaotic way — through queer parties, talking all night, and just making each other laugh. Kheski Kobler has been a cabaret performer for over a decade and Holly Wilson Guy is a theatre maker, so it felt natural to combine those worlds. In our thirties, we wanted to try something new so we entered Man Up! (Europe’s biggest drag king competition) as Two Indie Boys From Reading, a pair of obnoxious softboys. We placed third, had the time of our lives, and just kept going — building strange characters and even stranger cabarets.

Our collaboration process looks a lot like: come up with an idea, go on a completely unrelated tangent for an hour, then dance around the living room. It’s chaotic, but it works.

What are some of your favourite things from the 90s that pop up in the show?We’re total cinephiles with a soft spot for cult classics from the 90s and early 2000s. You’ll definitely see some nods to But I’m a Cheerleader, A Dirty Shame, and a cheeky little reference to Thelma and Louise. We’re interested in the aesthetic, but also the themes — rebellion, repression, queerness, bad taste… all the good stuff.

What’s been the funniest or most unexpected moment during rehearsals or performances so far?

It’s hard to pick just one, I do think one of the joys of working together and with our wider creative team is that there are always unexpected and funny moments in rehearsal. We’re devising the show so a lot of it is about failing and being okay with that. Whether it’s a moment that didn’t work or something that was unexpectedly better than expected it’s really nice to be able to be honest and say… sorry that’s shit and laugh about it! Oh and our rehearsal space happens to be near the best cafe (in our opinion) in London (cafe minion - south Bermondsey- Big up!) which was VERY unexpected! 

Do you balance the satire and darker moments with the show’s comedic energy and drag elements?

Drag naturally lends itself to darkness — because it’s unexpected, and it’s always been about pushing boundaries and interrogating the systems we live in. Performing gender and sexuality is something we’re all doing every day, and drag takes that and turns it up to 11. It allows us to explore intense or unsettling topics — like manipulation, capitalism, and internalised misogyny — with humour and absurdity. 

DYKE Systems Ltd is at Pleasance Courtyard, Cellar, 30 July  - 25 Aug (not 6, 12 & 19), 15.00 (16.00). For tickets go to  https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dyke-systems-ltd