Torbay's Roberta Calamari’s rise from heels to headliner

Back in the mid-1990s I had a friend whose favourite pastime, when he wasn’t playing rugby with me, was to knock on the door of the only gay bar in Torquay, Rockys. 

Whoever would answer the door would receive a punch in the face, and my friend would then run away. As a late teenage boy, he thought this was hilarious and would tell us about it later. This was a time when a gay couple being on EastEnders was controversial and two actresses kissing in Brookside made the front pages of newspapers.

Fast forward 30 years and how times have changed. I am sitting backstage at the Palace Theatre, Paignton, and Rob Palfrey is talking to me about headlining a night at their venue, Stage Left. Rob is appearing as the glamorous and pretty outrageous Roberta Calamari, a drag act who already has a massive following in South Devon.

Above: Roberta Calamari 

Drag is not new but is certainly more popular than ever, both nationwide and in the Bay. There are numerous drag brunches and drag bingo events across Torbay, not least the one that Rob hosts (as Ms Calamari) at Park Lane on Torquay’s harbourside, which always sells out.

Originally from Newton Abbot, Rob has quite a story. I already was aware of him as a regular performer for Toads Stage Musical shows, in which, frankly, he probably is the strongest male vocalist in the Bay. As the lead in Kinky Boots at the Princess Theatre in 2022 and recently appearing at the Palace Paignton in the hit show Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, he’s the sort of performer you look up in the programme afterwards to find out their name.

He went to Paignton College and then to Totnes School of Dance and then performed in London before joining an act called The Dream Bears, who had appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in the same year as Susan Boyle. One of the ‘Bears’ didn’t want to tour, so an opportunity became available, and there was an audition between him and one of Four Poofs and Piano, which Rob won. They toured all over the UK and the world until 2017, when Rob returned to take an archaeology degree at Exeter University.

It was around that time that he started to do drag. He had been working part-time in Russell and Bromley and had a great collection of shoes in his size (8). One night he was asked to host a queer night and decided to do it in drag.

Above: Roberta Calamari 

“When I started out, I didn’t have a strong look at all,” he told me. “In my opinion, it’s the act that needs to be polished first and the look will develop over time. It has taken me eight long years to be confident with a make-up brush, and I still have issues with my eyebrows. 

“There are many different facets of drag but ultimately it’s about entertaining an audience.”

The “look” is clearly vital to Rob. He told me it now takes him two hours to get ready, whereas in the beginning it was four. The transformation is, I must admit, stunning. Rob is five feet nine, but Roberta Calamari in six-inch heels appears about seven feet and is a presence to behold.

We talk about the phenomenon that is the TV hit RuPaul's Drag Race, and he credits this with really skyrocketing the popularity of drag. 

“The UK drag scene has such diversity and incredibly talented individuals portraying their art with passion and drive. We have lip syncers, singers, look queens, drags kings, jesters and a myriad of weird and wonderful creations.” 

Drag for me is about becoming something ‘more’,” he continues. “It’s very much a costume I put on. I don’t want to be a woman and this is where a lot of people get confused. I am very much a man in a dress but I love strong women and I want to emulate them; Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli. “My drag pays homage to these talented people”.

Tonight’s show, An Evening with Roberta Calamari, is being held at the Stage Left venue, which is part of and on the side of the Palace Theatre. The theatre, of course, has been an integral part of Paignton since 1890. Stage Left, though, was originally a badminton hall, annexed onto the theatre. 

Under the transformation ably helmed by the dynamic Maureen McAllister, the hall was rebuilt during lockdown into an events space that caters to everything from weddings to children’s parties. 

In charge is Melody Northey, formerly with two decades of experience at the Princess Theatre. Melody  runs her own wedding company (www.weddingdaybesties.co. uk), and she clearly loves what she does. 

Above: Melody Northey of the Palace Theatre, Stage Left

“We can do almost any kind of wedding in the theatre,” she tells me. “You can have the whole 350-seat auditorium and get married on stage. You can get ready in the dressing rooms. You can even arrive on a zip wire if that’s what you want!”

I can also imagine the many functions they have, like murder mystery events and corporate days. The walls are lined with hundreds of books all arranged according to their colour, which a librarian would hate, but which gives a magical effect. They were all donated during the pandemic, when charity shops were closed, and it certainly gives the room a unique look.

On this particular night, a varied crowd gathered, ranging from a table of raucous old ladies to a hen party dressed as pirates. A glitter ball washed the room in light and on sashayed Roberta Calamari. It was clear she already had fans in the audience, and straight from the opening number of Let’s Get the Party Started, there were people hollering and waving their arms. 

Our hostess was quick to single out audience members and clearly knew people in the crowd. Earlier I asked them if they gauge the audience and how rude you can be. I’m told that like a comedian, you test a semi-rude joke out early on to see how offended people will be, and then if they aren’t, it’s possible to be more risqué.

This night was not one, I sensed; we were going to get many hecklers, though. As Roberta powered through everything from Dolly Parton to the Spice Girls, the atmosphere was one of love and a lot of laughter. The two things that I felt make this performance special are firstly the very easy and quick banter with the audience and most of all her incredibly powerful and affecting voice. During a rendition of a song from Kinky Boots, I saw people crying at the sheer talent before them. This is not hyperbole. I am very rarely affected by such things, but it was truly moving. I would challenge anyone of any background not to enjoy this massive celebration of music and laughter.

At one point the ‘hen’ was dressed up as a lobster – I’m not sure why, and throughout, the audience were encouraged to get up and dance with Roberta. She singled them out for their bad dress-sense and told several enlightening stories behind the song choices. I would challenge anyone of any background not to enjoy this massive celebration of music and laughter.

Above: Roberta with the lobster-dressed hen

Which brings me nicely back to my friend from the 90s. At the time we all thought he would end up in prison or worse. However, the opposite happened. He joined the armed forces and has turned into one of the gentlest, nicest people you could meet. People do grow up and people can change. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all shocked if I saw him at a Roberta Calamari gig in the future. She would make him feel very welcome. As she said to me ‘An audience is an audience, and everyone is welcome’ What’s the old saying? ‘It’s better than a punch in the face’.

Roberta Calamari returns to Stage Left in the autumn in her next show,  The Tenor Lady