Clare “Flare” Bradley-Smyth is a producer, performer, historian, and documentarian of the art form known as drag kinging and/or male impersonation. They have produced shows and led troupes across North America and served on the International Drag King Extravaganza (IDKE) Steering Committee for eight years. Their documentary, A Drag King Extravaganza, co-produced with Meaghan Derynck and distributed by Frameline, has been acquired by universities such as York, Princeton, and Harvard.

In 2017, they helped develop the website dragkinghistory.com with Mo. B Dick and Ken Vegas. In 2021, their article “A Salute to Our Canadian Kings” was published in Canadian Theatre Review. Currently, they work with the Collaboratory as a Community Consultant and Co-Interviewer for the Drag Kings Oral History Project.

Outside of drag, Clare “Flare” works in legal and business affairs for broadcasters, producers, and entertainment companies. They also write, edit, and produce short films and other documentaries with Megaflare Productions.

Photograph by Dolly Shots Photography