Pythia: Unleashing Myth and Magic
Get ready for a night of magic, mystery, and myth as Pythia, the sensational Greek-Canadian drag artist from Canada’s Drag Race season 2 and RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars, descends upon Sarnia for a spellbinding performance at The Devil's Ball. Known for blending historical and mythical elements into her jaw-dropping looks and performances, Pythia has captivated fans with her innovative take on drag. Raised in Greece and now based in Montreal, this costume designer and performer has brought an enchanting, otherworldly presence to the stage.
On October 25, 2024, Pythia will be joined by a fantastic lineup including Sheerah Mae Heartt, POISON, Charlize Angel, Karma Kameleon, Lillith Nox, and Miss Conduct, in a Halloween-inspired drag event you won’t want to miss! Hosted at Refined Fool Brewing Co., the evening promises a costume contest, fierce performances, and a meet-and-greet with the queens. Doors open at 8pm, with tickets starting at $25 and meet-and-greet options for $35.
We sat down with Pythia to discuss her career, creativity, and what fans can expect from her upcoming performance at The Devil’s Ball.
THIS is DRAG: Welcome, Pythia! How are you feeling about performing at The Devil’s Ball in Sarnia this October?
Pythia: I cannot wait! I have never been to Sarnia before, and I love a Halloween event. Spooky season is when my power is at its peak, so I am ecstatic!
TiD: Your drag is often infused with historical and mythical elements. Can you tell us more about how these influences shape your drag persona?
P: I love fashion and costume history, as well mythology and religion, and a lot of my performances or looks are inspired by such concepts! Whether obvious or not, there are always elements ingrained into my work, and not a single detail goes unplanned! I also named myself after Pythia who was an oracle of the god of the arts, Apollo, so to me it’s a way to manifest this ancient feminine power into the present through my drag!
“Spooky season is when my power is at its peak, so I am ecstatic!”
As a costume designer, your looks are always intricate and unique. What’s your process for creating these incredible outfits, and where do you find your inspiration?
As mentioned before, a lot of it is referential of various aspects of my Greek culture, or general interests of mine. Every look is different and tells a different story! They are all like different characters in a play that is Pythia! I can’t explain it, but the inspiration strikes at the strangest moments, and I’ve come up with some of my greatest concepts in my dreams!
You were raised in Greece before moving to Montreal as a teenager. How did your upbringing in these different cultures influence your style and approach to drag?
I just think it has allowed me to love myself no matter what. Growing up in the hyper Christian Orthodox society of Greece, I felt ostracized and like I could never belong in my own culture, but drag made me realize that I can actually celebrate myself for my identity just as I am. That’s why I’m so proud to represent my culture and customs through a queer lens. Cause I can’t imagine how many queer Greek people feel the way I did, and I want to show that we also belong.
What first inspired you to start performing drag, and how did you develop your signature blend of myth and glamour?
I began drag through cosplay and theater! The story telling and attention to detail that goes behind theatricality and performance is so intriguing to me. I wanted to share all the crazy ideas and stories locked up in my brain somehow, and drag allowed me to do just that! It’s like a different medium of art to me. I do it all in the context of the arts, painting, drawing, illustrating, photography, sculpture, props, costumes, makeup etc.! But drag combines all of my love for art in one!
You made a huge impact on Canada’s Drag Race and Global All Stars. How has your time on these shows influenced your career, and what’s been the most rewarding part of the journey?
Honestly so much! Everything changed because of these shows and I am forever grateful and blessed. I remind myself every day, how lucky I am to be able to do what I love full time, and connect with and touch so many people from around the world through my art. And just the fact that it’s allowed me to travel and experience different parts of the world, and Canada and enrich myself with the local queer histories and talents of each place I visit, is the best prize I could ever win!
Greek mythology is a central theme in much of your work. What is it about these ancient stories that resonates with you and your drag?
The fact that they were so queer and raw. The ancient stories even beyond Greece, had so much queer identity and matriarchal importance that has been completely sanitized and erased through Christianity and Colonization. The ancient gods were so close to us and to what humanity is and always has been. They were jealous, greedy, messy, and made mistakes... They loved, and feared, and bled, and hurt. They were imperfect like humans! I feel like modern religions have completely convinced us to aspire to an unattainable “sinless” perfection, but that’s just not what human nature is.
Halloween is coming up, and The Devil’s Ball has a spooky theme. Can you give us a sneak peek into your costume or the vibe you're bringing to the event?
All I’m gonna say is you’ll all have 7 days to live after watching my performance.
What’s been your most memorable performance to date, and what made it stand out for you?
My favourite performance would have to be a number I did in 2019 for a local Drag Competition in Montreal, where I perform as a psychic medium during a seance and even levitate a table with magic! Woooo!
You’re known for pushing boundaries and creating art that’s truly unique. How do you stay inspired and keep evolving in your drag career?
Just generally pushing myself and trying things even if they sound insane or impossible to do. Even if I don’t think I’ll be able to make something, I always attempt! It’s a learning experience nonetheless! Constantly creating at 100% and only editing down if I have to! That’s my life motto, the sky is not the limit, I can go further than that!
How do you balance the artistry of costume design with the performance aspect of drag, and what’s more challenging for you?
My drag performances are 100% linked with my costumes. All the numbers I build, I build along with whatever costume I will be wearing, and most numbers only work with that particular costume and that’s it! The challenge would be making more adaptable universal looks that I can perform multiple numbers in, but I love my theatricality too much to sacrifice that!
Have you performed in Sarnia or the surrounding area before, and how are you feeling about coming to perform in a smaller city like this one?
I haven’t! The closest place in proximity would have to be Hamilton, for the premiere episode viewing party of Canada’s Drag Race Season 2! I love performing in smaller cities. It’s more intimate and special and I tend to connect with the audience more in this way!
What advice would you give to drag performers who are looking to incorporate more storytelling and artistic elements into their work?
I think storytelling is naturally a vital part to drag, and my only advice would be to just cultivate it more, and find ways to incorporate more into a drag performance than just high kicks and splits! Discover what it is you want to say through your drag, and think of all the ways you can say it through performance or visual! Background videos, props, costume/wig reveals are things I personally love incorporating into my work!
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or performances that fans can look forward to?
Lots of gigs and cool things coming up, that I post constantly on my socials, but the thing that will take up most of my attention in November is rehearsals for a theater show I’m creating with Denim from Season 4 of CDR! It’s called “ORACULUM” and it’ll go live on December 1st-December 15 at Buddies in Bad Times in Toronto! Super excited for this project!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers or your fans ahead of The Devil’s Ball?
Just a huge thank you for all the love and support, and just for having me in your beautiful city! I cannot wait to meet and party with everyone!
Don't miss this opportunity to see Pythia and a dazzling lineup of drag performers at The Devil's Ball on October 25, 2024, at Refined Fool Brewing Co. Get ready for an evening of myth, mystery, and magic, and don’t forget to come dressed to impress for the costume contest! Doors open at 8pm, with general admission at $25 and meet-and-greet options available for $35. Secure your tickets now for a hauntingly fabulous night!
The Devil's Ball
Friday, October 25, 2024
At Refined Fool Brewing Company in Sarnia, Ontario