Reuben Kaye
{{Short description|Australian comedy cabaret performer (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{use Australian English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox comedian
|name=Reuben Kaye
|nationality=Australian
|website=https://www.reubenkaye.com/
|genre=comedy, cabaret, drag|image=
|birth_date={{Birth year and age|1984}}
|birth_name=Reuben Krum}}
Reuben Kaye (né Krum; born 1984) is an Australian singer, writer, drag artist, and comedian. Kaye's career is primarily based in the UK, but he has performed at comedy festivals internationally, including in Melbourne, Montréal, and Edinburgh. Since 2019, Kaye has hosted the comedy podcast Come to Daddy, in which he interviews other comedians, and has made numerous appearances on television as well as having a role as a voice actor an animated film in 2024.
Early life and education
Reuben Kaye was born as Reuben Krum in 1984 to painter and sculptor Lazar Krum and filmmaker Karin Altmann. Grandparents on both sides were Jewish immigrants who fled Europe during or after World War II. His maternal grandmother became a couturier on Collins Street, Melbourne.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-22 |title=His joke about Jesus caused outrage, but Reuben Kaye's comedy is more complex than you might think |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-23/reuben-kaye-australian-artist-drag-comedy-cabaret/102214780 |access-date=2023-11-12}}
Kaye was raised in the Melbourne suburb of Kew. He was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but his parents chose to not put him on medication.{{Cite web |last=Bunbury |first=Stephanie |date=2023-03-06 |title=His Jesus joke on The Project sparked outrage, so who really is Reuben Kaye? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/comedy/anger-can-be-a-force-for-change-reuben-kaye-20230306-p5cps7.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
He came out as gay at age 14,{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Ethan |date=2021-10-21 |title=Interview with Reuben Kaye |url=https://www.amoderngaysguide.com/reuben-kaye-interview/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=A Modern Gay's Guide |language=en}} and faced bullying from his peers at school which left him with a scar on his eyebrow.
He studied musical theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Style and artistry
Kaye is recognisable for his signature drag makeup, and often performs with a full backing band.{{Cite web |title=Reuben Kaye |url=https://itsoutnow.co/blog/reuben-kaye |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=itsoutnow |language=en}} His performances combine stand-up comedy and cabaret, and are queer and political.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sarski |date=2023-10-12 |title='The Butch is Back!' Cabaret and comedy sensation Reuben Kaye comes to Bristol |url=https://www.bristol247.com/culture/comedy/the-butch-is-back-cabaret-and-comedy-sensation-reuben-kaye-comes-to-bristol/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Bristol24/7 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brisbane Comedy Festival Reuben Kaye |url=https://www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com/events/reuben-kaye/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Brisbane Comedy Festival |language=en-US}}
He has cited Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, Patti LaBelle, and Maryanne Faithful as some of his inspirations.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Matt |date=2021-08-14 |title=Reuben Kaye |url=https://thecelebritywhisperer.com.au/2021/08/14/reuben-kaye/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=The Celebrity Whisperer |language=en-US}}
Career
= Live performances =
Kaye began performing cabaret while living in Melbourne, but became more involved in the scene after moving to London at the age of 25. Kaye began wearing makeup during his performances in 2011, attributing the choice as a channel for his material, rather than self-expression.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
His first solo show, Success Story, debuted in 2017, and was performed at the Perth and Adelaide Fringe festivals.{{Cite web |last=Review |first=Arts |date=2017-02-10 |title=Reuben Kaye – Success Story |url=https://artsreview.com.au/reuben-kaye-success-story/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Australian Arts Review |language=en-AU}} In 2019, Kaye created the self-titled show Reuben Kaye, as well as a late-night variety show The Kaye Hole, and brought both shows to the Edinburgh Fringe.{{Cite web |title=Reuben Kaye |url=https://opera.org.au/artist/reuben-kaye/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Opera Australia |language=en-US}} Kaye returned to performances in 2021 after the COVID pandemic and vocal surgery{{Cite web |date=2021-06-28 |title=Reuben Kaye is subverting our expectations |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/drawingroom/reuben-kaye-is-subverting-our-expectations/13423842 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}} with his new show The Butch is Back, which he performed through December 2023, including in at the Edinburgh and Melbourne comedy festivals, and at a nearly month-long residency in London's Southbank Centre.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Margaret |date=22 August 2023 |title=Reuben Kaye's The Butch Is Back to Tour U.K. and Europe |url=https://playbill.com/article/reuben-kayes-the-butch-is-back-to-tour-u-k-and-europe |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=Playbill}} His 2023 Edinburgh fringe show was the second-highest reviewed show at the festival.{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2023-09-04 |title=Best-reviewed Edinburgh Fringe shows 2023 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2023/features/best-reviewed-edinburgh-fringe-shows-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}
Starting at the Perth Fringe in January 2024, Kaye began performing his new show Apocalipstick.{{Cite web |title=Tour Dates |url=https://www.reubenkaye.com/tour-dates |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=REUBEN KAYE |language=en-AU}}
= Television appearances =
In 2019, Kaye appeared on British television on the Channel 4 show Kids React to Drag.{{Cite web |last=Scheetz |first=Cameron |date=2023-02-28 |title=WATCH: Kids react to drag with open arms and open minds in powerful resurfaced video |url=https://www.queerty.com/watch-kids-react-to-drag-with-open-arms-and-open-minds-in-powerful-resurfaced-video-20230228 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Queerty}} He has also appeared on other UK shows, such as The Apprentice: You’re Fired in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Reuben Kaye – Century Artists |url=https://centuryartists.com.au/reuben-kaye/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |language=en-US}}
He has also appeared on Australian television programmes like Spicks and Specks, The Project, and Celebrity Letters and Numbers.{{Cite web |title=Reuben Kaye |url=https://www.chambersmgt.com/artist/reuben-kaye/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Chambers Management |language=en-GB}}
In 2023, Kaye appeared on an episode of the Channel 10 news and talk show programme The Project, where he controversially joked about Jesus: "I love any man who can get nailed for three days straight and come back for more!"{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Reuben Kaye's Jesus joke causes a stir |date=1 March 2023 |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2023/03/01/52624/reuben_kayes_jesus_joke_causes_a_stir |access-date=2023-11-12 |website= Chortle|language=en}} The Australian Communications and Media Authority reportedly received over 200 complaints about the incident.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Yashee |date=2023-03-03 |title=Hundreds call on media watchdog to act after The Project's Jesus joke |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/hundreds-call-on-media-watchdog-acma-to-act-after-the-projects-vulgar-jesus-joke/news-story/1a9efacaf3effaee24acbf969d02bee8 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=skynews.com.au}} He received significant backlash for this both from publications like the Daily Mail, as well as from social media users, some of whom sent him death threats.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Margaret |date=21 June 2023 |title=Drag Performer Reuben Kaye Is Combating Death Threats with Comedy |url=https://playbill.com/article/drag-performer-reuben-kaye-is-combating-death-threats-with-comedy |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=Playbill}} Subsequent live performances by Kaye were postponed due to protests against him.
= Podcasts =
Since 2019, Kaye has hosted Come to Daddy, a podcast about the parental upbringing of various comedian guests, including Rosie Jones, Desiree Burch, and Daniel Sloss.{{Cite web |title=COME TO DADDY! |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/5JlyOqM9GrIJ1FvQ4idF6R?si=2359cf2ccd554af0 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Spotify}} At the 2023 Just for Laughs festival, Kaye hosted the first live version of the podcast with guest Urzila Carlson.{{Cite web |date=30 August 2023 |title=URZILA CARLSON...COME TO DADDY! |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pEckymjSdDlq9WyEDwHtO?si=98637abb6cb845f4 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Spotify}}
Kaye has also guested on numerous other podcasts, including Jordan Gray's Transplaining, Catherine Bohart and Helen Bauer's Trusty Hogs, and Abigoliah Schamaun and Joe Wells's Neurodivergent Moments.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
=Film=
Kaye was one of a cast of voice actors in the Australian comedy sci-fi feature film Lesbian Space Princess, which premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2024.{{cite web |title=Lesbian Space Princess |website=Adelaide Film Festival |url=https://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/program/2024/lesbian-space-princess |access-date=28 October 2024}}
Recognition and awards
In 2021, Kaye won the Best Cabaret award from both the Perth and Adelaide fringe festivals,{{Cite web |title=2022 Nominations & Recipients – The Green Room Awards |url=https://www.greenroom.org.au/awards/nominees2020-2/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |language=en}} and was nominated for the Most Outstanding Show award from the Melbourne Comedy Festival.{{Cite web |title=Melbourne International Comedy Festival |url=http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2021/news/award-nominees |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Melbourne International Comedy Festival |language=en-AU}}
In 2022, The Butch Is Back won three Green Room Awards for Best Cabaret Artist, Best Production and Best Musical Direction.{{Cite web |title=2022 Green Room Awards Recipients {{!}} Stage Whispers |url=https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/2022-green-room-awards-recipients |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.stagewhispers.com.au}} In 2023, it also was nominated for NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy,{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2023-08-14 |title=NextUp Biggest Award In Comedy 2023 nominees |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/fyi/322/nextup-biggest-award-in-comedy-2023-nominees/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}} and placed second on the British Comedy Guide's list of the highest-reviewed shows of the 2023 Edinburgh fringe.
References
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Category:Singers from Melbourne
Category:21st-century Australian comedians
Category:Comedians from Melbourne
Category:Jewish Australian comedians
Category:Australian emigrants to England
Category:Jewish male comedians
Category:Australian cabaret performers
Category:Australian people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:Australian people of German-Jewish descent
Category:Australian LGBTQ comedians
Category:Victorian College of the Arts alumni
Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder