Wayne Rogers has changed a bit since Tamworth last saw him.
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The ex-ballroom dance teacher has hung up his Latin shoes for something a little more frock and roll.
Now a Novocastrian, Wayne runs high tea out of his home dolled up in drag.
"I have a really unusual life now, let me tell you," he said.
"I don't remember being subject to drag queens until I was asked to be in a ball with them, I thought, 'wow these are different people' - and here I am one of them.
"I always tell the men it's hard work being a female."
His foray into drag began when he auditioned for La Cage Aux Folle, cast as Albin the role demanded he dress in women's clothes.
Now it's just routine, in the early hours of the morning Wayne wakes up and for 40 minutes, laboriously puts on his makeup.
He might pop into the hairdresser's he works at, do a show in the afternoon, wash off his face and head back to the office.
But the best part of his job is the work he does in nursing homes.
As often as he can, Wayne will slip into something a little more glamorous and pop out to visit Newcastle's elderly for morning tea.
"When I was in Tamworth before I dressed up to learn my craft, that's what I used to do, go around to the nursing homes and sing to the residents," he said.
"That's why I'm very comfortable with it, there's nothing to be frightened of - I do it all the time.
"The residents are such beautiful people, you might look at someone with dementia and think nobody is there but you touch their hand and shoulder and the music brings back memories."
Popular among the elderly, Wayne really shot to fame when he landed centre stage at Australia's Got Talent finals in 2011.
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He makes all of his own costumes and learned to sew watching his grandmother as a child.
Usually he's inspired by a piece of fabric and tries to let the creative process flow on from there.
"When I owned Rogers Ballroom Dancing School in Tamworth I used to make all the girls dresses and honed my skills," he said.
"They were from the country but I didn't want them to look country."
Audiences can catch Wayne Rogers at his intimate high tea shows at his home in Wallsend, Iona on Robert.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
