In this episode of Expat Next Door, we caught up with TONIC — an English teacher-turned-drag producer — who’s been quietly transforming Prague’s queer nightlife with one of the city’s most inclusive and electric shows.

Back in 2017, TONIC arrived in Prague with a TEFL certificate and plans to stay just a year or two teaching English.

Drag wasn’t even on the radar — until it was. “I kind of stumbled into it,” TONIC recalls. “At first, it was just a fun side thing. But it didn’t take long before I realized there was real potential to build something here.”

That “something” became Queeriety, a grassroots drag show that started modestly and soon became a cornerstone of Prague’s queer culture. Originally envisioned as a casual space for expression, the show has grown into a platform where local artists, especially those often sidelined by mainstream drag standards, can thrive.

It remains fiercely independent — run entirely without corporate sponsorship or a media budget — and draws in a community hungry for authenticity over polish.

“It wasn’t about glamour or big budgets,” TONIC says. “It was always about community, and giving performers — especially those who don’t always fit the mainstream mold — a place to be seen.”

Over the years, Queeriety has built a reputation for its unpredictable lineups, offbeat themes, and a deeply felt sense of queer joy. The vibe is unfiltered and unpretentious — part party, part protest, part homecoming.

For TONIC, who’s been organizing Queeriety almost monthly for the past five years, Prague has become more than just a home base. “The scene here is different from what I’ve seen in other cities. There’s a kind of DIY spirit that’s still alive, and a lot of the performers really care about building each other up,” they say.

That same spirit is fueling Queeriety’s most ambitious event yet — a 5th Anniversary show and afterparty, planned as part of Prague Pride 2025.

 

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TONIC is curating a lineup that reflects the full spectrum of queer performance in the city, and hopes it will serve as both a celebration and a statement.

“It’s been a wild five years. We want this show to be a thank you — to the performers, to the audience, to everyone who believed in something a little scrappy, a little loud, and very queer.”

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