Why Courtney’s taking pride in new Ramsay Street act
Internationally lauded drag performer Shane Jenek, and his alter ego, Courtney Act, are set to arrive at Ramsay Street on Tuesday and Jenek believes the role will have a lot to teach us about our neighbours.
Fiona Byrne
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Much-loved Australian drama Neighbours is playing an important role teaching society how to act, according to internationally lauded drag performer Shane Jenek.
Jenek and his alter ego, Courtney Act, arrive at Ramsay Street on Tuesday for a four-episode guest role as part of Erinsborough Pride.
“TV should reflect back society and Neighbours is doing that, which is really cool, and it will hopefully lead to other Australian dramas picking up on that,” Jenek said.
“I know when I was growing up there was very little visibility for the queer community, for people of colour and even women performing non-traditional women’s roles.
“Drama and shows like Neighbours can inform society how to act.”
The arrival of Jenek and Courtney does cause some confusion for one character.
“Paul (Robinson) does not quite piece together that Shane and Courtney are the same person and also does not realise Courtney is in drag,” Jenek said.
“He just thinks she is some glamorous woman.
“It is kind of fun because that scenario does happen in real life.
“Paul was very much in the palm of Courtney’s hand and somewhat dismissive to Shane.
“Everything looks the same looking out through my eyes, but I look different when people look back at me depending on how I am dressed, and people treat you differently based on that.”
Jenek said he only had one concern about the Neighbours role: “I called Bingo, which is something I never do. Now I am worried that I’m going to get all these Bingo bookings.”