Dead Ladies Show #44

In each instalment, passionate advocates champion women who have all too often been forgotten. The loyal audience is invited to a sort of ‘sexy séance’ celebrating these impressive icons, their turbulent life stories and their enduring legacy.

In December, the popular bilingual format returns with fascinating talks in English and German.

This time, the focus is on particular narrative challenges: an almost forgotten martyr, an immensely popular superstar and a great mystery of the film world.

The speakers will be the esteemed co-host FLORIAN DUIJSENS, the brilliant German writer DANIELA DRÖSCHER and the fascinating Ugandan academic and poet GRACE ATUHAIRE. As usual, KATY DERBYSHIRE, the series’ second co-host, will be hosting the evening.

As always, the audience can look forward to a charming setting and a warm, entertaining atmosphere.

PRINCESS CLAIRA ‘KALAALA’ NAUMANSI (c. 1862–1888) was the elder sister of Kabaka (King) Mwanga II and is regarded, according to most accounts, as the first Christian martyr by name in the Kingdom of Buganda. As the favourite child of Kabaka Muteesa I, she defied the royal customs that restricted women’s freedom. Her defiance helped to shape Ugandan culture and expand the opportunities for women’s lives and work. Although she was never officially canonised, her legacy lives on to this day.

DOLLY PARTON (1946–2026) was known as the ‘Queen of Country Music’. Her journey took her from a childhood spent in a small two-room hut in Tennessee to selling over one hundred million records. She starred in groundbreaking films, was a generous supporter of charitable causes and opened her own theme park. Her commitment to promoting literacy and her funding of a COVID vaccine have – just like her songs – changed the lives of countless people. It is not known exactly how many wigs she actually owned. However, she joked to RuPaul that there had been at least 365.

MARLENE DIETRICH (1901–1992) left Berlin for Hollywood in 1930. Prior to that, she had embarked on a promising film career in Berlin whilst also becoming involved in the city’s queer scene. In legendary film roles, she embodied the mysterious ‘femme fatale’ with great success. In 1939, she renounced her German citizenship; during the Second World War, she performed in front of millions of Allied soldiers. Later, she turned her hand to cabaret and enchanted her live audiences. She spent the final years of her life bedridden in Paris, yet continued to keep in touch by telephone with leading politicians from all over the world.