How ‘Shady Brunch’ elevates queer banter into connection and community

Adonis Production House redefines drag with humor, politics, and community in a safe, inclusive space inspired by “Drag Race Philippines.”

In the local queer vernacular, you’re bound to hear a plethora of witty quips and playful insults—from jokes about the width of drag artist Viñas Deluxe’s mouth “all the way from Brazil” to Shewarma cheekily telling her to “self-respect” amid her “Die Beautiful” musical role.

Humor has always been more than just a tool for laughter. It’s a shield, a bond, and a language entirely its own. This is exactly the spirit Adonis Production House captures in its hit interactive drag show, “Shady Brunch.”

Now concluding its first run, the original concept pushes boundaries by transforming the classic queer art of “throwing shade” into a collective celebration of community, self-expression, and resistance.

In an exclusive conversation with radar Entertainment, the creative minds behind the production house opened up about their vision for the show, the deeper meaning of shade, and their big plans to shake up the drag landscape this July 2026.

Love response and trauma language

For the uninitiated, shade may come across as a simple insult or a typical comedy roast. But within queer culture, its roots run much deeper. Drawing from the 1970s Harlem ball culture of “reading” and the “reading challenges” popularized by RuPaul’s “Drag Race,” Adonis Production House producer Adrian Sevilla and segment writer Gian Gonzales view it as a nuanced art form.

“Shade is a subtle critique of your fellow queer—a way to poke at them—and it has become a mode of self-expression,” Gonzales explained. “It touches on so many themes, like gender identity and even politics.”

When asked how shade can act as either a divisive force or a unifying thread in the shared queer experience, Gonzales offered a grounded perspective, noting that it often stems from common struggles.

“Personally, yeah, it’s a trauma response. As a community, we are bonded by our growth and the things we’ve had to go through. This has brought so many of us together—through playful jokes and jabs.”

However, they were quick to draw a line. While playful banter can unite, the creators of “Shady Brunch” stress that shade becomes problematic the moment it starts to exclude—running counter to the inclusive foundation of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Drag as radical

With “Drag Race Philippines” sparking a surge of viewing parties and drag shows across the country, Adonis Production House set out to create something more distinct and interactive. “Shady Brunch” was born out of a clear need: a safe space where allies and queer individuals from all walks of life could come together, united by a shared sense of humor.

Tying their recent graduation-themed show to the competitive energy of the current “Drag Race PH” season, the creators emphasized that stepping onstage in full face and hair is never just superficial.

“We know that drag is political,” Sevilla said firmly. “And lahat ng audience namin, we educate them to be political as well—to stand for what they believe in. At ‘yung stand na ‘yan is kung anong tama.”

Invoking RuPaul’s famous line, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag,” the team uses its platform to promote inclusivity. By actively engaging the audience instead of keeping them as passive viewers, they bridge the gap between entertainment and real-world awareness.

When the queens are empowered to have fun and fully express themselves, it’s the audience that ultimately walks away as the real winner.

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