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Christine Hillis: We Can All Be a Little More Punk

Ahead of Canine Cabaret on Saturday, August 8, I sat down with Christine Hillis, also known as Chris P Corpse, to talk about creativity, community and making space for play. From drag and advocacy to dogs and mental health, Christine shares why creating for the joy of it matters—and why we can all be a little more punk.


  • Photo of Christine Hill also known as Chris P Corspe performing
  • Canine Caberet Event Poster
  • Photo of Christine Hill also known as Chris P Corspe performing
  • Photo of Christine Hill also known as Chris P Corspe performing
  • Photo of Christine Hill also known as Chris P Corspe performing
  • Photo of Christine Hill also known as Chris P Corspe performing

  1. I smiled when I realized your world includes therapy, drag, punk, and dogs. That’s not a combination you come across every day. How did that happen?

    I would say that punk to me goes beyond music and fashion (although I love that aspect too). It means being a fierce advocate and questioning the establishment. That has coloured a lot of my life choices. I went into social work as a way to make change and help those around me through both support and advocacy. I fought the systems in place in the public sector for 9 years before making the jump to private practice when the mental healthcare system continued to be decimated by our government. Therapy is political and that is not something I shy away from. I actually started doing drag after my involvement with Grand River Pride. As a queer person who grew up in Cambridge, it was important to me to support bringing Pride to Cambridge. Pride will always be political. And celebrating queer joy especially in our current political climate is an act of resistance. I have always had a connection with dogs through my life. As a weirdo all of my life (I say lovingly) I found a deep connection in animals. I can remember going to my babysitter’s house and instead of hanging out with the kids downstairs, I would spend hours with their golden retriever Missy. Advocating for our furry friends is so important to me and I’m proud of how many dogs I’ve been able to save.

     

  2. Chris P Corpse has become a familiar face in the Kitchener-Waterloo drag community. What does it feel like to step on stage as Chris P Corpse?

    Doing drag has been an incredible outlet for both my creativity and gender expression. I have never felt fully aligned with either male or female gender expression. Drag gives me the opportunity to lean into my masculinity while poking fun at the gender stereotypes of what it means to be a man. I am a performer at heart and it brings me so much joy to start with a ridiculous concept and then see it come to fruition. Drag allows me to play with my appearance but also come up with fun and silly crafts and sewing projects and dance routines. I think my first try at it was during an Air Band competition in middle school where I crafted instruments for me and my friends and got to rock out lip syncing as the lead singer of my favourite female punk band at the time.


  3. Creativity seems to be a thread running through everything you do. Why is it so important to you?

    I am a strong believer in creating just to create. It doesn’t have to be perfect. And not everyone has to “get it”. But we need a creative outlet. I’ve tried sewing, crafting, writing, singing, drag, and even learned the guitar over COVID. It gives me an outlet for my emotions and let’s me play. What else could be better for our mental health than play?


  4. You’ve clearly got a soft spot for dogs. What have dogs taught you about people?

    Dogs are so important to me. They help you stay present and keep you living in the moment. Their contagious joy when excited or even just happy to see you in infectious. They remind us to enjoy the little things and stay present. I also do a lot of work around pet loss and sitting with people in their grief is so profound. Our connections to the dogs in our lives are some of the most important connections we have. 


  5. You’ve spent a lot of your life helping people see themselves differently. What helps us look beyond labels?

    I like the idea of seeing through the label because it’s not about ignoring the labels but also knowing we are more than that. A lot of people find comfort in mental health diagnoses or queer identities, but we know that we are also more than that. It's about still acknowledging who we are as humans. What makes us laugh and cry. What excites us. What brings us joy.


  6. When the lights go down at Canine Cabaret, if someone has never been to a drag show before, what do you hope they discover?

    When people come to see me in drag, I want them to feel joy and excitement. I want them to know that they can be loud and excited and that they will not be judged. Drag should evoke emotions and remind people that they can choose how they express themselves. And I hope they discover that they don’t need to constrain themselves to any labels or societal norms. We all can be a little more punk and hex the establishment.

 

Bonus Question: Every great performer has a dream. What’s yours?

My dream as a performer is to continue to use my drag and art to support causes that I believe in and inspire others to get involved in their community.



Create just to create.


Creativity doesn’t need permission, perfection or a purpose beyond giving us room to play. Making something simply because it brings you joy can be one of the healthiest things you do.


Canine Cabaret on Saturday, August 8 is an evening of drag, music, and entertainment in support of Pound Dog Rescue. Whether you’re a longtime fan of drag or thinking about attending your first show, it's a chance to enjoy an unforgettable night while supporting a great cause.




 

Six questions. Countless curiosities.


If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with someone who would too. And if there’s a creative mind you think belongs on 6Qs with Christine, I’d love your recommendation.


See you next week.

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